The Grumman F7F Tigercat was a remarkable
heavy fighter with an intriguing lineage tracing back to the highly-successful
series of the so-called Grumman "cats." As the first twin-engine fighter deployed by
the US Navy, the F7F represented a remarkable innovation, specifically designed to serve
aboard the Midway-class aircraft carriers. Although it never had the opportunity to
demonstrate its prowess in World War 2, the Tigercat still managed to leave an
indelible mark on the aviation world. The heavy fighter made its
debut during the Korean War, where it saw action in numerous roles and
solidified the reputation of the “cats.” Boasting an array of impressive design
features, the Tigercat was a true marvel of aviation engineering, and it was way ahead
of its time - albeit for a brief period. In an ironic twist, the Tigercat never operated
as a carrier-based fighter as initially intended, and for one simple reason: it was too powerful… Noble Birth From the early 1930s, Grumman Aviation
established itself as a highly proficient manufacturer of carrier-based fighters. In
particular, its F4F Wildcat proved to be a pivotal development during the early
and middle stages of the Pacific War, showcasing tenacious capabilities in
both defensive and offensive roles. Subsequently, the enhanced F6F Hellcat,
equipped with the remarkable Pratt & Whitney "Double Wasp" radial piston engine,
bolstered the Allies' airpower and played a crucial role in regaining air
superiority for the remainder of the war. As a result, the iconic warbird set a
high standard for all subsequent "cats." The successor in the "cat"
family line would have to outperform the exceptional performance of
its predecessors. With this goal in mind, the design bureau buckled down to create
the ultimate form of carrier-based fighters. Development began in 1941, as Grumman
engineers opted to use the proven Pratt & Whitney brand R-2800 series
Double Wasp engine that had powered the Hellcat - the very same power plant
that would later propel the pinnacle of American piston-powered flight: the
upcoming F8F Bearcat Navy fighter. In parallel, the company was working on
the XP-65 or Model 51, based on an earlier canceled attempt designated XP-50, in pursuit
of a future "convoy fighter" concept. However, this idea was ultimately discarded in favor of the
design that would lead to the creation of the F7F. Although initially dubbed the Tomcat, the
name was abandoned due to its inappropriate connotations at the time, and the aircraft
was christened the Tigercat instead. A contract for the prototype, designated
XF7F-1, was signed in June of 1941, and it promised to produce a fighter
capable of covering an auxiliary ground attack role while outperforming and
outgunning all existing fighter aircraft. Nine Lives The F7F was derived from the XF5F-1 Skyrocket,
Grumman's first twin-engine fighter, a concept that responded to the Navy's
request for a larger twin-engine fighter suitable for use aboard the envisioned massive
Midway-class aircraft carriers. Undoubtedly, this second attempt at creating a twin-engined
fighter proved far more successful than the first. The substantial airframe allowed for considerable flexibility when it came to
armament. Throughout the war, American conventional wisdom favored multiple
machine guns mounted on the wings, providing a high rate of fire and damage capabilities.
However, the Tigercat would go much further. While the Soviets and Germans had already
recognized the value of cannon-equipped fighter aircraft when engaging hostile
bombers—offering immense lethality per round with a single projectile posing a
significant threat to an enemy bomber's intricate internal systems—the Tigercat
would not settle for just one option. Indeed, the new aircraft would boast the best
of both worlds. Despite its fighter designation, the resulting design emerged as a sizable
single-seat aircraft, heavily armed for ground support while also serving as a
photo-reconnaissance and night fighter. The Tigercat was equipped with four 20-millimeter
cannons and four .50-caliber machine guns. Additionally, the Tigercat featured a lengthy,
robust wingspan, further enhancing its multi-role potential. The span running from each wing root
to each nacelle provided ample space for mounting external munitions, such as two 1,000-pound
bombs on underwing stations. Alternatively, the bombs could be replaced by a single torpedo
under the fuselage for anti-ship missions. With such armament, the Tigercat was
prepared to contend with virtually any type of aircraft available at the time,
exhibiting unparalleled adaptability. The Best Damn Fighter The F7F's sleek design contributed to its
fast performance, while its fuselage had the smallest possible cross-section. The layout
also featured a pointed nose assembly and a conventional empennage. The pilot enjoyed a decent
forward and upward view from the cockpit, although visibility to the sides and rear was partially
obstructed by the radial engine nacelles. As for the wings, they were hinged outboard
