Diffrerence between the F6F-5 and the F6F-3?

[angelsandair]

Well, I keep hearing the 'rumors' of how HTC will also add the F6F-3. What differences are there in the 2? I know there are, just what? Looks? Speed? Maneuverability?

[Wmaker]

From AHT:

Originally F6F-3 didn't have water injection (in AH, would mean no wep (250hp)) which -5 had as standard. -3's had it retrofitted in the field. -5 had racks for DT's, -3 didnt. Windshield was replaced to flat version which improved forward visibility (less canopy bracing). Aft fuselage windows removed from the -5, spring tabs added to the ailerons for the -5 (helped roll rate at higher speeds), closer fitting cowling, additional armor plating, strenghtened tail structure, provisions for rockets (hard points for them), new gunsight...etc.

[Mojava]

 I found a link that notes a few differences between the F6F-5 and the F6F-3 http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_F6F-5.html Looks like there was an option for a 20mm, wouldn't that be awesome.


F6F Hellcat - Lessons learned in combat led to the development of the Hellcat. It was larger, faster, more maneuverable, more heavily armed, and its rug"ged construction allowed it to take considerable battle damage and continue to fly. Almost 75% of the U.S. Navy's air-to-air combat victories were credited to the Hellcat, with over 5000 enemy planes destroyed. The F6F-5 is powered by a 2000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W engine with water injection. It was capable of a maximum speed of 380 mph at 23,500 ft. It was armed with either six 0.50 in guns or two 20 mm cannon and four .50 in guns. Up to 2000 lbs of bombs could be carried on the center section along with 6 rockets on wing stations. Over 7000 F6F-5s were produced."

[Ack-Ack]

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_F6F-5.html Looks like there was an option for a 20mm, wouldn't that be awesome.

The 20mm gun package was only used by specialized F6F-5 units such as night fighter squadrons and were not used by regular squadrons.


ack-ack

[NEARY]

do you think the f6f-5 will be perked?

[Krusty]

Why would it? It's not perked now. It's the same plane as in-game.

[Mojava]

 Hope we get the F6F-5N  then, I'm mesmerized by the thought of a F6F with 2 20mms.

[Krusty]

You won't. Specialized night fighter with wingtip radar dome built into the wing.

Even so, most night fighters still used 50cals. Some used 20mm for sure, but there isn't a single photo of a daytime F6F with 20mm in the wing that isn't a prototype or a factory test plane (and folks have searched in the past, and not found any). Might want to let that dream die, as F6Fs were not (by and large) cannon armed planes.

[Mojava]

 That dream made my friday at work go by faster.  Would be nice to see those 2 20mms though, oh well.

[Ack-Ack]

That dream made my friday at work go by faster.  Would be nice to see those 2 20mms though, oh well.

Who knows?  Maybe with the upcoming perked ordnance system we might get that as a perked gun package.


ack-ack

[Hornet33]

You won't. Specialized night fighter with wingtip radar dome built into the wing.

Even so, most night fighters still used 50cals. Some used 20mm for sure, but there isn't a single photo of a daytime F6F with 20mm in the wing that isn't a prototype or a factory test plane (and folks have searched in the past, and not found any). Might want to let that dream die, as F6Fs were not (by and large) cannon armed planes.

I did a bunch of research on that. Actually got some info from the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. ALL F6F-5 fighters and later variants were manufactured with the capability to be armed with 2 20mm cannon on the inboard weapons stations, however most aircraft were delivered with the M2 .50 cal installed. ALL F6F-5N were produced mounting the 20mm cannon but most units in the field removed them in favor of the .50 due to logistics issues with getting the 20mm belted ammo. There are a few recodered kills of F6F-5N fighters armed with the 20mm cannon but as stated they were fairly rare in actual service.

All that being said, the F6F-5 was designed and built to take those cannon but in actual use they were rarely used. When the perk load out option comes online it might be a nice addition since it wasn't a field mod, but an actual design feature built into the aircraft from the start. That would be in keeping with the whole perk ords idea anyway right? The more exotic weapons loads would cost you more to use.

I would like to see it added as a perked option.

[SlapShot]

I did a bunch of research on that. Actually got some info from the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. ALL F6F-5 fighters and later variants were manufactured with the capability to be armed with 2 20mm cannon on the inboard weapons stations, however most aircraft were delivered with the M2 .50 cal installed. ALL F6F-5N were produced mounting the 20mm cannon but most units in the field removed them in favor of the .50 due to logistics issues with getting the 20mm belted ammo. There are a few recodered kills of F6F-5N fighters armed with the 20mm cannon but as stated they were fairly rare in actual service.

All that being said, the F6F-5 was designed and built to take those cannon but in actual use they were rarely used. When the perk load out option comes online it might be a nice addition since it wasn't a field mod, but an actual design feature built into the aircraft from the start. That would be in keeping with the whole perk ords idea anyway right? The more exotic weapons loads would cost you more to use.

I would like to see it added as a perked option.

Yeah ... perk it the same as the F4U-C.

[mg1942]

F6F-3 
A 380+ mph fighter

F6F-5
A 400+ mph fighter

[Shuckins]

The -5 Hellcat was substantially different than the -3, yet the overall appearance remained the same.  The differences in that regard are confined to a redesigned cockpit canopy with fewer braces, the deleted rear-vision window, and a more streamlined engine cowling to reduce drag.

The greatest changes in the designe were those that were implemented to meet a Navy demand for increased performance and improved roll rate:

Water injection

Redesigned, lower drag cowling.

New, non-specular, paint job with a factory applied coat of wax to reduce drag.

These changes yielded an increase in top speed that, depending on the sources cited, varied between 401 and 409 mph, up substantially from the oft quoted top speed of 380 mph of the -3.  Other changes in the -5 was the attachment of hard points for the carrying of 1000 pound bombs, or three 150 gallon fuel tanks (a combat configuration that was rarely used), and the mounting of six rockets.  The horizontal stabilizers were also strengthened, giving the Hellcat to safely reach diving speed redlines as high as .80 mach, according to Grumman engineers.

Regards, Shuckins

[TequilaChaser]

The -5 Hellcat was substantially different than the -3, yet the overall appearance remained the same.  The differences in that regard are confined to a redesigned cockpit canopy with fewer braces, the deleted rear-vision window, and a more streamlined engine cowling to reduce drag.

I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to point that underlined part out.......that rear angle off view window on each side really helps ( least it did in another sim )......