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#Post#: 11738--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: vonofterdingen Date: June 29, 2020, 4:49 pm
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HTML https://i.postimg.cc/L6nc9896/Screen-Hunter-301.png
Our Plane of the Week this week is a true icon of the Pacific
war: the Grumman F6F Hellcat. After suffering severe losses at
the hands of the Japanese Zero fighter of the early war years,
the Hellcat gave US navy pilots an aircraft that ended the
Zero’s period of dominance. The Hellcat was fast, maneuverable,
and sturdy. It was good climbing characteristics, especially
considering its weight, and was a good aircraft for carrier
landings. In short, it replaced the Zero as the air superiority
fighter in the PTO.
From Wikipedia:
The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter
aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F
Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was
the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of
the Pacific War, outdueling the faster Vought F4U Corsair, which
had problems with carrier landings.
Powered by a 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800
Double Wasp, the same powerplant used for both the Corsair and
the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Republic P-47
Thunderbolt fighters, the F6F was an entirely new design, but it
still resembled the Wildcat in many ways.[4] Some military
observers tagged the Hellcat as the "Wildcat's big brother".
The F6F made its combat debut in September 1943, and was best
known for its role as a rugged, well-designed carrier fighter,
which was able to outperform the A6M Zero and help secure air
superiority over the Pacific theater. A total of 12,275 were
built in just over two years.
Hellcats were credited with destroying a total of 5,223 enemy
aircraft while in service with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps,
and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. This was more than any other
Allied naval aircraft. Postwar, the Hellcat was phased out of
front-line service, but remained in service as late as 1954 as a
night fighter.
The F6F series was designed to take damage and get the pilot
safely back to base. A bullet-resistant windshield and a total
of 212 lb (96 kg) of cockpit armor was fitted, along with armor
around the oil tank and oil cooler. A 250 US gal (950 l)
self-sealing fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage. Standard
armament on the F6F-3 consisted of six .50 in (12.7 mm) M2/AN
Browning air-cooled machine guns with 400 rounds per gun. A
center-section hardpoint under the fuselage could carry a single
150 US gal (570 l) disposable drop tank, while later aircraft
had single bomb racks installed under each wing, inboard of the
undercarriage bays; with these and the center-section hard point
late model F6F-3s could carry a total bomb load in excess of
2,000 lb (910 kg). Six 5 in (127 mm) high-velocity aircraft
rockets (HVARs) could be carried – three under each wing on
"zero-length" launchers.
The U.S. Navy much preferred the more docile flight qualities
of the F6F compared with the Vought F4U Corsair, despite the
superior speed of the Corsair. This preference was especially
noted during carrier landings, a critical success requirement
for the Navy, in which the Corsair was fundamentally flawed in
comparison. The Corsair was thus released by the Navy to the
Marine Corps, which without the need to worry about carrier
landings, used the Corsair to immense effect in land-based
sorties. The Hellcat remained the standard USN carrier-borne
fighter until the F4U series was finally cleared for U.S.
carrier operations in late 1944 (the carrier landing issues had
by now been tackled largely due to use of Corsair by the Royal
Navy Fleet Air Arm). In addition to its good flight qualities,
the Hellcat was easy to maintain and had an airframe tough
enough to withstand the rigors of routine carrier operations.
Like the Wildcat, the Hellcat was designed for ease of
manufacture and ability to withstand significant damage.
VF-82 Grumman F6F-5 ready for launch from USS Bennington off
Okinawa in May 1945: Most of the F6F-5s built were painted
overall glossy sea blue.
The Hellcat first saw action against the Japanese on 1
September 1943, when fighters off USS Independence shot down a
Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boat. Soon after, on 23 and 24
November, Hellcats engaged Japanese aircraft over Tarawa,
shooting down a claimed 30 Mitsubishi Zeros for the loss of one
F6F. Over Rabaul, New Britain, on 11 November 1943, Hellcats and
F4U Corsairs were engaged in day-long fights with many Japanese
aircraft including A6M Zeros, claiming nearly 50 aircraft.
