- Yes
- No
Hello! I’d like to introduce and suggest the General Motors FM-2 Wildcat for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. I am surprised this aircraft isn’t in the game despite being the most produced Wildcat variant, with 4,437 built for the US Navy plus 340 for the Royal Navy. Historically, the FM-2s were delivered overseas in the Atlantic and Pacific to serve on escort carriers where the F6F and F4U fighters could not operate. In one case, the FM-2 Wildcats took off from the escort carriers to strafe the approaching Japanese surface fleet, including the Yamato battleship, during the famous Battle of Samar.
Key Characteristics
- Naval fighter
- Last and most numerous major production variant based on an XF4F-8 prototype
- Powered by beefier 1,350-hp Wright R-1820-56 air-cooled, water-injected, radial piston engine
- Taller tail to counteract the torque
- Four .50-cal. HMGs with 1,720 rounds as a total
- New wing racks for two 250-lb bombs or six 5-inch HVAR rockets
History
Design and DevelopmentAlthough Grumman had moved to concentrate on developing and producing the new F6F Hellcat fighters, the US Navy still needed small and nimble fighters to fill their new escort carriers. The US Navy allowed General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division to take over the production of the Wildcats. The first FM-1 was produced and delivered in August 1942; at the same time, General Motors developed a newer and improved version - the FM-2 - based on an XF4F-8 prototype.
The XF4F-8 prototype had its vertical tail enlarged and featured a lightened airframe to optimize the takeoff performance from the escort carriers. It had a more powerful 1,350-hp R-1820-56 Cyclone 9 radial engine with a turbocharger, increased by 150 hp.
The first one of two XF4F-8s made its first flight in November 1942 with a shortened tailfin. It was revealed that the torque of the bigger engine affected handling, so another one was constructed with a taller tailfin. The changes proved satisfactory, and the variant immediately got accepted and became the Eastern Aircraft FM-2 before it was ordered into production in early 1943. The letter M in the aircraft’s designation is the company code for the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors.
Production & Operational ServiceThe FM-2 had different cowling and omitted the belly windows. It had a new straight-up radio mast instead of a forward-canted radio mast as fitted to earlier Wildcat variants; it had a newer oil cooler system and deleted the oil coolers under the wings as fitted to the earlier Wildcat variants. New FM-2s received a production R-1820-56W with a wet injection system to help boost short-term engine output. Later models featured launch stubs for HVAR rockets used in close support and anti-submarine operations. All these new changes made FM-2 the faster and more agile variant than all of the Wildcat variants. It also had a much superior rate of climb and a higher ceiling.
Around the early to middle of 1943, General Motors switched its production from FM-1 to FM-2. The FM-2 would become the most produced variant of the Wildcat fighter, with 4,127 FM-2s made for the US Navy and 340 made for England.
These FM-2 Wildcats were delivered and assigned to escort carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic. Their duties were convoy protection, anti-submarine operations, and support in amphibious operations. They also flew out on combat air patrols to protect convoys and warships from anti-shipping or kamikaze aircraft. The FM-2s proved worthy for the USN pilots on the escort carriers since their slower landing speed and maneuverability made them more suitable for landing and takeoff from small deck escort carriers.
During the Battle off Samar on October 25, 1944, the FM-2 Wildcats and TBM Avengers took off to cover the amphibious landings in the Philippines. Soon, they were facing a dangerous Japanese surface fleet accompanied by a Yamato battleship. The escort carriers from Taffys 1, 2, and 3 scrambled the aircraft. These aircraft had no choice but to strafe the warships to dissuade them. The FM-2s were strafing and damaging Yamato’s bridge despite the heavy and thick flak bursts from the anti-air guns. Combined with the fierce resistance of USN destroyers, they inflicted significant damage enough to confuse and dissuade the Japanese, who eventually withdrew from the battle. The surviving aircraft were routed to land at Leyte to rearm and refuel.
