Grumman F6F "Hellcat" | |
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General Historical Information | |
Place of origin | USA |
Manufacturer | Grumman |
Produced In | 1942–1945 |
Speed | 621 km/h |
Category | Fighter |
General Ingame Information | |
Debut | Debut in FH Mod |
Used by | USA |
Crew in‑game | 1 |
Guns | 6x 12.7 cm M2HB machineguns |
Historical Picture | |
Movie | |
The Grumman F6F "Hellcat" was an American fighter aircraft, operating from aircraft carriers during World War II. It was developed to replace the earlier Wildcat in the US Navy. Although the Hellcat resembles the Wildcat, it was a new design, with the better and more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine. Along with the Corsair, the Hellcat was the main fighter aircraft of the US Navy during the second half of World War II.
The Hellcat was best known for its role as a rugged, well-designed carrier fighter which was able, after its combat debut in early 1943, to counter the Japanese Zero fighters and help secure air superiority over the Pacific Theater. Such was the quality of the basic simple, straightforward design, that the Hellcat was the least modified fighter of the war, with a total of 12,200 being built in just over two years. Hellcats were credited with destroying 5,223 aircraft while in service with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. This was more than any other Allied naval aircraft. Postwar, the Hellcat was phased out of frontline service, but remained in service as late as 1954 as a night fighter.
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