Vought F7U-3M Cutlass (Afterburning Late Variant) - The Definitive Cutlass

Nostalgistic · September 4, 2024, 5:03am

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Vought F7U-3M Cutlass

Hello, I’d like to suggest the Vought F7U-3M Cutlass for US aviation in War Thunder. This aircraft was powered by afterburning turbojet engines and was the US Navy’s first carrier-based fighter jet equipped with afterburners designed and produced by Chance Vought. The F7U-3M was a missile-capable conversion and could fire beam-riding AAM-N-2 Sparrows. Despite new turbojet engines, the F7U-3M did not address the hydraulic systems and landing gear problems, making it the most dangerous naval aircraft to fly. “Gutless Cutlass” was one of the nicknames for the F7U, being known for causing a high rate of accidents, which led to its withdrawal from service by 1959.

Key Characteristics

Naval Jet Fighter
Tailless airframe with swept wings and no flaps
Very long nose landing gear for high AoA takeoffs
Westinghouse J46-WE-8 turbojet engines with an afterburning capability
4 x 20-mm Colt Mk. 12 cannons
AAM-N-2 Sparrow I air-to-air beam-riding missiles guided by a missile guidance radar

History

Background

The F7U-3 was a new Cutlass design to address the shortcomings of the F7U-1. As a result, the aircraft incorporated many changes that improved its performance, visibility, armament, range, airframe, and maintenance. It had a roll rate of 570 degrees a second, three times that of most production jets. Its fully steerable nose gear was extremely tall and placed the pilot 14 feet in the air. Although these changes were positive, the cockpit and radar nose design did not provide adequate carrier landing visibility.

The first 16 F7U-3s were powered by non-afterburning Allison J-35 engines rated at 5,600 pounds maximum thrust. Then, the remaining F7U-3s after the 16th aircraft were powered by Westinghouse J46-WE-8B afterburning turbojets. The cockpit was raised to provide slightly better visibility, and the radar nose was slanted downward for more visibility at the bottom. These aircraft became the definitive production standard. A total of 288 aircraft were equipped with 13 US Navy squadrons. The F7U-3 was the last major Cutlass variant.

In general, the F7U-3’s performance suffered due to a lack of sufficient engine thrust, even with the afterburner capability. Its carrier landing and take-off performance was notoriously poor, which had caused fatal accidents. In addition, the faults in hydraulic systems and landing gears further worsened the rate of accidents. Consequently, over one quarter of all Cutlasses built were destroyed in accidents, marking the highest accident rate of all Navy swept-wing fighters in the era.

F7U-3M in Operational Service

Despite the accidents and deficiencies, the F7U-3 model was further evolved to be an improved naval fighter with an additional pylon on each outer wing panel and internal fuel tanks added to the outer panel. This modification became an F7U-3M, with M indicated for being missile-capable. It was the first aircraft in US Navy service to be capable of firing the AAM-N-2 Sparrow I air-to-air missiles. The search radar was intended to be installed in the F7U-3M; however, the equipment was ruled out due to weight constraints. Only the AN/APQ-51 Missile Guidance Radar remained. Nonetheless, two F7U-3s (129589 and 129590) had been converted into prototypes for the F7U-3M.

The US Navy approved the prototypes, as it needed missile fighters as soon as possible in the service, so 98 F7U-3Ms were ordered and built or upgraded for the Navy, with one delivered in 1953, 47 in 1954, and 50 in 1955. The first flight of a production F7U-3M was on July 12, 1954, and the last F7U-3M was built and delivered on August 12, 1955. As the F7U-3Ms reached the squadrons, they quickly replaced the standard F7U-3s. Cutlass squadrons that received the -3Ms changed their designation from VF to VA because the -3M could carry up to 3,500 pounds of external stores.

The VA-83, VA-86, VA-116, VA-151, and VA-212 were among the Cutlass squadrons that operated the F7U-3Ms.

One of the instances of using the aircraft was in 1955-1956 when the VA-83 squadron took the F7U-3Ms to the USS Intrepid. They sailed to the Mediterranean, where they fired their Sparrow I missiles at the F6F-5K Hellcat drones as a part of the evaluations. The VA-83 Roaring Bulls became the first Navy squadron to deploy with guided missile capability.

