The SNV, built by Vultee Aircraft, was used as an intermediate trainer for Naval Aviators during World War II. The SNV introduced students to a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine, incorporated two-way radio communication, manually operated flaps and a variable pitch, two-blade propeller, a major step in preparing student pilots to advance to more complicated, higher performance aircraft. Its annoying harmonics and rattling caused students to nickname it the Vultee "Vibrator."

In 1938, in response to an Army Air Corps requirement for an advanced trainer, Vultee's chief designer Richard Palmer adapted a fighter design to become the company's VF-51 prototype. It was entered into the Army Air Corp's trainer competition, pitted against North American's BC-2. Though it lost the competition, the prototype was purchased by the Army Air Corps. With several improvements made to the design, Vultee's aircraft was purchased in August 1939, and designated BT-13. In June 1940, the Army Air Corps accepted 300 of the new trainers. In all, 7,037 BT-13As were produced, and 1,125 BT-13Bs were added, the B-model differing only in its 24 volt (vice 12 volt) electrical system. With a change in power plant, from the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine to the Wright R-975, 1,263 more aircraft, re-designated BT-15, were produced.

As the aircraft took hold in the Army Air Corps' training program, the Navy ordered 1,350 BT-13A models, designating them SNV-1s, and 650 BT-13Bs, designating themm SNV-2s. As a basic trainer, the Valiant introduced flight students to a more complex aircraft after primary trainers like the biplane N3N or N2S. Use of radio equipment and the addition of flaps and a variable pitch propeller prepared students for the higher performance advanced trainers.

As one of the more numerous trainer types used by both the Navy and the Army, the Valiant played an important role in helping the services meet the ever-increasing demand for pilots during the war. The Navy declared the SNV obsolete in 1945, and few examples remain today. Nicknamed the "Vultee Vibrator," the SNV acquired the name because of its very pronounced buffet when near stalling, canopy vibrations at high airspeed, and its irritating harmonic sound with the propeller setting at high pitch. Nonetheless, the aircraft's excellent maneuverability made it an ideal primer for more sophisticated advanced trainers and fighter aircraft.

In its life after World War II, a number of surplus aircraft were purchased by Twentieth Century Fox in the 1960s. The aircraft were converted to resemble both Japanese D3A1, Type 99 carrier attack aircraft (Val), and the B5N1, Type 97 (Kate) carrier torpedo bombers for the movie Tora Tora Tora. The Zeros in the film were converted North American SNJ/AT-6 trainers.