of the engines for easy storage, while the undercarriage was unique, featuring tricycle
landing gear—a first for carrier aircraft. Instead of the traditional "tail dragger"
variety commonly used during that period, the Tigercat incorporated an arrangement of two
main landing gear systems retracting rearwards into the underside of each engine nacelle; the
nose-mounted landing gear retracted similarly. Notably, all landing struts
included a single wheel. Following its first flight in December
of 1943, the Tigercat proved to be an exceptional and capable aircraft that met all
expectations. The XF7F-1 was promptly rushed into production to meet the Marine Corps’
demand for 500 urgently needed aircraft in the Pacific Theater. In fact, the order was
placed before the prototype's first flight. Not only the prototype but also the
initial production aircraft ranked among the fastest piston-engine fighters, boasting a top speed that significantly exceeded
that of single-engine US Navy aircraft. It was even 71 miles per hour faster than its
esteemed predecessor, the Hellcat, at sea level. In the words of Captain Fred Trapnell,
one of the era’s favored USN test pilots: (QUOTE) "It's the best damn
fighter I've ever flown." Too Late From its inception, the F7F faced a critical
issue—it was too large for the Midway-class aircraft carriers. Indeed, the fighter
boasted remarkable speed and superb firepower, but these attributes also rendered it
too heavy and resulted in a high landing speed. To further complicate matters, the twin
Double Wasp engines provided too much power, making the aircraft too fast
for general carrier operations. Regrettably, the fighter failed carrier
suitability trials entirely due to poor stability with one running engine. Moreover, its inability
to correctly employ its arrestor auxiliary tailhook left the aircraft with no choice but
to be relegated to land-based operations. From then on, it would primarily serve with the Marine
Corps as night fighters equipped with APS-6 radar. Deliveries began in April of 1944, but changes in
operational requirements led to production delays. The first production variant was the
F7F-1N, and after the 34th example, a two-seat variant for a radar operator,
known as the F7F-2N, was introduced. Moreover, the critical issues were addressed only with
the second production version, the F7F-3. The new version closely resembled the F7F-1 but
was upgraded with higher-rated Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W engines. It was tested again on the
USS Shangri-La, but once more, it failed to pass carrier qualifications due to wing failure
on a heavy landing. Nevertheless, the F7F-3 saw service as both a day and night fighter,
as well as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Notably, the Tigercat entered service when the
war in Europe was still in full swing, but the aircraft did not receive the operational clearance
necessary to combat during the war’s final stage. Consequently, it would primarily
serve after the conflict had ended, but this meant that the powerful Tigercat
would be ready for the upcoming war in Korea. Unfair Competition As World War 2 neared its end, the original
contract for production was canceled. However, production of the Tigercat did
not cease until late in 1946. In fact, it was the first twin-engine
fighter ordered in large quantities. A separate contract led to the production of
the F7F-3Ns and its final version, the F7F-4N, which was extensively rebuilt
for added strength and stability. Although it ultimately passed carrier
qualifications, only a dozen were built. Both models were configured as night fighters, equipped with an elongated nose to
accommodate radar and an enhanced fin. Interestingly, the F7F-N4 was the only model
in the series fitted with an arresting hook for carrier operations, yet it completely
missed the conflict it was designed to fight. Later modifications led to the
production of specially-equipped F7F-3Es, for electronic reconnaissance
and F7F-3Ps, for photo reconnaissance. Once integrated into US Marine Corps
squadrons, the Tigercat was deployed during the crisis on the Korean peninsula.
More precisely, elements of the VMF(N)-513 were stationed in Japan when the war broke
out, and were immediately pressed into service. The Tigercat then conducted
night-intruder operations and various other roles, ranging from
close air support to utility missions. Nevertheless, its lineage came to an end by 1954. Despite being a well-designed aircraft and one
of the fastest fighters of the World War 2 era, the Tigercat's operational life unfortunately
coincided with the advent of jet fighters. Outpaced by more powerful and faster aircraft, it was rendered obsolete after only a few years
and retired from service with the Marines. Over the following two decades, however, the Tigercat found a renewed purpose in
combating forest fires in the western US. To this day, some examples remain
airworthy, while others are on display. Thank you for tuning in to our video! We hope
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