https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F4F_Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began
service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy (as the
Martlet) in 1940. First used in combat by the British in Europe, the Wildcat was
the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps
in the Pacific Theater during the early part of World War II in 1941 and 1942;
the disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Wildcat and
replaced as units became available. With a top speed of 318 mph (512 km/h), the
Wildcat was outperformed by the faster 331 mph (533 km/h), more maneuverable,
and longer-ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero. However, the F4F's ruggedness, coupled
with tactics such as the Thach Weave, resulted in an air combat kill-to-loss
ratio of 5.9:1 in 1942 and 6.9:1 for the entire war.
Lessons learned from the Wildcat were later applied to the faster F6F Hellcat.
While the Wildcat had better range and maneuverability at low speed, the Hellcat
could rely on superior power and high speed performance[4] to outperform the
Zero. The Wildcat continued to be built throughout the remainder of the war to
serve on escort carriers, where larger and heavier fighters could not be used.
Role
Fighter aircraft
National origin
United States
First flight
2 September 1937
Introduction
December 1940
Retired
1945
Primary users
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Royal Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Number built
7,885
The Wildcat was generally outperformed by the Mitsubishi Zero, its major
opponent in the early part of the Pacific Theater, but held its own partly
because, with relatively heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, the Grumman
airframe could survive far more damage than its lightweight, unarmored Japanese
rival.[20] Many U.S. Navy fighter pilots also were saved by the Wildcat's ZB
homing device, which allowed them to find their carriers in poor visibility,
provided they could get within the 30 mi (48 km) range of the homing beacon.[21]
In the hands of an expert pilot using tactical advantage, the Wildcat could
prove to be a difficult foe even against the formidable Zero.[22] After
analyzing Fleet Air Tactical Unit Intelligence Bureau reports describing the new
carrier fighter, USN Commander "Jimmy" Thach devised a defensive tactic that
allowed Wildcat formations to act in a coordinated maneuver to counter a diving
attack, called the "Thach Weave."[23]
Four U.S. Marine Corps Wildcats played a prominent role in the defense of Wake
Island in December 1941. USN and USMC aircraft formed the fleet's primary air
defense during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway, and land-based Wildcats
until 1943 that more advanced naval fighters capable of taking on the Zero on
more even terms, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair, reached the
South Pacific theater.
The Japanese ace Saburo Sakai described the Wildcat's capacity to absorb damage:
"I had full confidence in my ability to destroy the Grumman and decided to
finish off the enemy fighter with only my 7.7 mm machine guns. I turned the 20
mm cannon switch to the "off" position, and closed in. For some strange reason,
even after I had poured about five or six hundred rounds of ammunition directly
into the Grumman, the airplane did not fall, but kept on flying. I thought this
airplanes until I could almost reach out and touch the Grumman. To my surprise,
the Grumman's rudder and tail were torn to shreds, looking like an old torn
piece of rag. With his plane in such condition, no wonder the pilot was unable
to continue fighting! A Zero which had taken that many bullets would have been a
ball of fire by now.
F4F-4
One of the main features of the F4F-4 were the Sto-Wing-design folding wings, a
Grumman patented design.
A new version, the F4F-4, entered service in 1941 with six machine guns and the
Grumman-patented Sto-Wing folding wing system, which allowed more aircraft to be
stored on an aircraft carrier, increasing the number of fighters that could be
parked on a surface by more than a factor of 2. The F4F-4 was the definitive
version that saw the most combat service in the early war years, including the
Battle of Midway. The F4F-3 was replaced by the F4F-4 in June 1942, during the
Battle of Midway; only VMF-221 still used them at that time
Specifications (F4F-3)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft (11.58 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.60 m)
Loaded weight: 7,000 lb (3,200 kg)
(900 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 331 mph (531 km/h)
Range: 845 mi (1,360 km)
Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,303 ft/min (11.7 m/s)
Armament
Specifications (F4F-4)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.8 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
Height: 9 ft 2.5 in (2.8 m)
Empty weight: 5,895 lb (2,674 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,975 lb (3,617 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 8,762 lb (3,974 kg)
(900 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 320 mph (290 kn, 515 km/h)
Range: 830 mi (721 nmi, 1,337 km)
Service ceiling: 34,000 ft (10,363 m)
Rate of climb: 2,200 ft/min @ normal power (11.17 m/s)
Power/mass: 249 w/kg (0.15 hp/lb)
Armament
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