The FM-2 Wildcat production ceased in August 1945. By the end of the war, the sum of the FM Wildcat victories was 432; many of the victories were kamikazes. This FM-2 variant earned its informal nickname - Wilder Wildcat. Many of FM-2 Wildcats survived the war and remained airworthy as airshow warbirds.
Specifications
General Motors FM-2 WildcatGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 28 ft 10.625 in (8.8 m)
- Height: 13 ft 6.5 in (4.13 m)
- Span: 38 ft (11.58 m)
- Wing Area: 260 sq ft (24.15 sq m)
- Powerplant: Wright R-1820-56W Cyclone air-cooled, water-injected, radial piston engine
→ 1,350 hp (1,007 kW)- Internal Fuel: 126 US gal. (477 L)
- Oil Tankage: 11 US gal. (41.6 L)
- Empty Weight: 5,448 lb (2,471 kg)
- Gross Weight: 7,487 lb (3,396 kg)
Engine Ratings
Takeoff:
→ 1,350 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ sea level
War Emergency:
→ 1,360 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ sea level
→ 1,300 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 1,500 ft (457 m)
→ 1,200 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 4,000 - 7,500 ft (1,219 - 2,286 m)
→ 1,000 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 13,300 - 14,700 ft (4,054 m - 4.480 m)Military:
→ 1,300 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ sea level - 1,500 ft (457 m)
→ 1,000 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 9,000 ft - 14,700 ft (2,743 m - 4,480 m)Normal:
→ 1,200 BHP @ 2,500 RPM @ sea level - 2,700 ft (823 m)
→ 900 BHP @ 2,500 RPM @ 11,000 - 17,500 ft (3,353 - 5,334 m)Performance @ War Emergency
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.18 hp/lb (295.9 W/kg)
- Sea Level Speed: 306 mph (492 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed: 326 mph @ 10,700 ft (525 km/h @ 3,261 m)
- Stall Speed:
- Gross Weight: 75.6 mph (121.6 km/h)
- Empty Fuel: 71.6 mph (115.2 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 28.8 lb/sq ft (140.6 kg/sq m)
- Takeoff Distance - Calm: 489 ft (149 m)
- Rate of Climb: 3,650 fpm (18.5 m/s)
- Time to Altitude:
- 3.2 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
- 7.5 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
- Service Ceiling: 34,700 ft (10,577 m)
- Range: 900 miles (1,448 km)
Armament
- 4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (430 rpg; 1,720 rounds)
- 2 x 250-lb bombs
- 6 x 5-inch (127-mm) HVAR/FFAR rockets
- 2 x 58-gal drop tanks
Diagrams
Cockpit
FM-2 Livery Examples --- Illustrations
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
I made this suggestion because the FM-2 Wildcat is overdue and awaiting addition to the US aviation tech tree. I want to bring your attention to this because the FM-2 Wildcat deserves its place in War Thunder. The FM-2 is the most produced Wildcat variant with a powerful engine and improved flight performance. It has access to new ground weaponry. This suggestion also calls for expanding WW2 aircraft content in the game, especially for the US naval fighter line in the tech tree. This FM-2 would make a welcoming addition to the Wildcat family. It could be foldered with the F4F Wildcats or separated between the F4F series and F6F.
See Also
- Model FM-2 Airplane Characteristics & Performance (1 September 1944)
- Pilot’s Handbook of Flight Operating Instructions for Navy Model FM-2 and British Model Wildcat VI Airplanes (15 June 1945)
- F4F Wildcat in Detail & Scale: Covers all Grumman & General Motors Versions Volume 65 (2000)
- F4F Wildcat in Action: Aircraft Number 191 (2004)
- The Wilder Wildcat — General Aviation News
- Grumman F4F Wildcat/Martlet production information differences and color schemes
- F4FColors
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- FM-2 Wildcat (Quarterdeck)
- FM-2 Wildcat (Pacific Island)
- General Motors / Eastern Aircraft FM-2 Wildcat
- FM-2 Wildcat Info
- General Motors FM-2 Wildcat | Military Aviation Museum
- FM-2 Performance Trials
- Grumman F4F Wildcat - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
