Grumman F2F
Template:Short description Template:Infobox aircraft
The Grumman F2F was a single-engine, biplane fighter aircraft with retractable undercarriage, serving as the standard fighter for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940. It was designed for both carrier- and land-based operations.
Design and development
Grumman's success with the two-seat FF-1, which was significantly faster than even the single-seat fighters of its time, resulted in a contract for the single-seat XF2F-1.[1] Armed with two Template:Cvt machine guns above the cowl, the new design also incorporated watertight compartments to reduce weight and improve survivability in the event of a water landing.[2] The prototype first flew on 18 October 1933, equipped with the experimental Template:Cvt XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, and reached a top speed of Template:Cvt at Template:Cvt – Template:Cvt faster than the FF-1 at the same altitude.[2] Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.[1]
Operational history
The Navy ordered 54 F2F-1 fighters on 17 May 1934, with the first aircraft delivered 19 January 1935.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". One additional aircraft (BuNo 9997) was ordered to replace one which crashed on 16 March 1935, bringing the total to 55, with the final F2F-1 delivered on 2 August 1935.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The F2F-1 had a relatively long service life for the time, serving in front-line squadrons from 1935 to late 1939, when squadrons began to receive the F3F-3 as a replacement. By September 1940, the F2F had been completely replaced in fighter squadrons and was relegated to training and utility duties. The last F2F-1s were stricken from the list of naval aircraft in early 1943.[2]
Variants
- XF2F-1
- United States Navy designation for the Grumman Model G-8 prototype with a Template:Cvt XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, one built
- F2F-1
- Production variant with a Template:Cvt R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, 55 built
Operators
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Specifications (Grumman F2F-1)
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Cacutt, Len, ed. “Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters.” Great Aircraft of the World. London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989. Template:ISBN.
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