Grumman XF6F-4 Hellcat - Packing a Bigger Firepower

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Grumman XF6F-4 Hellcat

   Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Grumman XF6F-4, one of the rare Hellcats, for US aviation in War Thunder. It was an attempt to incorporate a F6F-3 prototype with a turbo-supercharger and four 20-mm cannons. However, it would never entered production due to reliability issues with the turbo-supercharger, and it had a subpar flight performance compared to the F6F-3.

History

On June 26, 1942, the first Hellcat prototype, XF6F-1 (S/N 02981), made a 25-minute flight in Long Island, New York. This aircraft was previously powered by an air-cooled, supercharged, 1,700-hp Wright Aeronautical Division Twin Cyclone radial engine. This aircraft was subjected as a test bed for extensive testing for the US Navy and Marine Corps.

The second prototype (S/N 02982) was built and fitted with the 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp SSB2-G (prototype of R-2800-10), eventually becoming the standard powerplant for the production F6F Hellcats. This prototype was designated XF6F-3 and became the production basis for the F6F-3.

The XF6F-1 (02981) was subsequently refitted with the Pratt & Whitney radial and redesignated XF6F-2. This aircraft flew with the new engine on July 30, 1942. A few weeks later, another flight was conducted on August 17, 1942; however, the aircraft had an engine failure and crash-landed at farmland. The Grumman test pilot was seriously injured, and the aircraft was damaged but not severely.

The crashed aircraft (02981) was quickly repaired by Grumman engineers, so it continued in the test program. This time, it was decided to refit the aircraft with a two-speed stage, turbocharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp and redesignated XF6F-4. It was modified to have large landing gear doors and four 20mm M2 cannons, and it became a sequential prototype for the projected production F6F-4.

The XF6F-4 (02981) flew on October 3, 1942, and was put through to more trials before the end of October. It was discovered that the turbocharger had reliability issues, and the flight performance showed negligible improvements over the F6F-3. Consequently, this version of the XF6F-4 never entered production, and the aircraft was converted to a standard F6F-3. The XF6F-4 was converted to a standard F6F-3 and retained the turbo-supercharger and four 20mm M2 cannons. It was delivered to the US Navy in April 1943 and then to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Langley Research Center at Langley Field, Virginia, in spring 1944. It was used in further research.

Nevertheless, the XF6F-4 likely laid a foundation for Grumman to develop its more successful night fighters with dual cannons, F6F-3N and F6F-5N.

Specifications

Grumman XF6F-4 Hellcat

General Characteristics

  • Length: 33 ft 7 in (10.24 m)
  • Height: 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
  • Span: 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
  • Wing Area: 334 sq ft (31.03 sq m)
  • Propeller Type: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller
  • Propeller Diameter: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
  • Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp two-speed turbocharged radial piston engine
    → 2,100 hp (1,545 kW)
  • Internal Fuel: 250 US gal. (946 L)
  • Oil Tankage: 19 US gal. (71.9 L)
  • Empty Weight: 8,568 lb (3,886 kg)
  • Gross Weight: 11,062 lb (5,018 kg)

Engine ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 2,000 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ S.L.

  • Military:

    → 2,000 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ S.L

    → 1,600 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ 13,500 ft

  • Normal:

    → 1,600 BHP @ 2,400 RPM @ 5,700 ft

    → 1,450 BHP @ 2,400 RPM @ 13,000 ft

Performance @ Military Power w/ Fighter Loading Condition

  • Power-to-Weight: 0.19 hp/lb (0.31 kW/kg)
  • Sea Level Speed: 335 mph (539 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 359 mph @ 15,800 ft (578 km/h @ 4,815 m)
  • Altitude Speed:
    • 340 mph @ 1,500 ft (547 km/h @ 457 m)
    • 332 mph @ 7,800 ft (534 km/h @ 2,377 m)
    • 352 mph @ 13,500 ft (566 km/h @ 4,115 m)
    • 339 mph @ 20,000 ft (546 km/h @ 6,096 m)
    • 327 mph @ 25,000 ft (526 km/h @ 7,620 m)
  • Stall Speed
    • Gross Weight: 76.7 mph (123 km/h)
    • Without Fuel: 72.8 mph (117 km/h)
  • Wing Loading: 33.1 lb/sq ft (161.6 kg/sq m)
  • Take-off Distance, Calm: 499 ft (152 m)
  • Rate of Climb:
    • 3,060 fpm @ Sea Level (15.5 m/s)
    • 2,190 fpm @ 13,500 ft (11.1 m/s @ 4,115 m)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 3.8 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
    • 9.4 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
  • Service Ceiling: 32,300 ft (9,845 m)
  • Max. Range: 860 - 1,115 miles (1,384 - 1,794 km)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 4 x 20-mm AN/M2 cannons (60 rpg; 240 rounds?)*

*I cannot find the details and information on ammo for these cannons. My guess is that the M2 cannons of the XF6F-4 are similar to the cannons of the XP-50. It remains unknown if these cannons had a larger ammunition capacity to carry more rounds per gun.

Supplemental Data

Cockpit

Images

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Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   The XF6F-4 is an excellent opportunity to add as an event premium aircraft in War Thunder for US aviation. It has access to four 20-mm cannons, an impressive firepower; however, its engine and flight performance can sometimes let you down compared to the F6F-5’s superior flight performance. I feel the XF6F-4 could be considered on the same level as the Hawker Hurricane with four 20-mm cannons in terms of flight performance and weaponry but with heavier weight and slower climb rate.

See Also

I made suggestions for F6F-3 (initial production) and XF6F-6 (four blades). If you’re interested in these suggestions, check them out!

Sources

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

2 Likes
2

looks like the perfect bomber hunter

3

Sure, why not? This has my +1

4

+1 from me pls
But in terms of a prototype, I think the XF6F-1 with the R-2600 would make more sense i think.
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