Grumman F7F Tigercat

F7F Tigercat
F7F-3P preserved in United States Marine Corps markings in flight.
Role	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	2 November 1943
Introduction	1944
Retired	1954
Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Produced	1943–1946
Number built	364
Variants	Grumman XTSF

The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed for the new Midway-class aircraft carriers, the aircraft were too large to operate from earlier decks. Although delivered to United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat units before the end of World War II, the Tigercat did not see combat service in that war. Most F7Fs ended up in land-based service, as attack aircraft or night fighters; only the later F7F-4N was certified for carrier service. They saw service in the Korean War and were withdrawn from service in 1954.

Design and development

Based on the earlier Grumman XP-50 that eventually was canceled, the company further developed the XP-65 (Model 51) for a future "convoy fighter" concept. In 1943, work on the XP-65 was terminated in favor of the design that would eventually become the F7F.^[1] The contract for the prototype XF7F-1 was signed on 30 June 1941. Grumman's aim was to produce a fighter that out-performed and out-gunned all existing fighter aircraft, and that had an auxiliary ground attack capability.^[2] Armament was heavy: four 20 mm cannons and four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as underwing and under-fuselage hardpoints for bombs and torpedoes. Performance met expectations too; the F7F Tigercat was one of the highest performance piston-engined fighters, with a top speed well in excess of the US Navy's single-engined aircraft—71 mph faster than a F6F Hellcat at sea level.^[3] Capt. Fred M. Trapnell, one of the Navy's premier test pilots, opined that: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown."^[4] The Grumman F7F was originally named the "Tomcat" but this name was rejected as it was considered too suggestive, at the time.^[5] The name would much later be used for the Grumman F-14.

An F7F-3N of VMF(N)-513 at Wonsan, Korea, in 1952.

All this was bought at the cost of heavy weight and a high landing speed, but what caused the aircraft to fail carrier suitability trials was poor directional stability with only one engine operational, as well as problems with the tail-hook design.^[6] Therefore, the initial production series was only used from land bases by the USMC, as night fighters with APS-6 radar.^[7] At first, they were single-seater F7F-1N aircraft, but after the 34th production aircraft, a second seat for a radar operator was added; these aircraft were designated F7F-2N.

The next version produced, the F7F-3 was modified to correct the issues that caused the aircraft to fail carrier acceptance and this version was again trialled on the USS Shangri-La (CV-38). A wing failure on a heavy landing caused the failure of this carrier qualification too. F7F-3 aircraft were produced in day fighter, night fighter and photo-reconnaissance versions.^[8]

A final version, the F7F-4N, was extensively rebuilt for additional strength and stability, and did pass carrier qualification, but only 12 were built.^[8]

Operational history

Marine Corps night fighter squadron VMF(N)-513 flying F7F-3N Tigercats saw action in the early stages of the Korean War, flying night interdiction and fighter missions and shooting down two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes.^[9] This was the only combat use of the aircraft.

Most F7F-2Ns were modified to control drones for combat training, and these gained bubble canopies over the rear cockpit for the drone controller. A F7F-2D used for pilot transitoning also had a rear sliding, bubble canopy.^[10]

In 1945, two Tigercats, serialled TT346 and TT349, were evaluated, but rejected, by the British Royal Navy, preferring a navalized version of the de Havilland Hornet.^[11]

Variants

The second XF7F-1 in 1946.

An F7F-2D drone controller with an additional F8F windshield.

An F7F-3N night fighter of VMF(N)-513 in April 1950.

XP-65

Proposed U.S. Army Air Force fighter.

XF7F-1

Prototype aircraft, two built.

F7F-1 Tigercat

Twin-engine fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W radial piston engines. First production version, 34 built.

F7F-1N Tigercat

Single-seat night fighter aircraft, fitted with an APS-6 radar.

XF7F-2N

Night-fighter prototype, One built.

F7F-2N Tigercat

Two-seat night fighter, 65 built.

F7F-2D

Small numbers of F7F-2Ns converted into drone control aircraft. The aircraft were fitted with an F8F Bearcat-windshield behind the cockpit.

F7F-3 Tigercat

Single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radial piston engines, 189 built.

F7F-3N Tigercat

Two-seat night fighter aircraft, 60 built.

F7F-3E Tigercat

Small numbers of F7F-3s were converted into electronic warfare aircraft.

F7F-3P Tigercat

Small numbers of F7F-3s were converted into photo-reconnaissance aircraft.

F7F-4N Tigercat

Two-seat night-fighter aircraft, fitted with an arrestor hook and other naval equipment, 13 built.

Operators

 United States

• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy

Survivors

The Tigercat was designed to have a very small frontal area.

F7F-3N Tigercat in use with belly tank in the fire-fighting role in 1988

Beginning in 1949, F7Fs were flown to the US Navy storage facility at Naval Air Station Litchfield Park, Arizona.^[12] Although the vast majority of the airframes were eventually scrapped, a number of examples were purchased as surplus. The surviving Tigercats were primarily used as water bombers to fight forest fires in the 1960s and 1970s and Sis-Q Flying Services of Santa Rosa, California operated an F7F-3N tanker in this role until retirement in the late 1980s.

