General Motors FM-2 Wildcat - Unsung Hero of the Pacific

[Nostalgistic]

Would you like to see this in-game?

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General Motors FM-2 Wildcat

   Hello! I’d like to introduce and suggest the General Motors FM-2 Wildcat for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. It’s surprising that this aircraft hasn’t been added yet, despite being the most produced Wildcat variant, with 4,437 built for the US Navy and 340 for the Royal Navy. Historically, FM-2s were deployed on escort carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific, where larger fighters like the F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair could not operate effectively. Famously, FM-2 Wildcats flew off escort carriers to strafe the Japanese surface fleet, including Yamato, during the Battle off Samar.

Key Characteristics

• The Wilder Wildcat!
• Naval fighter
• Final and most numerous Wildcat variant based on an XF4F-8 prototype
• Powered by a 1,350-hp Wright R-1820-56 Cyclone radial engine with water injection
• Enlarged vertical tail for improved handling with a more powerful engine
• Four .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns with 1,720 rounds as a total
• New wing racks for two 250 lb bombs or six 5-inch HVAR rockets

History

Design and Development

Although Grumman had shifted its focus to developing and producing the new F6F Hellcat, the US Navy still required compact, nimble fighters for use on escort carriers. To meet this need, the Navy authorized General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division to take over Wildcat production. The first FM-1 was delivered in August 1942. Simultaneously, GM began developing an improved version, the FM-2, based on the XF4F-8 prototype.

The XF4F-8 featured a lightened airframe and an enlarged vertical stabilizer to improve takeoff and handling characteristics aboard the smaller decks of escort carriers. It was powered by a more robust 1,350-hp Wright R-1820-56 Cyclone 9 radial engine with a turbocharger, 150 hp more than earlier models.

The first of two XF4F-8 prototypes flew in November 1942 with a shortened tailfin, but tests revealed that the increased engine torque negatively affected handling. The second prototype was built with a taller tailfin, which resolved the issue. The results were satisfactory, and the design was promptly accepted for production as the FM-2. The “M” in the designation denotes General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division as the manufacturer.

Production & Operational Service

The FM-2 introduced several modifications over previous Wildcat variants:

• Revised engine cowling and elimination of the ventral (belly) windows
• A vertical, straight radio mast replacing the forward-canted type
• Updated oil cooling system with underwing oil coolers removed
• Production use of the R-1820-56W engine with water injection for temporary power boosts
• Launch stubs for 5-inch HVAR rockets on later production models

These enhancements made the FM-2 faster, more agile, and provided it with a higher rate of climb and service ceiling than earlier Wildcat models, making it the best-performing Wildcat variant overall.

By early to mid-1943, General Motors had fully transitioned from FM-1 to FM-2 production. The FM-2 would go on to become the most produced Wildcat variant, with 4,127 built for the U.S. Navy and 340 sent to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease.

FM-2s were deployed aboard escort carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Their mission roles included convoy protection, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious support, and combat air patrols to defend against enemy bombers, torpedo planes, and kamikazes. Thanks to their excellent low-speed handling and short takeoff performance, they were ideally suited for the limited decks of escort carriers.

One of the FM-2’s most notable combat actions occurred during the Battle off Samar on October 25, 1944. FM-2 Wildcats and TBM Avengers launched from escort carriers to support amphibious landings in the Philippines, only to encounter a powerful Japanese surface fleet, including the battleship Yamato. With limited ordnance, the aircraft resorted to repeated strafing runs, even scoring hits on Yamato’s bridge while enduring heavy flak. Combined with the fierce resistance of USN destroyers, they inflicted significant damage enough to contribute to the Japanese fleet’s confusion and ultimate withdrawal. Surviving aircraft were rerouted and landed at Leyte to refuel and rearm.

Production of the FM-2 concluded in August 1945. By the end of the war, FM-series Wildcats had scored 432 aerial victories, many against kamikaze aircraft. The FM-2 earned the informal nickname “Wilder Wildcat” for its improved performance and combat record. Many FM-2s survived the war and can still be seen flying today as restored airshow warbirds.

