Hellcat jocks, what ya think?

[Am0n]

Can we have the 4x.50 + 2x20mm weapon load out for the f6f-5 HTC?

please  

[jarbo]

Can you provide a reference where this is a historic loadout?  Would help argue this case.  If its legitimate, I think it would be sweet.

Jarbo

[Kieran]

It was the night fighter version, and they most definitely served.

[Mathman]

While I would not really complain if the 2 20mm's were added, I don't think they should be added to the Hellcat we have now.  If we ever get a quality way of providing night fighters with something to do in a way that is close to being realistic, I would be all for it.  This is because, although almost all the F6F's could be armed with the 2 20's replacing the inboard 50's, I have not found, in any of my books, where this was done on the day fighters in any strength of number.  Thus, I would have a hard time lobbying for it.

When/if nightfighters are added, we should definitely have the F6F-5N with the 4 50's and 2 20's.

Oh well, just my thoughts.
-math

[Am0n]

Web page Combat Aircraft of the Pacific War( Some F6F-5 and F6F-5N Hellcats had 2 x 20 mm cannon plus 4 x 0.5 inch machine-guns)

Combat Aircraft of the Pacific War
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Another

 

www.aviation-history.com
Later models could substitute two 20 mm guns for the two inboard .50 calibers

Hellcat info at aviation-history web page
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Grumman F6F Web page
Some -5N and -5 models had two machine guns replaced with 20 mm cannon), and two 1,000 lbs (454 kg) bombs or six 5 in (127 mm) rocket projectiles.

F6F Web site

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Those are just the first 3 webpages i found after doing a search for "f6f".

Mathman im not asking it to replace the 6x50s, but maybe a optional weapon load out.

why would we need the F6F-5N i dont think it was that much different to justify adding another AC model, and it would be easier to just add another load out.

personaly i dont have a problem with the 6x50's, but i thought that this would be a nice addition to add a little versitility.

[K West]

"maybe a optional weapon load out."

 I'm all for that! As long as it's the whole loadout. In other words if you choose the quad 20mm armament for the F6F-5 then you get the whole 5N package; extra radar equipment weight, drag and all.

 Westy

[Am0n]

Westy

its dual 20mm's + quad .50s

[K West]

My bad. But you should still have to carry the radar ands suffer the extra weight and drag.

Westy

[214thCavalier]

No thanks I am proud not to be a cannon jockey and sure dont want that damn great radar appendage on the end of 1 wing.

[Soulyss]

Hell no! get those sissy potato guns away from my beloved hellcat!!!

 

[Hooligan]

Westy:

Not all of them were night-fighters.  Apparently there were some -5s (not 5Ns) with this loadout.

Hooligan

[Am0n]

Originally posted by Soulyss:
Hell no! get those sissy potato guns away from my beloved hellcat!!!
 

LOL  

Optional load out, you dont gotta use um. i will though!  

[K West]

Roger that Hooligan. I don't doubt it but it's hard to find out what groups did use them to quantify them as a regular use item. Much the same for folks who bring up the use of small runs of optionally armed 109's and 190's in the LW. Much of the changing or adding of guns was done in the field on a per plane or squad basis. That's not anything HTC  would do well to offer imo. Unless they start up a perked armaments program  

 Westy

[Kieran]

I'd be against this as a variant for AH for the same reasons, Westy. I'd come much closer to a P-51 with 4x20's which I KNOW had a run of 120, and even at that I don't want them, either.

[Am0n]

ahh lets see 10 disagree and 1 (me hehe) thinks its a keen idea.. I'll just go ahead and let this fall to the bottom of the pile  

thx for all your support!