Difference between revisions of "F7F-1"

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{{Specs-Card
 
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|code=f7f1
 
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|cockpit=363035/1235642
 
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}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| usage = the gift version
 
| usage = the gift version
 
| link = F7F-3
 
| link = F7F-3
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=f7f1
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
|cockpit=cockpit_f7f1.jpg
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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By around 1938, the US Navy had started investigating the possibilities of a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter. Quickly thereafter, the [[XF5F]] Skyrocket was designed. The compact aircraft was to include a 23 mm Madsen cannon, two .50 calibre machine guns, and two .30 calibre machine guns. The Skyrocket test results were not very satisfactory, and in 1941 the US Navy moved on to a new aircraft. The XF7F-1 Tigercat prototype made its original flight on December 2, 1943. The F7F-1 aircraft went into production in April of 1944, but the Midway-class carriers had not yet been completed, so the first Tigercats were given to the US Marine Corps. Only 35 of these aircraft were built until production switched to the two-seat night fighter variant. These were also built in limited numbers.
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{{Break}}
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].
 
  
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The Tigercat performs decently at medium to low altitudes. It has good firepower and performs well in a dive and can achieve high speeds. At sea level, it has a decent climb but at 3 km the climb rate drops substantially making fighting high altitude fighters in its battle range difficult. It is recommended to side-climb to 5 km and accelerate to a high speed before engaging the enemy. At its battle rating, it will be out-climbed by just about every fighter. The best defensive manoeuvre is attempting to outrun your opponent and engage in head-on engagements. For opponents, you cannot outrun the only hope is to lure them low in a dive where the plane performs better, but you will only be able to make a few turns before you run out of energy so make them count.
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Introduced in [[Update 1.43]], the Tigercat is a typical heavy fighter, having great firepower and survivability but low agility. For those reasons, it's crucial to be near teammates, as it will struggle to dogfight single-engine fighters. It performs best at medium to low altitudes. Its best performance advantage is speed - it's one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in the game. Despite this, and due to its high drag, the Tigercat will get caught in a dive by many fighters. The climb rate is mediocre, helped only by its air spawn. Players will want to utilise a hit-and-run playstyle, similarly to early-WWII American fighters like the [[P-51D-5]] or [[P-47D-25]]. Unlike those, however, it can't just dive away from threats, making it significantly harder to play. Additionally, it overheats easily on automatic engine controls, and the availability of WEP is time-limited.
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WEP on this plane is limited and does not add considerable power until supercharger gear 2 is activated so it is advised not to waste it until you reach about 2,500 m altitudes. At certain low altitudes, WEP actually reduces the engine power. The automatic engine controls will overheat the plane at 100% throttle necessitating the need for manual engine controls to open the radiators. The F7F-1 is difficult to manage and likely contains several oversights in the game that have yet to be addressed.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight performance ===
 
=== Flight performance ===
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''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! Upgraded
 
! Upgraded
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| ___ || 688 || __._ || 25.0 || __._ || 25.0
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|724|| 688 ||23.8|| 25.0 ||31.7|| 25.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 478 || 478 || 278 || ~10 || ~8
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| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 455 || 425 || 277 || ~10 || ~8
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 +
With 9.5 mm of steel in the front and 12.7 mm steel in the back as well as bullet-proof glass, the pilot is fairly decently protected against small calibre fire and HE rounds, such as the minengeschoss. The wings and engines are basically unprotected and thus prone to taking damage easily; however being radial engines, they can take some damage. The plane can easily flight on one engine, and it has full propeller feathering. Should a wing get damaged, asymmetric thrust from the engines may help to control the aircraft.
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|M3 (20 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|M3 (20 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}
  
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
* 4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)
 
* 4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)
 
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, chin-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
 
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, chin-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}
 
