Grumman XF6F-4 Hellcat - Packing a Bigger Firepower

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Grumman XF6F-4 Hellcat

Naval Fighter

   Greetings. 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 feet 7 inches
  • Height: 14 feet 5 inches
  • Span: 42 feet 10 inches
  • Wing area: 334 feet
  • Propeller: 3-bladed, 13-foot 1-inch Hamilton Standard
  • Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp two-speed turbocharged radial piston engine
    → 2,100 hp
  • Power/Weight: ~0.19 hp/lb
  • Wing Loading: 33.1 lb/sq ft
  • Empty Weight: 8,568 lb
  • Gross Weight: 11,062 lb
  • Internal Fuel: 250 gal.
  • Oil Tankage: 19 gal.

Performance with Military Power, Fighter Loading Condition

  • Sea Level Speed: 335 mph
  • Speed at 1,500 feet: 340 mph
  • Speed at 7,800 feet: 332 mph
  • Speed at 13,500 feet: 352 mph
  • Critical Altitude Speed at 15,800 feet: 359 mph
  • Speed at 20,000 feet: 339 mph
  • Speed at 25,000 feet: 327 mph
  • Stall Speed Gross Weight: 76.7 mph
  • Stall Speed Without Fuel: 72.8 mph
  • Rate of Climb at Sea Level: 3,060 feet per minutes
  • Rate of Climb at 13,500 feet: 2,190 feet per minutes
  • Time to Climb at 10,000 feet: 3.8 minutes
  • Time to Climb at 20,000 feet: 9.4 minutes
  • Service Ceiling: 32,300 feet
  • Maximum Range: 860 miles to 1,115 miles
  • Take-off Distance, Calm: 499 feet

Engine ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 2,000 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ sea level

  • Normal:

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

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

  • Military:

    → 2,000 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ sea level

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

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.


Cockpit


Images


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.


Sources

See Also

I made suggestions for F6F-3 (initial production) and XF6F-6 (four blades). Check them out if you are interested.


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

2 Likes

looks like the perfect bomber hunter

Sure, why not? This has my +1