Author Topic: F6F-5 and 20mm (Read 573 times)

HFMudd · « **on:** March 17, 2003, 12:01:54 PM »

Just curious, not a "HTC MUST ADD THIS OR I QUIT" thread.

I've read that some of the late production F6F-5 Hellcats had their inboard .50's replaced with 20mm. I was interested in any more information there might be on this. Standard stuff... "How many?", "Did they see combat?" and so forth.

Thanks.

Oh and "Perk 'em!" in advance. Not sure what should be perked or how much, but I'm sure something should be.

F4UDOA · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2003, 12:25:50 PM »

I believe they were the F6F-5N night fighter.

I also think they saw service. Although surprisingly the Navy did not like the mix battery of .50cal and 20mill. They preffered one or the other.

I am not sure how much action they were in but I have some Hellcat books to verify. You can check Bruce Porters book for more info. He was a Marine night fighting ace who saw combat in the F6F-5N and F4U-2. He has a pretty good book out on the subject.

Soulyss · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2003, 12:41:08 PM »

From what I've been able to tell all F6F-5's COULD mount the 20mm as part of the design.

The only ones to do so were a very small number of the F6F-5N night fighters. Many units found that the F6F-5N's that were delivered from the factory with the 20mm installed were sans the flash suppressors which ruined the weapons effectiveness at night. Many other units found the guns hard to mantain and not very reliable. Kills by cannon equipped F6F's during the war can probably be counted on one hand.

IMHO keep those damned cannons the hell away from my Hellcat, don't need 'em in AH, don't want 'em.

DblTrubl · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2003, 06:17:10 PM »

Pyro, pls take Soulyss' hispanos from his F6F-5N and mount them in the nose or wingroots of my P-38. Thx in advance.

plumbob · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:02:08 AM »

The extra weight on the wings from those cannons would ruin alot of the flight characteristics that make the F6 such a great plane. Leave it alone

Hooligan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:02:37 AM »

Some sources imply that 20mms may have been used on non-nightfighters. I've seen a couple of dozen photos of F6F-5s equipped with 20mms and every one of them was a nightfighter. If you can find any pictures of day versions with this armament, this would be a good place to post them.

Hooligan

Tony Williams · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:55:23 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by plumbob
The extra weight on the wings from those cannons would ruin alot of the flight characteristics that make the F6 such a great plane. Leave it alone

I doubt that very much. The extra weight of the guns was around 25 kg each, which in a plane as large, heavy and powerful as the F6 would hardly be noticed in a mid-wing position.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion
forum

Soulyss · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2003, 12:47:28 PM »

Did some browsing through The 100K and the only reference I can find to a mixed armament F6F's that were not nightfighters is

"Towards the end of Hellcat production some F6F-5 aircraft were equipped with a mixed battery of armament"

The other interesting tidbit of info is it states that the F6F-5 had

"provision added for two 150 US gallon capacity underwing drop tanks in addition to the venterline rack."

That's the first time I've heard of that capacity, yet I've never seen a picture of a F6F loaded that way so I guess it's fairly safe to asume that it wasn't used operationally? Or maybe only on recon sorties?

Puke · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2003, 09:58:26 PM »

Like Soulyss said, it's my understanding that ALL F6F's were designed so that two machine guns could be replaced with a cannon. This was never actually done though and I guess 'cause it wasn't needed in the war in the Pacific. I like the Hellcat and personally would love to see a cannon equipped Hellcat in the MA for our useage. If the Hellcat actually had to fight Spits, FW's and bombers, you might've seen this option actually exercised.