Specifications

General Motors FM-2 Wildcat

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 28 ft 10.625 in (8.8 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 6.5 in (4.13 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft (11.58 m)
  • Wing Area: 260 sq ft (24.15 sq m)
• Propeller:
  • Type: Curtiss Electric constant-speed
  • Diameter: 10 in (3.048 m)
• Powerplant: Wright R-1820-56W Cyclone radial engine
  • Type: Air-cooled, water-injected
  • Power Output: 1,350 hp (1,007 kW)
• Fuel/Oil:
  • Fuel Capacity: 126 US gal (477 L)
  • Oil Capacity: 11 US gal (41.6 L)
• Weights:
  • Empty: 5,448 lb (2,471 kg)
  • Gross: 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)

Flight Performance @ War Emergency Power

• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.18 hp/lb (295.9 W/kg)
• Speed:
  • Sea Level: 306 mph (492 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude: 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)
• Climb Performance:
  • Rate: 3,650 ft/min (18.5 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 3.2 min → 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
    • 7.5 min → 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
• Service Ceiling: 34,700 ft (10,577 m)
• Range: 900 mi (1,448 km)

Armament

• Guns: 4 x .50-cal M2 Browning (430 rpg / 1,720 total rounds)
• Bombs:
  • 2 x 250-lb bombs
  • 2 x 500-lb bombs
• Rockets: 6 x 5-inch (127 mm) HVAR/FFAR rockets
• External Fuel: 2 x 58-gal drop tanks
• Misc: 1 x JATO unit (attached to the centerline of the fuselage, ft of the main landing gear)

Airplane Charcteristics & Performance Sheets

FM-2 Manual

Diagrams

Cockpit

FM-2 Livery Examples --- Illustrations

Atlantic Scheme - Dark Gull Gray over Insignia White

Tricolor Scheme - Semi Gloss Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue and Insignia White

Final Factory Scheme - overall Gloss Sea Blue

Trainer Scheme - Silver Lacquer with a Flat Black anti-glare panel and windshield frame

Images

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   This suggestion is part of my broader effort to promote more World War II content in War Thunder. The FM-2 Wildcat is overdue and deserves a place in the US aviation tech tree. To reiterate for emphasis, the FM-2 is the most produced Wildcat variant, with a powerful engine, improved flight performance, and access to new ground weaponry. The FM-2 should be added as a tech tree aircraft to complement the existing Wildcat family. It could be foldered with the earlier Wildcats or placed just before the F6F Hellcat to reflect its role as a transitional fighter.

Related Suggestion

General Motors FM-1 Wildcat - A Decisive Asset for the Escort Carriers

poll [image] General Motors FM-1 Wildcat    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 Wildcat variant is nearly identical to the F4F-4 Wildcat, with only one key difference. However, because the FM-1 was the first Wildcat produced by General Motors and came equipped with four .50-cal machine guns instead of six, I believe this aircraft deserves a place in the game, ideally as an …

Sources

• 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)
• F4F & FM Wildcat in Detail & Scale - Detail & Scale Series Book 7 (2018)
• 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 (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! 😃

[LeonDasPro]

The extra power and bigger tail alongside the armament changes make it more worthy for a place than the FM-1.

Maybe foldered seperately with the F6F leaving the standard F4Fs (and maybe the FM-1) to their own.

[F6F_Minsi_III]

Glad to see that

[GibProject68U2]

i love these late wildcats, i hope britain gets this one as the Marlet Mk VI

[VonRichthofen555]

I’d love to see this plane in game, and I don’t think we are the only ones who want it, as it’s been suggested quite a few times in the past. In fact, it seems one of those suggestions was passed to developers for review some 9 years ago

[Thatz]

@Nostalgistic Can you fix the photos? All of the photos are broken in this suggestion

[Nostalgistic]

Fixed & reuploaded. Thank you.

