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| F4F Wildcat |
F4F-4 Wildcat Grumman
Type:
single-seat
carrier-based
fighter
Power:
Pratt &
Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp
14-cylinder
air-cooled radial engine
Two-stage
supercharger
1,200 hp
Armament: 0.50 caliber mg x 6 / wings
Browning: high velocity
750
– 850 rounds per minute
113kg / 250 lb.
bombs x 2 / underwing racks
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 11.6m / 38 ft
·
Square
wingtips
Wing area: 23.9m2 / 260 sq ft
·
Improved
center of gravity
·
Better
stability
Length: 8.8m / 28 ft 9 in
Height: 3.6m / 11 ft 10 in
Weight:
Empty: 2,626kg / 5,785lb
Max takeoff: 3,610kg / 7,952lb
Performance:
Max speed: 512kph / 318 mph @ 5,913m / 19,400 ft
Ceiling: 10,638m / 34,900 ft
Range: 1,239km / 770 miles
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| F3F predecessor to Wildcat |
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| Grumman removed wing to make F4F monoplane |
The original
F4F design would be an evolutionary improvement over its predecessor, the
Grumman F3F. The F4F was also to be a
biplane but the Navy thought differently.
It was 1936 and the future need for speed meant planes must shed the
overhead redundant wing. Grumman quickly
lost the second wing but, unfortunately for them, Brewster Aeronautical had the
jump in monoplane design. A 1937 fly-off
competition revealed significant handling problems with the Grumman entry and
the Navy choose Brewster’s F2A Buffalo to be the first-line fighter for the
fleet. Still, the Navy wasn’t happy with
the choice they had to make. The Buffalo
was merely satisfactory in performance.
Additionally, there were production delays and continuous difficulties
with Brewster management. While Brewster
got the production contract in 1938, Grumman was awarded funds to continue
development of their XF4F. The Navy saw
potential in the Grumman aircraft and their continued interest in the F4F
indicated their misgivings with the Brewster Buffalo.
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| 1939 test flight makes F4F fleet fighter |
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| Upgrades include armor and more guns |
The
following year, 1939, the Navy tests the XF4F-3. The upgraded Grumman entry has an additional
three hundred horsepower, making it faster than the Buffalo. The tail is redesigned and the wings are
enlarged giving the plane overall improved performance. The Navy orders 78 of these Grumman aircraft,
effectively replacing the Brewster program.
Improvements continue, most significant were those prompted by combat
experience with the British version of the Grumman fighter – the Martlet.
Armament was increased from four to six guns in the wings in 1941. Armor was added to protect the pilot, fuel
tanks became self-sealing and the wings were made to fold back which added an
additional fifty percent in storage capacity – an enormous improvement to a
carrier’s offensive punch.
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| Navy's fighter during early years of war |
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| Narrow landing gear would be a problem |
By now the
F4F was officially known as the Wildcat. It would be the Navy’s frontline fighter for
the difficult first year and a half of the war in the Pacific. Pilots would praise it for its heavy armament
and sturdy structure. It was the kind of
plane that could bring you home despite being heavily damaged. It was forgiving. It was successful. Still, it couldn’t beat a Zero in a one-to-one
dogfight. The fast and nimble Japanese
A6M Zero was normally too elusive to train in your sights. The most effective counter to this Mitsubishi
fighter was using hit-and-run tactics while having a wingman protecting your
tail. Come in quick, smoke the bombers
being protected by Zeros, then clear out and play defense, working in tandem
with another pilot. A Zero lingering on
your tail to set up a shot is vulnerable to being hit by the heavy firepower of
your partner. The Zero’s Achilles’ heel
was its light, unarmored construction. A
rapid stream spewing from six .50 calibers would quickly break the aircraft
apart – end of threat.
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| Butch O'Hare: 5 bombers in one day |
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| Bobbing decks make for tricky landings |
By the end
of 1943 the new Grumman F6F had replaced the Wildcat as the fleet’s frontline fighter. Still the Hellcat
continued to be produced. It was
manufactured by General Motors and it was designated the FM. The final version, the FM-2, was produced until August,
1945. Its ability to take off on very
short runways made it the choice for small aircraft carriers. More than 4,700 of these aircraft were built
and they were available for a wide range of activities including anti-submarine
operations.
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| Wingman helps overcome Zero performance |
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| Combat input from Martlet improved F4F design |
The Grumman F4F Hellcat will always be remembered
for its significant contribution to naval engagements in the Coral Sea, at
Midway and in supporting the Marines at Guadalcanal.
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| Landing gear hand-cranked by pilot |
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