Another instance was on August 16, 1956, when the VA-212 squadron deployed aboard the USS Bonne Homme Richard. They equipped and used the F7U-3Ms in the interceptor role. Once arriving in Japan, the squadron was stationed at NAS Atsugi, Japan, while repairs were made to their aircraft carrier. While standing by at Atsugi, the squadron participated in the exercise and brought their F7U-3Ms. In one of the exercises, F7U-3Ms outperformed the Marine FJ-2s. The VA-212 squadron returned to the United States in February 1957 and ultimately transitioned to F9F-B Cougars.

The Cutlass squadrons suffered many accidents related to the Cutlass airframe. A notable accident involved an F7U-3M Cutlass on July 14, 1955, when an F7U-3M Cutlass pilot flying carrier qualifications off the coast of San Diego was waved off as too low on approach to the USS Hancock, subsequently hitting the carrier with its nose pointing skyward, breaking apart, and falling over the side as a fireball erupted on the ship.

Accidents like these throttled the decision to phase the F7U-3Ms out of fleet service in 1957, as the Cutlass had attained the poorest safety record in the US Navy. Consequently, all Cutlass squadrons transitioned to F9F-8 Cougars or other aircraft like A-4 Skyhawks, and an order for 202 additional F7U-3Ms was canceled effectively, ending the career with a tarnished reputation.

Specifications

Vought F7U-3M Cutlass

General Characteristics

Crew: 1 (Pilot)

Dimensions:

Length: 43 ft 3.5 in (13.19 m)

Height: 14 ft 7.4 in (4.45 m)

Span: 39 ft 8.6 in (12.1 m)

Wing Area: 535 sq ft (49.7 sq m)

Powerplant: 2 x Westinghouse J46-WE-8 turbojet

Output: 5,800 lbf (25.8 kN) thrust each with afterburner @ 10,100 rpm @ sea level

Fuel/Oil:

Internal Fuel: 1,570 US gal. (5943 L)

Oil: 6.5 US gal. (24.6 L)

Weights:

Empty: 19,488 lb (8,840 kg)

Basic: 20,104 lb (9,119 kg)

Design: 24,068 lb (10,917 kg)

Combat: 26,968 lb (12,232 kg)

Maximum Takeoff: 37,000 lb (16,783 kg)

Clean Performance

Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 0.43

Wing Loading: 58.1 lb/sq ft (283.7 kg/sq m)

Airspeeds:

Sea level Speed:

576 mph (927 km/h) @ military

678 mph (1,091 km/h) @ afterburner

Critical Altitude Speed:

590 mph (950 km/h) @ 15,000 ft (4,572 m) @ military

615 mph (990 km/h) @ 30,000 ft (9,144 m) @ afterburner

Stall Speed: 138 mph (222 km/h)

Climb Performance:

Rate of Climb:

4,100 fpm (20.8 m/s) @ sea level @ military

10,500 fpm (53.3 m/s) @ sea level @ afterburner

Time to Altitude:

8.0 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m) @ military

17.4 minutes to 30,000 ft (9144 m) @ military

Takeoff Distance - Calm: 3,000 ft (914 m) @ afterburner

Service Ceiling: 45,400 ft (13,838 m)

Combat Radius: 265 miles (426.5 km)

Combat Range: 875 miles (1,408 km)

Engine Ratings

Maximum with Afterburner:

5,800 lbf @ 10,100 rpm @ sea level

Military:

4,020 lbf @ 10,100 rpm @ sea level

Normal:

3,620 lbf @ 10,100 rpm @ sea level

Armament

Guns:

4 x 20-mm Colt Mk.12 cannons (180 rpg; 720 rounds)

Missiles:

4 x AAM-N-2 Sparrow I air-to-air beam-riding missiles

Bombs:

2 x 2,000-lb bombs

2 x 1,000-lb bombs

Rockets:

32 x 2.75-inch rockets (on the fuselage centerline)

Drop Tanks:

2 x 150-gal. drop tanks (wings)

1 x 220-gal. fuel pod tank (on the fuselage centerline)

Electronics:

AN/APQ-51 Missile Guidance Radar

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

The F7U-3M (Late) was a most futuristic-looking and radical jet fighter designed for the US Navy despite its deficiencies, and it was only in operational service for a short time. I am suggesting this afterburning and missile-capable Cutlass variant, along with F7U-3 with non-afterburning engines and without missiles for War Thunder, like Swift F.1 and F.7.