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When trials were flown against a captured A6M5 model Zero,
they showed that the Hellcat was faster at all altitudes. The
F6F out-climbed the Zero marginally above 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
and rolled faster at speeds above 235 mph (378 km/h). The
Japanese fighter could out-turn its American opponent with ease
at low speed and enjoyed a slightly better rate of climb below
14,000 ft (4,300 m). The trials report concluded: Do not
dogfight with a Zero 52. Do not try to follow a loop or
half-roll with a pull-through. When attacking, use your superior
power and high speed performance to engage at the most favorable
moment. To evade a Zero 52 on your tail, roll and dive away into
a high speed turn.
Hellcats were the major U.S. Navy fighter type involved in the
Battle of the Philippine Sea, where so many Japanese aircraft
were shot down that Navy aircrews nicknamed the battle the
"Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". The F6F accounted for 75% of all
aerial victories recorded by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific.[41]
Radar-equipped Hellcat night fighter squadrons appeared in early
1944.
A formidable opponent for the Hellcat was the Kawanishi N1K,
but it was produced too late and in insufficient numbers to
affect the outcome of the war.
[img width=1024
height=687]
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In game…
It is hard not to like the Hellcat in IL-2. It is fast,
well-armed, rugged, and well mannered in maneuvers. Personally
I prefer the F6F over the Vought Corsair due to the superior
visibility, especially when looking up. The 6 50 caliber machine
guns are devastating against Japanese aircraft and the Hellcat
can absorb a lot of punishment if you get yourself in a
predicament, which I tend to do. The visibility is good but
after all you need to remember to use it!
#Post#: 11743--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: cafs Date: June 30, 2020, 6:10 am
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"Our Plane of the Week this week is a true icon of the Pacific
war: the Grumman F6F Hellcat. After suffering severe losses at
the hands of the Japanese Zero fighter of the early war years,
the Hellcat gave US navy pilots an aircraft that ended the
Zero’s period of dominance. The Hellcat was fast, maneuverable,
and sturdy. It was good climbing characteristics, especially
considering its weight, and was a good aircraft for carrier
landings. In short, it replaced the Zero as the air superiority
fighter in the PTO."
Perfect introduction, perfect indeed.
😀👍👍🏅
#Post#: 11758--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: ben_wh Date: July 1, 2020, 9:24 pm
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von,
Thank you for another good write-up. In real-life the Hellcat
was simply the best carrier fighter in WW2. Some may argue that
the Corsair had better performance figures in some aspects, but
the Hellcat delivered a package that balance performance,
ease-of-use, reliability and affordability.
When flown properly, the Hellcat can dictate the fight with a
Zero. As von quoted,
"The trials report concluded: Do not dogfight with a Zero 52. Do
not try to follow a loop or half-roll with a pull-through. When
attacking, use your superior power and high speed performance to
engage at the most favorable moment. To evade a Zero 52 on your
tail, roll and dive away into a high speed turn."
However, in-game the AI - even in ace setting - does not always
behave this way. Too many times a Hellcat would try to zoom
climb away from a zero without altitude advantage, when in fact
the opposite would be the prudent thing to do. Note that this
behavior applies to some other BnZ fighters in game as well
(including the Corsair).
Cheers,
#Post#: 11762--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: vonofterdingen Date: July 2, 2020, 12:06 am
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Good points Ben. Periodically I come across Claire Chennault's
recommendations on how to fly the P-40 against the Zero. That
wise advice works very well with most allied planes in game.
#Post#: 11769--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: ben_wh Date: July 2, 2020, 12:18 pm
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von,
In game, Chennault's recommendations work especially well
against the Ki-43 and to a large degree against the Zero as
well.
If only we can teach share these recommendations with the AI as
well...
Again thanks for the good reading and discussion.
#Post#: 11770--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: DHumphrey Date: July 2, 2020, 2:08 pm
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Another great article Von … very well done !!! :)
For those interested:
HTML http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads3&file=details&id=2666
#Post#: 11776--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Grumman F6F Hellcat
By: Beowolff Date: July 4, 2020, 3:55 am
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You've put on a great article here, my old friend! ;D ;D
Many thanks for it!
I LOVE this plane...though will admit I seldom fly it (and I
can't tell you why. D'oh!) It's a superb machine, a Zero
killer par excellence... I 'should' fly it more and hopefully I
will now. Definitely this article encourages me to do so.
Thanks again.
Beo
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