- Yes
- No
Hello, I’d like to introduce and suggest the General Motors FM-1 Wildcat for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. To my understanding, this particular new Wildcat variant is identical to the F4F-4 Wildcat, practically nothing new. However, because the FM-1 is the first General Motors-produced variant with four HMGs instead of six HMGs, I believe this aircraft is worthy as a candidate to become an event, premium, or squadron aircraft in the game.
Key Characteristics
- Naval fighter
- First General Motors Wildcat variant, identical to the F4F-4
- Carries four .50-cal. HMGs and two 100-lb bombs or two 58-gal drop tanks
History
In late 1942, Grumman was ready to introduce a new naval fighter, the F6F Hellcat, and needed to give up its production of the F4F Wildcat to make room for the Hellcat production; however, the demand for the F4F Wildcats in the US Navy was still high because the F4Fs were valuable assets for the USN’s escort carriers to defend themselves from anti-shipping aircraft and submarines. These escort carriers only carried the General Motors-built TBM Avengers and needed more escort fighters that were still light enough to take off without a catapult and had low landing speed, perfect for small flight decks.
The contract was signed on April 18, 1942, and it enlisted General Motors’s Eastern Aircraft Division to overtake the production of the licensed F4F, allowing Grumman to gear up and produce newer F6F Hellcats. The first GM Wildcat was built, and its first flight was made on August 31, 1942. That licensed F4F Wildcat received a designation of FM-1 - the FM-1 Wildcat. The letter M in the aircraft’s designation is the company code for the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors.
The FM-1 Wildcat remained the same as the Grumman F4F-4 with only one difference. The FM-1 only had four .50 cal HMGs, whereas the F4F-4 had six HMGs. General Motors heeded the feedback from the pilots flying in the Pacific that they did not need the extra firepower due to decreased firing time with six HMGs. Although the firepower decreased, this was offset by 20% more ammunition with four HMG configurations, increasing firing time.
In early 1943, General Motors produced and delivered FM-1 Wildcats faster than Grumman could, so the FM-1 became available in numbers around the time the Grumman Wildcats were phased out of front-line combat and fleet carrier groups.
1,150 FM-1 Wildcats were produced; 838 were in the USN inventory, and 312 were in the Fleet Air Arm inventory. Almost all served on escort carriers to protect the transport convoys and provide close support for allied invasion. These FM-1 Wildcats continued to see combat in a support role until the end of the war. Some FM-1 Wildcats were assigned to the Hunter-Killer groups independent of convoys, and they were searching and destroying the U-boats in the Atlantic. The FM-1 was the main Wildcat from 1943 into early 1944 when improved FM-2 Wildcats became available.
Specifications
General Motors FM-1 WildcatGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 28 ft 9.375 in (8.77 m)
- Height: 12 ft 1.375 in (3.69 m)
- Span: 38 ft (11.58 m)
- Wing Area: 260 sq ft (24.15 sq m)
- Propeller Type: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
- Propeller Diameter: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
- Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 air-cooled radial piston engine
→ 1,200 hp (895 kW)- Internal Fuel: 144 US gal. (545 L)
- Oil Tankage: 11 US gal. (41.6 L)
- Empty Weight: 5,895 lb (2,674 kg)
- Gross Weight: 8,050 lb (3,651 kg)
Engine Ratings
Takeoff:
→ 1,200 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ sea level
Military:
→ 1,200 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ sea level - 1,800 ft (549 m)
→ 1,135 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ 3,400 ft (1,036 m)
→ 1,150 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ 11,500 ft (3,505 m)
→ 1,030 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
→ 1,040 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ 18,400 ft (5,608 m)Normal:
→ 1,100 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ sea level - 3,300 ft (1,006 m)
→ 1,080 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ 3,800 ft (1,158 m)
→ 1,090 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ 11,300 ft (3,444 m)
→ 1,030 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ 13,000 ft (3,962 m)
→ 1,040 BHP @ 2,550 RPM @ 18,400 ft (5,608 m)Performance @ Military Power
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.15 hp/lb (246.6 W/kg)
- Sea Level Speed: 284 mph (457 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed: 320 mph @ 18,800 ft (515 km/h @ 5,730 m)
- Stall Speed:
- Gross Weight: 81.2 mph (130.7 km/h)
- Empty Fuel: 76.7 mph (123.4 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 30.96 lb/sq ft (151.15 kg/sq m)
- Rate of Climb: 2,303 fpm (11.7 m/s)
- Service Ceiling: 34,000 ft (10,363 m)
- Range: 830 miles (1,336 km)
Armament
- 4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (430 rpg; 1,720 rounds)
- 2 x 100-lb bombs
- 2 x 58-gal drop tanks
Supplemental Data
Diagrams
Cockpit
FM-1 Livery Examples --- Illustrations
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
I made this suggestion to pursue more WW2 content for War Thunder. I have a thought that the FM-1 Wildcat, while identical to the F4F-4, would be a fascinating addition as an event, premium, or squadron aircraft that offers an opportunity for anyone to fly the F4F-4 with 4x HMGs in addition to aesthetic paint schemes as potential unlockable skins. It’s something that dedicated completionists may find enjoyable and rewarding.
See Also
- Pilot’s Handbook for Model FM-1 Airplane and Model R-1830-86 P.&.W. Engine (1943)
- Model F4F-4 and FM-1 Airplane Characteristics & Performance (1 July 1943)
- F4F Wildcat in Detail & Scale: Covers all Grumman & General Motors Versions Volume 65 (2000)
- F4F Wildcat in Action: Aircraft Number 191 (2004)
- Eastern Division FM-1 (Grumman F4F-4) Wildcat | National Air and Space Museum
- General Motors FM Wildcat | Classic Warbirds
- Grumman (General Motors) FM-1 Wildcat | Plane Dave
- The Wilder Wildcat — General Aviation News
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- General Motors / Eastern Aircraft FM-1 Wildcat
- Grumman F4F Wildcat/Martlet production information differences and color schemes
- F4FColors
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- Grumman F4F Wildcat - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
