Looks Like 20mm to Me

[handy169]

Its armament, power, and range gave the Hellcat great versatility. The basic weaponry consisted of six wing-mounted .50 caliber machine guns, each with 400 rounds of ammunition. Many, including all F6F-5N and F6F-5P variants substituted a 20mm cannon with 200 rounds for the innermost machine gun in each wing. The Hellcat could carry a up two 1,000 pound bombs. Its most destructive weapons were six 5-inch HVAR's (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets), which the author Barrett Tillman described as "equal to a destroyer's broadside."  
 
The next and most common variant was the F6F-5 which featured improvements such as all-metal control surfaces, replacement of rear windows with armor, improved visibility through the windshield as well as numerous other minor advances. Another improvement of the F6F-5 was its ability to carry either the standard armament of six 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) machine guns, or a new, more powerful fit of a pair of Hispano 0.79 in. (20 mm) cannon carrying a minimum effective load of 220 rounds each along with two pairs of 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) machine guns; each armed with 400 rounds. All production F6F-5's had the ability to be fitted with the different armament fits, but only F6F-5N night-fighters, equipped with radar, ever used the latter gun fit.
 
that being said i want a 20mm variant added to the game!!!

[Bodhi]

If I have the time (big if), and assuming the ship number is correct (last three on the spray painted on the nose) I will look in the microfiche tomorrow, and see what the ship history is.

[Mace2004]

Originally posted by Debonair
now that i think of it, on the end of a flwoing wing not likely part of the pitot static system.
i'll go with radio sticks, though...

It's the pitot probe, not an antenna.  Stick the pitot probe out of the prop slipstream.  It's just hooked to the pitot/static system with flexible hose so the wings can fold.

[Debonair]

OMFG how did i get to "flwoing" from "folding"

[frank3]

Then again, I doubt it's the pitot tube since it already has one on the starboard

[handy169]

Many, including all F6F-5N and F6F-5P variants substituted a 20mm cannon with 200 rounds for the innermost machine gun in each wing

fits the discription to a T

[Urchin]

The F6F-5N mounted 2 20mm and 4 .50s, along with the little radar thing on the wing.  

It was a night-fighter, there weren't all that many made.  However, all F6F-5's could mount 2 20mm and 4 .50s instead of the 6 .50s.

[Debonair]

Originally posted by frank3
Then again, I doubt it's the pitot tube since it already has one on the starboard

i thought thats the radio stick we were talking about...  

[Hornet33]

This subject came up a year or so ago and I did some research about it. Even went so far as to request information from the National Archives. Mind you I do not have the paperwork here in front of me so these will be rough numbers that I remember.

The F6F-5N and P's were all equiped from the factory with the 2 20mm and 4 .50 cal guns. Total numbers produced for both variants was just around 400 IIRC. Most units that were equipped with these aircraft switched the 20mm for the .50's due to logistics. The .50's were standard on most all US fighters at that stage of the war. Also most pilots that were assigned to the night fighter and recon squadrons were seasoned pilots that were used to the .50's and actually preferred them over the 20mm.

All F6F-5 models were designed to take either gun option on the inner gun mounts but were delivered from the factories with the 6 .50 setup.

All that being said, there are confirmed reports of 20mm equipped Hellcats that flew combat sorties during the war, however information is scarce as to whether or not any of them claimed a victory in combat. While the number of aircraft produced and delivered with the 20mm's is significant, actual use was limited to only a few squadrons.

Now in comparison to something like the 3 cannon La-7, I would have to say that having this as an option in the game would be nice as a small perk ride. While it was rare to see them they did fly in combat with some of the night fighter squadrons. Those squadrons were not limited to night time flying however. They did fly daytime sorties on many occasions so there is a historical precedence to have it in the game even though we don't have night time.

Krusty and I argued about this the last time it came up and the above statements are more or less a combination of both our arguments. We were both right on many of the issues and we were both wrong on a few minor ones. I know he doesn't want to see it in the game and I await his response to this thread. I'm sure it'll be interesting:D  but I have to give the guy props, he does know allot about the subject.

[handy169]

http://www.vectorsite.net/avf6f.html


http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Hellcat.htm
maybe this may help

[Debonair]

A pilot who flew the F6F-5n in combat & scored with it, with the cannons wrote an autobiography titled Ace!, iirc they flew them as fighters in daytime too...
http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/database/aircraft/getimage.htm?id=5173

[Mace2004]

Originally posted by frank3
Then again, I doubt it's the pitot tube since it already has one on the starboard

The probe on the starboard wingtip is the pitot probe I was talking about.  the small "stick" above the port wing is a VHF radio antenna mounted on the tail.  You just can't see the tail from this angle.

[handy169]

is this a N or P model? i was noticeing that is missing the big radar pod on the port starboard wing that made it a NF, the placement of the tube is consistant with where the 20mm should be which the N and P models where capible of carrying.