Author Topic: Question regarding F6F-5c Hellcat (Read 481 times)

Shuckins · « **on:** May 07, 2003, 05:12:09 PM »

While surfing the net the other day, searching for information on the F6F-6 experimental Hellcat, I ran across a website that contained downloads of aircraft that could be flown in CFSII.

One of these downloads was modeled on an F6F-5 that purportedly took part in Operation Dragoon (the invasion of southern France) in 1944. The aircraft was designated as an F6F-5c. The c denoted that this Hellcat had two 20mm cannon installed. It was flown off of the carrier Tulagi by VOF-1 squadron. According to information provided at this website, this squadron's mission was to provide on the spot observation for naval gunfire, and to attack German vehicles behind the lines. With no other information to go on than this, I can only surmise that the 20mm were installed to give these Hellcats greater punch for attacking some of the more lightly-armored ground vehicles. The aircraft in the download featured four kill markings denoting German aircraft shot down.

I have never run across anyother references to these aircraft being armed with 20mm cannon, although there are references to some of the Hellcat production run, outside of the F6F-5N, being so armed.

Has anyone else ever seen references to these cannon-armed Hellcats that fought in southern France?

If you're curious, the web site is http://www.avhistory.org

Regards, Shuckins

F4UDOA · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2003, 09:40:27 PM »

Schuckins,

I know the F6F scored a few kills over there.

I have only heard of the 20mil being used by night fighter.

Although I have read that the 20mil and 50 cal were interchangable on the F4U by ground crew. I would imagine the same applied to the F6F.

Ridge · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2003, 05:18:29 PM »

Avhistory.org is the home of the Combat Flight Simulator 2 and 3's 1% planes. These planes fly plus or minus 1% of their real world counterparts. These planes are very popular, both online and offline. Makes for interesting fights.

If you are interested in CFS2/3, also check out:

http://www.netwings.org
http://www.sim-outhouse.com

Two very high quality sites with many people on the forums to help ya. Sim Outhouse has nearly 5,000 members!

S!

Ridge

Soulyss · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2003, 11:03:33 PM »

From the material I've read (and I'm going on memory here, I don't have the book in front of me) the text states something to the effect of "all late production F6F-5 had provisions for either 6 .50 cal machine guns, 3 in each wing. Or 2 20mm cannon and 4 .50 cal MG".

So it would seem that even though the design of "late production" (whatever that means) F6F-5's COULD mount a mixed battery. I have yet to find any reference to it being used in anything but a small number of night fighters.

Shuckins · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2003, 05:24:03 PM »

While re-reading an old article in "Wings" I ran across some pictures of -5 Hellcats being flown by Naval reserve pilots. The year was 1947. According to the author, these aircraft were armed with two 20mm cannon and were definitely NOT night-fighters. The installation appeared to be different from that of the F6F-5N. The -5N's 20mms seemed to be mounted further forward in the wing, for the barrel protruded at least three feet beyond the wing's leading edge. The Naval Reserve Hellcat's 20mms' barrels extened only a foot or so beyond the edge of the wing.

On the standard -5 Hellcat, all the barrels of the .50 caliber machine guns extended beyond the edge of the wing, with the barrels of the inboard .50s protruding further than those of the outboard .50s. On the Reserve Hellcats, the barrels of the .50 calibers that were outboard of the 20mms were flush with the edge of the wing.

I can only assume that these reserve Hellcats were late production -5s that had been fitted with 20mms at the factory. Does anyone else know anything about these airacraft?

Regards, Shuckins