Author Topic: F7F-3N Tiger Cat (Read 1036 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** March 09, 2001, 07:55:00 AM »

HTC, would LOVE to see this A/C added to the list of US Naval A/C as a perk A/C. Please consider it...I know you'll probably never do the P61B, so I'd be willing to wait for this gem (but not wait as long as I have for the P61B !)

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/hist-ac/f7f-3n.pdf

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~Death Rattlers~
Member of 'MAG-33' (Click here)
Click here for VMF-323 Death Rattlers info
Click here for interviews with other Aces High Squadrons
"If most Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be
King George's boys --subjects bound to the British crown."
Charlton Heston

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 03-09-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 03-09-2001).]

Tac · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2001, 08:31:00 AM »

Ripsnort, the P-61B AND the F7F will be in the game... soon...

*keeps on dreaming*..

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2001, 08:35:00 AM »

Well, HT and Pyro each get a bottle of their favorite, and the artist gets dinner on me at Hooters...er, I mean Bass Pro shop in (Oct?)...how about THAT for inspiration!

Jochen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2001, 08:47:00 AM »

How much did it see action during WWII?

I thought so. Maybe when we get Korean war arena

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jochen Gefechtsverband Kowalewski

Units: I. and II./KG 51, II. and III./KG 76, NSGr 1, NSGr 2, NSGr 20.
Planes: Do 17Z, Ju 87D, Ju 88A, He 111H, Ar 234A, Me 410A, Me 262A, Fw 190A, Fw 190F, Fw 190G.

Sieg oder bolsevismus!

Westy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2001, 08:55:00 AM »

"How much did it see action during WWII?"

Thank cod this isn't what HTC is going by or feels is the line to draw. F7F was in production and deployed well before Japan surrendered. Lack of offering targest on the part of the enemy isn't justification for non-inclusion either, imo.

-Westy

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2001, 09:10:00 AM »

Get your own thread going, loosewaffe boy!

This thread is about the Tigercat.

The XF7F-1 was first flown on November the 3rd 1943 and was designed to meet a US Navy requirement for a twin engined bomber to be operated from the Navy's aircraft carrier fleet. In reality, very few operated from anything other than terra firma.

F7F-3Ps flew a few operations for the US Marine Corps towards the end of WWII. Their last function was as night time target designation aircraft for B-29 bombing raids.
Total production of all variants of the F7F was slightly in excess of 360 examples.(think thats more than TA152 Jochen)

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 03-09-2001).]

Nashwan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2001, 09:14:00 AM »

Also in production before the end of the war:
de Havilland Hornet

Power Plants: Two 2,070 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 130 or 131
Dimensions: Span 45 ft. 0 in. Length 36 ft. 8 in.
Height 14 ft. 2 in. Wing area 361 sq. ft
Weights: (F. Mk. 1) Tare weight 12.502 lb. All-up weight 17,700 lb
Performance: (F. Mk. 1) Maximum speed 472 m.p.h.* initial climb 4,000 ft.l min
Ceiling 37.500 ft. Range 2,500 miles
*At 22,000 ft

Weave · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2001, 11:42:00 AM »

Yes to all!

Westy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2001, 12:24:00 PM »

WTG Ripsnort. Have to remind folks the war didn't necesarilly end in May of 1945 sometimes

-Westy

Toad · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2001, 01:12:00 PM »

http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircraft/sites/mats/grumman-f7f2a.htm

"The XF7F-1 (Grumman design G-51) flew for the first time in December 1943 and met the Navy's requirements for a multi-engined carrier-based fighter aircraft with a ground-support role. The first Tigercats were delivered to the fleet in April 1944 but operational problems and changing requirements led to the production cancellation of some of the 500 ordered aircraft."

http://members.tripod.com/Air_Museum_ww2/id27.htm

"In contrast, the F7F was planned on a basis of knowledge and though dramatically heavier and faster than any previous carrier aircraft it was matched with the deck of the large Midway-class carriers then under construction. Most, however, were ordered for the US Marine Corps for use from land. *

They arrived on the battle fronts in 1944, and used often as a night fighter. Many of them were given radar in the nose instead of guns and an observers seat in the rear."

