Grumman F6F Hellcat
| Grumman F6F Hellcat | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Carrier fighter | |
| Crew | One | |
| First Flight | 26 June 1942 | |
| Entered Service | 1943 | |
| Manufacturer | Grumman | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 33' 7" | 10.24 m |
| Wingspan | 42' 10" | 13.06 m |
| Height | 13' 1" | 3.99 m |
| Wing area | 334 ft² | 102 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 9,238 lbs | 4,190 kg |
| Loaded | 12,598 lbs | 5,714 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | 15,415 lbs | 6,990 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp | |
| Power | 2,000 hp | 1,492 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 380 mph | 612 km/h |
| Combat range | 945 miles | 1,521 km |
| Ferry range | 1,530 miles | 2,462 km |
| Service ceiling | 37,300 ft | 11,369 m |
| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min |
| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m² |
| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 6 × .50 cal Browning machineguns | |
| Bombs | 3 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs | |
| Rockets | Tiny Tim unguided rockets | |
The Grumman F6F Hellcat started development as an improved F4F Wildcat, but turned into a completely new design sharing a family resemblance to the Wildcat but with practically no shared parts. The Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair were the primary United States Navy carrier fighters in the second half of World War II. The Hellcat was withdrawn from service shortly after the war's end.
Development
Originally to be given the Wright R-2600 Cyclone engine of 1,700 hp (1,268 kW), the Hellcat was given the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) after British combat experience with the Wildcat indicated better performance was necessary.
The first, Cyclone-equipped prototype flew on 26 June 1942, and the first Double Wasp-equipped aircraft on 30 July 1942. The first production aircraft off the line flew on 3 October 1942; the type reached operational readiness with VF-9 on USS Essex in March 1943.
Construction
Like the Wildcat, the Hellcat was a tough, straightforward aircraft, designed to be easy to manufacture and able to take severe damage and return safely to the carrier. 212 lb (96 kg) of cockpit armor was fitted to aid survival, as well as a bullet-proof windshield and armor around the engine oil tank and oil cooler.
The family resemblance to the earlier aircraft was strong, but the Hellcat wasn't just a bigger, heavier, faster Wildcat. Instead of the Wildcat's narrow-track undercarriage retracting into the fuselage by hand, the Hellcat had hydraulically-actuated undercarriage legs set wider and retracting backward into the wings. The wing was low-mounted instead of mid-mounted.
Armament consisted of the same six .50 caliber Browning machineguns as later Grumman-built Wildcats; later aircraft gained three hardpoints to carry 1,000 lb bombs.
Action
The Hellcat first saw action against the Japanese at Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) on 5 November, 1943. Soon after, on 23 November, Hellcats engaged Japanese aircraft over Tarawa shooting down a claimed 30 Mitsubishi Zeros for the loss of one F6F.
Hellcats were involved in practically all engagements with Japanese air power from that point onward. They were the major type of USN fighter involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea where so many Japanese aircraft were shot down that the USN aircrews nicknamed the battle The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related Development | |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | F3F - F4F - F5F - F6F - F7F - F8F - F9F |
| Related Lists | List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft - List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm |