Grumman F7F Tigercat

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F7F_Tigercat

The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United
States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in World War
II until 1954. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the USN.
While the Tigercat was delivered too late to see combat in World War II, it saw
action as a night fighter and attack aircraft during the Korean War.

Designed initially for service on Midway-class aircraft carriers, early
production F7Fs were land-based variants. The type was too large to operate from
older and smaller carriers, and only a late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for
carrier service.

Based on the earlier Grumman XP-50 that was eventually canceled, the company
developed the XP-65 (Model 51) further for a future "convoy fighter" concept. In
1943, work on the XP-65 was terminated in favor of the design that would
eventually become the F7F. The contract for the prototype XF7F-1 was signed on
30 June 1941. Grumman's aim was to produce a fighter that outperformed and
outgunned all existing fighter aircraft, and that had an auxiliary ground attack
capability. Armament was heavy: four 20 mm cannon and four 50 caliber (0.50 in;
12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as underwing and under-fuselage hardpoints for
bombs and torpedoes. Performance met expectations too; the F7F Tigercat was one
of the highest performance piston-engine fighters, with a top speed well in
excess of the U.S. Navy's single-engine aircraft — 71 mph faster than a Grumman
F6F Hellcat at sea level. Captain Fred M. Trapnell, one of the Navy's premier
test pilots, opined that: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown." The
Grumman F7F was originally named the "Tomcat", but this name was rejected, as it
was considered too suggestive at the time. The name would later be used for the
Grumman F-14.

All this was bought at the cost of heavy weight and a high landing speed, but
what caused the aircraft to fail carrier suitability trials was poor directional
stability with only one engine operational, as well as problems with the
tailhook design. The initial production series was, therefore, used only from
land bases by the USMC, as night fighters with APS-6 radar. At first, they were
single-seat F7F-1N aircraft, but after the 34th production aircraft, a second
seat for a radar operator was added; these aircraft were designated F7F-2N.

The next version produced, the F7F-3, was modified to correct the issues that
caused the aircraft to fail carrier acceptance and this version was again
trialled on the USS Shangri-La. A wing failure on a heavy landing caused the
failure of this carrier qualification, too. F7F-3 aircraft were produced in day
fighter, night fighter, and photo-reconnaissance versions.

A final version, the F7F-4N, was extensively rebuilt for additional strength and
stability, and did pass carrier qualification, but only 12 were built.


Role
heavy fighter

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Grumman

First flight
2 November 1943

Introduction
1944

Retired
1954

Primary users
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps

Produced
1943–1946

Number built
364

Developed into
Grumman XTSF

Marine Corps night fighter squadron VMF(N)-513 flying F7F-3N Tigercats saw
action in the early stages of the Korean War, flying night interdiction and
fighter missions and shooting down two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. This was the
only combat use of the aircraft.

Most F7F-2Ns were modified to control drones for combat training, and these
gained bubble canopies over the rear cockpit for the drone controller. An F7F-2D
used for pilot transitioning also had a rear sliding, bubble canopy.

In 1945, two Tigercats, serial numbers TT346 and TT349, were evaluated, but
rejected by the British Royal Navy, who preferred a naval version of the de
Havilland Hornet.

Specifications (F7F-4N Tigercat)

General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot, radar operator)
Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.8 m)
Wingspan: 51 ft 6 in (15.7 m)
Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.1 m)
Wing area: 455 ft² (42.3 m²)
Empty weight: 16,270 lb (7,380 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 25,720 lb (11,670 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp radial engines, 2,100 hp
(1,566 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 460 mph (400 knots, 740 km/h)
Range: 1,200 mi (1,000 nmi, 1,900 km)
Service ceiling: 40,400 ft (12,300 m)
Rate of climb: 4,530 ft/min (23 m/s)

Armament

Guns:
4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M3 cannon (200 rpg, wing roots)
4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (400 rpg, in nose) (normal fighter
versions only; replaced by radar unit in the -3N nightfighter)

Bombs:
2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or
8 x 127mm unguided rockets under wings and
1 x 150 gallon fuel or napalm tank under fuselage, or
1 × torpedo under fuselage (day fighter only)


Avionics

AN/APS-19 radar



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