Grumman XF6F-6 Hellcat - The Four-Bladed Hellcat

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Grumman XF6F-6 Hellcat

   Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Grumman XF6F-6, one of the rare Hellcats, for US aviation in War Thunder. It was an F6F-5 prototype with the same engine used in the F4U-4 and a four-bladed propeller. It was the final Hellcat variant projected for the F6F-6 as the third production Hellcat, but it never entered production, as World War II ended and the F8F Bearcat already entered production.

   The technical information regarding the XF6F-6 is very limited and difficult to find online. I request your assistance in finding additional sources, and I encourage you to discuss and share your knowledge and findings in the comments on this topic.


History

In 1944, Grumman contemplated improving the Hellcat’s performance for the US Navy. To do this, Grumman retained and modified two F6F-5s (S/Ns 70188 and 70913) by installing Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18C series engines and Hamilton Standard four-bladed propellers. They were designated XF6F-6s.

Sources conflicted that the first flight of XF6F-6 was either on July 6, 1944, or August 30, 1944. Regardless, the XF6F-6 at critical altitudes had attained top speeds of 417 mph at 20,000 feet and 425 mph at 25,000 feet. The engine was rated at 2,100 horsepower output and 2,450 horsepower with water injection. Although the XF6F-6 was considered the fastest Hellcat of all, it was too little, too late, as the XF8F-1 Bearcat had already flown at around the same time. The Navy was eager to get F8Fs in service as soon as possible by November 1945.

Meanwhile, the XF6F-6s would have to fly more trials, but the decision had been made that Hellcat production would be phased out during 1945 in favor of all-out Bearcat production at Grumman and General Motors plants. Additionally, the cancellation of Operation Downfall, an Allied invasion of Mainland Japan, after the unconditional surrender of Japan meant the war was over. Had the war lasted longer than it did, the production of F6F-6 would probably have been realized.


Specifications

Grumman XF6F-6 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: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller
  • Propeller Diameter: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
  • Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18W radial piston engine
    → 2,450 hp (1,802 kW) @ combat w/ water injection
    → 2,100 hp (1,545 kW) @ military
  • Internal Fuel: 250 US gal. (946 L)
  • Empty Weight: ~9,300 lb (4,218 kg)
  • Gross Weight: ~12,800 lb (5,806 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff Weight: ~15,300 lb (6,940 kg)

Engine ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 2,100 BHP @ 2,800 RPM @ S.L

  • Combat:

    → 2,380 BHP @ 2,800 RPM @ S.L

    → 2,080 BHP @ 2,800 RPM @ 23,300 ft

  • Military:

    → 2,100 BHP @ 2,800 RPM @ 4,300 ft

    → 1,710 BHP @ 2,800 RPM @ 25,000 ft

  • Normal:

    → 1,700 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 9,000 ft

    → 1,550 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 26,600 ft

Performance @ Combat Power w/ Fighter Loading Condition - No data found; re-using F6F-5 data

  • Power/Weight: ~0.16 hp/lb (0.26 kW/kg)
  • Sea Level Speed: '>'320 mph (515 km/h)
  • Speed:
    • '>'370 mph @ 15,000 ft (595 km/h @ 4,572 m)
    • ~420 mph @ 23,400 ft (676 km/h @ 7,132 m)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 425 mph @ 25,000 ft (684 km/h @ 7,620 m)
  • Stall Speed Gross Weight: '>'79 mph (127 km/h)
  • Stall Speed Without Fuel: '>'73 mph (117 km/h)
  • Wing Loading: ~42.0 lb/sq ft (205.1 kg/sq m)
  • Rate of Climb: '>'3,000 fpm @ S.L. (15.2 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude: '<'7.5 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
  • Service Ceiling: '>'35,100 ft (10,698 m)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 6 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (2,400 rounds)
  • Bombs:
    • 1 x 2,000-lb bomb
    • 1 x 1,600-lb armor-piercing bomb
    • 3 x 1,000-lb bombs
    • 3 x 500-lb bombs
  • Rockets:
    • 3 x Tiny Tim rockets
    • 6 x HVAR rockets
  • Torpedoes:
    • 1 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedo
  • Drop Tanks:
    • 2 x 150 gal drop tanks

Cockpit


Images


Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   The XF6F-6 is an excellent opportunity to add as an event premium aircraft in War Thunder for US aviation. It was the fastest Hellcat variant with a different engine and four-bladed propeller. The engine was the same as used by the F4U-4, and this enabled the XF6F-6 to operate with greater power at higher altitudes. The four blades of the propeller handled and transformed that additional engine power into thrust, overcoming drag and weight and improving the climb rate. According to the SAC sheet of the F6F-5, the -5 had 380 mph as the top speed at 23,400 feet, whereas the XF6F-6 attained 417 mph to 425 mph at that altitude. The XF6F-6 aircraft offered a slight improvement in flight performance over its precursor -5 aircraft.


See Also

I made suggestions for F6F-3 (initial production) and and XF6F-4 (four cannons). If you’re interested in these suggestions, check them out!


Sources

  • F6F Hellcat in Detail & Scale Volume 49 Revised Edition (1996)
  • America’s hundred thousand: the U.S. production fighter aircraft of World War II (1997)
  • F6F Hellcat in Action (2009)
  • Grumman F6F Hellcat - Wikipedia

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

2 Likes

picture looks like the aircraft has 2 20mm cannons? seem like a downgrade in firepower for more performance

No, XF6F-6 was using the 6 x 12.7-mm machine guns. The guns were in a staggered arrangement. On each wing, you may have seen the first machine gun’s barrel sticking out further than the rest of the others, so I could see it being mistaken as the 20-mm barrel sometimes.

I’d say the firepower isn’t much of a downgrade. It still has six machine guns, the same as the initial F4U-4, regardless.

A +1 from me, would be neat to see added!

i guess if it had made it to production there probably would’ve been a chance that it could’ve had 20mm fitted to it later on