[Nostalgistic]

More images:

[oinkmoo]

Great Work! I really want to see this thing in game, I’m waiting for this thing for so long. I’d fly this thing regardless of how competitive it is at the BR. I really love to have thing thing in the game.

[BOMBAY9997042-live]

Me like new skins

[RWGWAG-live]

To be honest, it’s ridiculous that this is not in the game yet while we have SIX Corsairs in the tree, some with barely any difference, three P-36s, two PBJs, and the list goes on. Corsairs aside, we get so many planes that were barely a footnote in WWII but the FM-2 has never been added despite its widespread use and heavy interest from players for nearly a decade. What gives?

I saw some skin suggestions and I would at least want the overall glossy sea blue. We already have an Atlantic option for the F4F-4. The tri-color is cool too (don’t even get me started on how the only skin for the F4U-1C is the tri-color when only the prototype had that paint scheme….). I think the FM-2’s finest hours in the closing stages of WWII in the overall glossy sea blue should be represented. Besides, it’s the easiest to add. Ralph Elliott and Joe McGraw are to pilots with good skin options too in the overall glossy sea blue.

The FM-2 would be very fun to play. It may also come as a surprise to players used to fighting the Grumman Wildcats vs this Eastern Wildcat which was an absolute brawler. Its kill ratio was the best of any at the end of the war, however this included a large number of kamikazes which waters it down heavily. However, more than one well-flown A6M who were in it to fight were caught off-guard by the FM-2’s performance in a dogfight and paid the price. Check out VC-10 pilot Joe McGraw’s Zero dogfight story for details.

IT IS TIME!

[RWGWAG-live]

One more thing on Eastern Wildcats — I don’t think the FM-1 should be added. From memory, it was just an F4F-4 with four guns. If anything else, it wasn’t much different. The Atlantic skin option for the F4F-4 serves this purpose well enough.

The FM-2 is quite literally the “Wilder Wildcat” and is a great disappointment for not being in the game at the moment. Though, by the time it finally gets added (if ever) I probably won’t be playing anymore! Lol.

Fun fact, the first pilot to score the first jet vs. jet kill was U.S. Navy Commander William T. Amen on 9 November 1950 in an F9F Panther. Five years earlier as a Lieutenant, he led a fighter sweep to Chichi Jima on 19 February 1945 at the beginning of the Iwo Jima invasion campaign. He was flying FM-2 Wildcats with VC-82 off the USS Anzio (CVE-57).

[Nostalgistic]

At last, I have reorganized and updated the FM-2’s specs, including data on engine ratings. Added supplemental data & diagrams. The specs are much more elaborate and precise now.

@RWGWAG

-snip-
IT IS TIME!

Well said. I am in 100% agreement with you. Hope it comes to War Thunder sooner.

[jon_man1199]

Oh yes please, a +1 from me!

[BasherBenDawg8]

Heck yeah! More wildcats are definitely appreciated. Would also love to see the XF4F-8 prototype as its own aircraft, perhaps even a premium counterpart to this, someday ingame as well! Big +1 from me!

[WalletWorrier]

I’ll (almost) always support the most-produced model of a vehicle family already in-game, +1

[oom1992]

+1 Greatest Wildcat

[matadrum]

I’ve been waiting so long for this aircraft. Gaijin PLEASE

[Nostalgistic]

Updated FM-2 Wildcat suggestion format and specifications.

Finally got a chance to revisit this suggestion, and I’ve acquired some extra information I recently found in a book!

Good news: I discovered that the FM-2 Wildcat was capable of carrying 2 x 500 lb bombs through a field modification.

Also, the FM-2 was tested with an experimental JATO (Jet-Assisted Take-Off) unit. I can suggest this as a separate suggestion if the FM-2 gets added to the game but does not include the experimental JATO.

Here are images:

And lastly…

Who else wants to fly the FM-2 Wildcat in bright yellow camouflage? 😉