While the engines are underpowered, the F7U-3M’s top speed is higher than the F9F-8 with an afterburner. Still, the MiG-17 with afterburner capability remains the F7U-3M’s most dangerous opponent since the F7U-3 has slower acceleration and top speed than the advanced MiG-17s. At best, the F7U-3M would serve as a better high-speed support fighter with its missiles at its disposal.

I want to emphasize that the air-to-air beam-riding missiles would not be very game-breaking in low-tier jet aircraft battles because they would function similarly to the Swift F.7’s Fireflash missiles. These missiles would work best against bombers in a straight course or fighters during head-on engagements. They are only effectively useless against a maneuvering target.

The F7U-3M would be the perfect candidate to add as the first US aircraft to equip the American beaming-riding missiles in War Thunder, and it would be a logical addition to serve as the transitional aircraft from the F9F Panther to the F3H Demon in the US aviation tech tree.

Related Suggestion

I made a suggestion for the early F7U-3 variant with non-afterburning engines. Check it out if you are interested.

Sources

F7U-3 Cutlass Standard Aircraft Characteristics (1 April 1952)
F7U-3M Cutlass Standard Aircraft Characteristics (15 May 1955)
AN 01-45HFD-1 Flight Handbook Navy Model F7U-3, -3M, -3P Aircraft (1 July 1956)
Naval Fighters Number Six Chance Vought F7U Cutlass (1982)
f7u
https://avgeekery.com/gutless-cutlass-vought-f7u-jet-bad-enough-pilots-landed-quit-flying
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/the-gutless-cutlass-12023991/
Vought F7U Cutlass - Wikipedia

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

AspandaIV · September 4, 2024, 5:10am

+1

oom1992 · September 4, 2024, 5:42am

F7U-3M to early rank 6 between F9F group and F3H-2 Demon ?

JamesPond1200-psn · September 4, 2024, 8:02am

Not only is this the definitive form of one of my favorite aircraft, but it has BEAM-RIDING AAMs, which I also absolutely love and want more of in WT! +1000000

Draco_Argentum · September 4, 2024, 9:12am

I’d really like to have this. Dodgy early AAMs are fun.

EL337GH0ST · September 4, 2024, 10:14am

+1 in main tree between F9F and F3H (watch it be added as an event vehicle)

oom1992 · September 4, 2024, 10:20am

Currently already 3 domestic USA aircraft event vehicle

But lack fighter aircraft 8.7 ~ 9.0 BR on USN fighter line for researchable tree

04_AmazingGrace · September 4, 2024, 12:32pm

I have thought since Update 1.85 “Supersonic” that it would naturally be implemented in WarThunder, along with F11F-1, F4D, etc., as part of the history of US Navy ship fighters.

jon_man1199 · September 4, 2024, 11:15pm

A +1 from me, It’s a bit of a shame we still don’t have an F7U in the game!

Nostalgistic · September 5, 2024, 12:55am

Yeah, I am afraid of that, though it shouldn’t surprise me if they do that. I am trying not to get my hopes up for anything besides being an event aircraft.

Yeah, same here. But no, they had to jump ahead and add the F-4C Phantom right away while criminally neglecting the US naval aircraft line for a long time. So many inter-WW2/Korea/Vietnam US aircraft that belonged to the US Navy have been missing to this day. It’s such a shame.

WalletWorrier · September 5, 2024, 12:57am

Beat me to it
You got F7U-1 and F7U-3 suggestions or are those still up for grabs?

Nostalgistic · September 5, 2024, 1:00am

Feel free to go for these! I have to do other US aircraft on my top priority list.

WalletWorrier · September 5, 2024, 1:01am

Aight good to know. I just finished a Hurricane IIC suggestion and the F7U family was next on my list!

Nostalgistic · September 5, 2024, 1:02am

BTW, I have suggested the F7U-3 initial nonafterburning variant in case you haven’t already noticed.

WalletWorrier · September 5, 2024, 1:05am

The 16 pre-production batch?

Nostalgistic · September 5, 2024, 1:05am

yep

oom1992 · September 17, 2024, 7:35pm

Actually fitted J46-WE-8A or J46-WE-8B engine for this variant

I don’t know gajin call AAM-N-2 or AIM-7A

deleted_user · July 30, 2025, 2:56pm

bumping this! looks like a fun goober jet :)

PlayedStatue626-live · July 30, 2025, 3:47pm

+1

goldens · November 2, 2025, 2:21pm

definitely would love to see this ingame ! ♥