Airworthy

• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80390 is flightworthy and owned by Lewis Racing LCC in San Antonio, Texas.^[13]
• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80411 is flightworthy and owned by the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California.^[14]
• F7F-3P Tigercat, BuNo. 80425 is flightworthy and owned by Avstar Inc. in Seattle, Washington.^[15]
• F7F-3P Tigercat, BuNo. 80483 is flightworthy and owned by Historic Flight Foundation in Mukilteo, Washington.^[16]
• F7F-3N Tigercat, BuNo. 80503 is flightworthy and owned by Lewis Racing LCC in San Antonio, Texas.^[17]
• F7F-3N Tigercat, BuNo. 80532 is flightworthy and owned by Merle Maine Enterprises in Ontario, Oregon.^[18]

On display

• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80373 is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in NAS Pensacola, Florida.^[19]
• F7F-3N Tigercat, BuNo. 80382 is on display at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.^[20]
• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80410 is on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.^[21]

Under restoration

• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80374 is under restoration to flightworthness by Pissed Away N7629C LCC in Bellevue, Washington.^[22]
• F7F-3N Tigercat, BuNo. 80375 is under restoration by WestPac Restorations in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[23]
• F7F-3 Tigercat, BuNo. 80404 is under restoration to flightworthiness by Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.^[24]

Specifications (F7F-4N Tigercat)

Drawing of an F7F-3N.

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II^[25]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, radar operator)
• Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.8 m)
• Wingspan: 51 ft 6 in (15.7 m)
• Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.1 m)
• Wing area: 455 ft² (42.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 16,270 lb (7,380 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 25,720 lb (11,670 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W "Double Wasp" radial engines, 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 460 mph (400 knots, 740 km/h)
• Range: 1,200 mi (1,000 nmi, 1,900 km)
• Service ceiling: 40,400 ft (12,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,530 ft/min (1,381 m/min)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M2 cannon
  • 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun
• Bombs:
  
  • 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs under wings or
  • 1 × torpedo under fuselage

Avionics

• AN/APS-19 radar

See also

Related development

• Grumman XTSF
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bristol Beaufighter
• de Havilland Hornet
• de Havilland Mosquito
• Focke-Wulf Ta 154
• Lockheed P-38 Lightning
• Northrop P-61 Black Widow
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
  

References

Notes

1. ^ Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 119.
2. ^ Thruelsen 1976, p. 204.
3. ^ Meyer 2002, p. 51.
4. ^ Meyer 2002, p. 54.
5. ^ Meyer 2002, p. 50.
6. ^ Meyer 2002, p. 55.
7. ^ Thruelsen 1976, p. 205.
8. ^ ^{a b} Taylor 1969, p. 504.
9. ^ Grossnick and Armstrong 1997
10. ^ Gault 1973, p. 25.
11. ^ Zuk 2004, p. 129.
12. ^ Legg 1991, p. 26.
13. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80390." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
14. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80411." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
15. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80425." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
16. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80483." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
17. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80503." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
18. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80532." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
19. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80373." Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 13 December 2010.
20. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80382." Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 13 December 2010.
21. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80410." Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 13 December 2010.
22. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80374." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
23. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80375." Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
24. ^ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80404." FAA Registry. Retrieved: 16 May 2011.
25. ^ Bridgman 1946, p. 233.

Bibliography

• Bridgman, Leonard (ed.). “The Grumman Tigercat.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
• Carlson, Ted. "Semper Fi Tigercat". Flight Journal, Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2008.
• Carr, Orrin I. "Fire 'Cat!" Air Classics, Vol. 12, No. 9, Sept. 1976. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications, pp. 38–47.
• Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
• Gault, Owen. "Grumman's Tiger Twins: The Skyrocket & Tigercat". Air Classics, Vol. 9, No. 8, Aug. 1973. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications, pp. 22–27.
• Green, William. "Grumman F7F-1 - F7F-3 Tigercat". War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1961, pp. 106–108. ISBN 0-356-01448-7.
• Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Grumman F7F Tigercat". WW2 Fact Files: US Navy and Marine Corps Fighters. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1976, pp. 57–61. ISBN 0-356-08222-9.
• Grossnick, Roy A. and William J. Armstrong. United States Naval Aviation: 1910–1995. Annapolis, MA: Naval Historical Center, 1997. ISBN 0-16049-124-X.
• Legg, David. "Tigercat on camera." Aircraft Illustrated, Volume 24, no. 1, January 1991.
• Meyer, Corwin ("Corky") H. "F7F Tigercat: The Untold Story". Flight Journal, August 2002. Ridgefield, CT: AirAge Publications. pp. 48–56, 58.
• Morgan, Eric B. "Grumman F7F Tigercat F.7/30". Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 1, No. 11. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISBN 0-961-82100-4.
• Morgan, Eric B. "The Grumman Twins". Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 2, No. 15. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISBN 0-961-82101-1.
• O'Leary, Michael. "Tigercat Restoration". Air Classics, Vol. 38, No. 11, Nov. 2002. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications.
• O'Leary, Michael. United States Naval Fighters of World War II in Action. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press, 1980. ISBN 0-7137-0956-1.
• Taylor, John W.R. "Grumman F7F Tigercat". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
• Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-275-54260-2.
• Zuk, Bill. Janusz Zurakowski: Legends in the Sky. St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell, 2004. ISBN 1-55125-083-7.

External links

• Manual: (1949) AN 01-85FA-1 Pilot's Handbook for Navy Model F7F-1N, F7F-2N, F7F-3, F7F-3N, F7F-4N Airplanes
• Naval Aviation Museum: F7F History & Pictures
• F7F Tigercat "Big Bossman" air Racer
• F7F Tigercat Flight Demonstration by Clay Lacy