Gumman F7F Tigercat

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Gumman F7F Tigercat

In early 1941 Grumman began work on a new twin-engined Navy fighter, designed to have high performance and unprecedented firepower. A contract was awarded in June 1941, with the first in December of 1943. The new aircraft called the F7F Tigercat, featured foldable wings and tricycle landing gear. With its four 20mm cannons and four .50 cal. machine guns it packed a very powerful punch. It could carry a pair of 1000 pound bombs or a torpedo. Grumman received a contract for 500 Tigercats, which were to be supplied to the U.S. Marines to provide close-air support for their operations. Unfortunately the production Tigercats started too late to see service with the USMC before the end of the war. 288 F7Fs (including 64 night fighter versions) were built before the cancellation of remaining orders. Some Marine squadrons continued to use the Tigercat in the postwar years (Korean War) , but they were eventually replaced by faster and more powerful jet

powered aircraft .

Type: Fighter

Crew: 1, Pilot (Nightfighter versions 2. One pilot and One radar operator)

Armament: four 20mm cannon, four .50 cal machine guns, optional torpedo, 1000 lbs. bombs

Specs.

Length: 45' 4" (13.82 m)

Height: 16' 7" (5.5 m)

Wingspan: 51' 6" (1.68 m)

Wing area: 455 sq. ft (42.27 sq. m)

Weight: 25720 lbs

Propulsion

Engines: 2

Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W

2100 hp each

Performance

Range: 1200 miles (1932 km)

Cruise Speed: 222 mph (357 km/hr)

Speed: 435 mph (700 km/hr)

Ceiling: 40700 ft (12405 m)

Click here for more F7F pictures.


	Classic Combat Aircraft \| home Gumman F7F Tigercat In early 1941 Grumman began work on a new twin-engined Navy fighter, designed to have high performance and unprecedented firepower. A contract was awarded in June 1941, with the first in December of 1943. The new aircraft called the F7F Tigercat, featured foldable wings and tricycle landing gear. With its four 20mm cannons and four .50 cal. machine guns it packed a very powerful punch. It could carry a pair of 1000 pound bombs or a torpedo. Grumman received a contract for 500 Tigercats, which were to be supplied to the U.S. Marines to provide close-air support for their operations. Unfortunately the production Tigercats started too late to see service with the USMC before the end of the war. 288 F7Fs (including 64 night fighter versions) were built before the cancellation of remaining orders. Some Marine squadrons continued to use the Tigercat in the postwar years (Korean War) , but they were eventually replaced by faster and more powerful jet powered aircraft . Type: Fighter Crew: 1, Pilot (Nightfighter versions 2. One pilot and One radar operator) Armament: four 20mm cannon, four .50 cal machine guns, optional torpedo, 1000 lbs. bombs Specs. Length: 45' 4" (13.82 m) Height: 16' 7" (5.5 m) Wingspan: 51' 6" (1.68 m) Wing area: 455 sq. ft (42.27 sq. m) Weight: 25720 lbs Propulsion Engines: 2 Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W 2100 hp each Performance Range: 1200 miles (1932 km) Cruise Speed: 222 mph (357 km/hr) Speed: 435 mph (700 km/hr) Ceiling: 40700 ft (12405 m) Click here for more F7F pictures.