Widewing · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2001, 07:50:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad:
http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircraft/sites/mats/grumman-f7f2a.htm

"The XF7F-1 (Grumman design G-51) flew for the first time in December 1943 and met the Navy's requirements for a multi-engined carrier-based fighter aircraft with a ground-support role. The first Tigercats were delivered to the fleet in April 1944 but operational problems and changing requirements led to the production cancellation of some of the 500 ordered aircraft."

http://members.tripod.com/Air_Museum_ww2/id27.htm

"In contrast, the F7F was planned on a basis of knowledge and though dramatically heavier and faster than any previous carrier aircraft it was matched with the deck of the large Midway-class carriers then under construction. Most, however, were ordered for the US Marine Corps for use from land. *

They arrived on the battle fronts in 1944, and used often as a night fighter. Many of them were given radar in the nose instead of guns and an observers seat in the rear."

There's a lot of misleading or simply incorrect information within the above quotations. Be careful what you accept as truth when it's posted to a web site.

The first of just 35 Grumman F7F-1 aircraft was delivered to the Navy on April 29, 1944. The balance of the 500 plane contract was cancelled. This first aircraft, along with subsequent aircraft went straight into a test program. In addition, the navy still had to establish a logical support base for the aircraft, prepare tech-pubs, train mechanics to maintain and pilots to operate the aircraft. Delivery to the Navy is a far cry from delivery to "the fleet".

The first operational squadron deployed was VMF(N)-533, which received their aircraft at Okinawa on August 14, 1945. This, you may recall, was the day before Japan announced its acceptance of an unconditional surrender. Only 65 of the F7F-2N night fighters were built and the first was delivered on 10/31/44.

I'd love to know the source of Ripsnort's report of Marine F7F-3Ps flying target designation for Army B-29s. Especially in light of the fact that the AAF had plenty of Lockheed extremely capable F-5G photo-recon aircraft in theater.

My regards,

Widewing

Sundog · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2001, 01:27:00 AM »

Damn! I really like the Tigercat. I guess Widewing's info means HTC will just have to build us P-61's!

.

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Sundog
VMF-111 Devildogs
MAG-33

'Criticism is always easier than craftmanship.'

[This message has been edited by Sundog (edited 03-10-2001).]

newguy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2001, 02:16:00 AM »

Yea this plane sounds swell. AFTER we fill out the rest of the set with planes that were perhaps, more significant. (i'm thinkin scenarios here). I wish we would see more requests for 110s and hurricanes and whatnot. Ah well...

Jekyll · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2001, 02:59:00 AM »

"Developed under the company designation G-51, the prototype XF7F-1 first flew on 3 November 1943, by which time 500 had been ordered for the USMC to support 'island hopping' operations in the Pacific. Deliveries of the initial F7F-1 single seater with R-2800-22W enginges began in April 1944 but after delays caused largely by changing requirements, deployment was too late to see combat in WWII and about 200 orders were cancelled in late 1945".

So Rip, unsatisfied with getting most of his A2A kills last tour in the CHog, now wants to introduce another 4 cannon Navy bird into a 1946 arena?

Oh, and Westy ....

"GRAPEVINE, Texas, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- HiTech Creations Inc., a
Grapevine, TX large scale Internet flight simulation company, recently
completed testing and released Aces High, a premium WWII flight simulation."

Read it again .... "WWII flight simulation". Sorry, but I think that precludes non WWII aircraft

Of course, if it doesn't preclude such aircraft, lets all lobby for an F15-E... perked of course

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When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Chapter 13, verse 11

[This message has been edited by Jekyll (edited 03-10-2001).]

flakbait · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2001, 06:10:00 AM »

Would you feel better with a Whirlwind? It's got 4 cannons all in the nose, and was in service in 1943. Several of them attacked the Prinz Eugen fleet during the Channel Dash. Proof of this is in Galland's book. Since it had chronic engine troubles it was relagated to Jabo missions. Down low it could defend itself, but if it went high it was a sitting duck.

Me? I'm holding out for a P-61B.

And as a side note, Zeno posted a new film about the TBM on his site.

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Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta 6's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"With all due respect Chaplian, I don't think God wants to hear from me right now.
I'm gonna go out there and remove one of His creations from this universe.
And when I get back I'm gonna drink a bottle of Scotch like it was Chiggy von
Richthofen's blood and celebrate his death."
Col. McQueen, Space: Above and Beyond