USN F6F Hellcat - Late War Summary

This is a 3D printed sculpt of the F6F Hellcat from EBard Models.

The Grumman F6F Hellcat was designed to replace the Grumman F4F Wildcat. Lessons learned from the Wildcat were incorporated, but the F4F was not totally replaced as the smaller Wildcat continued to be built and serve on escort carriers, where larger and heavier fighters could not be used.

The Hellcat used the same Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp powerplant as used in both the Corsair and the P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. The F6F was an entirely new design, but still resembled the Wildcat in many ways.

The F6F made its combat debut in September 1943. It subsequently established itself as a rugged, well-designed carrier fighter, which was able to outperform the A6M Zero and help secure air superiority over the Pacific theater. In total, 12,275 were built in just over two years.

The British also used 1,263 Hellcats and was used in Norway, the Mediterranean, and the Far East.

Hellcats were credited with destroying a total of 5,223 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied naval aircraft, accounting for just over half of all USN/Marine kills during the war. Only 270 Hellcats were lost in aerial combat, 553 to anti-aircraft fire, and 341 due to operational causes. This amounts to a 19:1 aerial kill ratio. An additional 10% (1298) were destroyed in training and ferrying operations that were typically outside of combat zones.

Pieces come magnetized.

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