{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}
  
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 +
 
* Without load
 
* Without load
 
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
 
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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The main armament is extremely powerful. Equipped with 4 x 20 mm cannon and M2 Brownings in the nose, expect to knock planes out of the skies frequently. Unlike many other planes that have more spread out armament, the Tigercat packs a massive punch. If one cannon shell hits, the rest will as well. Do not waste time researching additional ammo belts for the 20 mm; the Default has the most HE shells of any other belt except for Stealth. However, it is recommended you research "New 20 mm Cannons" and "12.7 mm Ammo Belts", as the Cannon jam quite quickly and the stealth ammo for the 12.7 mm is far more effective than the Default.
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The main armament is extremely powerful. Equipped with 4 x 20 mm cannon and M2 Brownings in the nose, expect to knock planes out of the skies frequently. Unlike many other planes that have more spread out armament, the Tigercat packs a massive punch. If one cannon shell hits, the rest will as well. It is recommended that you research "New 20 mm Cannons" and "12.7 mm Ammo Belts", as the Cannon jam quite quickly and the stealth and ground target ammo for the 12.7 mm is far more effective than the default.
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 +
The Tigercat's devastating armament, coupled with high survivalability and air spawn, are perfect for hunting down troublesome German bombers like the Ju 288 C. Those also mean that players should not avoid headons with fighters, and often even seek them: if you don't kill them in headon, they will likely end on your tail, and in that case, there is nothing one can do except hope to outrun them.
  
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Use the armament wisely- do not use the cannon until you are about .5-.6 km from your target. However, the 12.7 mm is great for harassing targets out to more than 1 km. A good hit to the wings of any plane will bring it down, while 2-3 bursts to the fuselage will grind a plane to pieces. The Tigercat's devastating armament is also perfect for hunting down troublesome German bombers like the Ju 288 C.
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Due to lackluster maneuverability, the Tigercat should not be in front of its teammates. Let them take on enemies, pick a distracted one, come in and kill it (shoudln't be hard with all the guns). Keep your speed up and head for next target - rinse and repeat. Don't be fooled by agility. It turns good and rolls great - for a heavy fighter. It's much worse than almost any single-engine fighter. Notable exception is Ta-152H, a common fighter at this tier, known for it's poor roll rate: you can evade its guns in a dive; but that's about it. The agility is enough to point your guns at enemies, not enough to win any dogfight.
  
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The F7F-1 also has great late game potential due to its armament. If you aim well, you can take down light pillboxes with short, controlled bursts. Lightly armoured vehicles normally only need 1 or 2 taps. Unlike its event vehicle variant which has vastly better ordnance options, the F7F-1 is average at best in this department. With the maximum load being 2 x 500 lb and 1 x 1,000 lb bomb, don't really expect to take down many hard targets before going back to rearm. The secondary weapons are not recommended for use, as they will reduce performance considerably- also, due to the high BR, jets will exist and will intercept you before you are halfway to your bombing target due to their speed.
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The F7F-1 also has great late game potential due to its armament and lots of ammo. Taking out AI attackers is really fast and easy. And if you aim well, you can take down light pillboxes with short, controlled bursts. Lightly armoured vehicles normally only need 1 or 2 taps. Unlike its event vehicle variant which has vastly better ordnance options, the F7F-1 is average at best in this department. With the maximum load being 2 x 500 lb and 1 x 1,000 lb bomb, don't really expect to take down many hard targets before going back to rearm. The secondary weapons are not recommended for use, as they will reduce performance considerably- also, due to the high BR, jets will exist and will intercept you before you are halfway to your bombing target due to their speed.
  
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Performance-wise, the Tigercat has a maximum speed of 668 km/h (415 mph) at an altitude of 5,190 meters (17,028 feet), or 695 km/h (431 mph) at the same altitude with WEP. At sea level, the maximum speed is 619 km/h (384.6 mph), or 638 km/h (396.4 mph) with WEP. The Tigercat can climb to an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) in 155 seconds (135 seconds with WEP), giving it an average climb rate of 19.3 meters (63.3 feet) per second (22.2 meters or 72.8 feet per second with WEP). It can perform a full horizontal turn at 3,000 meters in 24 seconds at a speed of 500 km/h (310.6 mph), as well as perform a full vertical turn at the same altitude and speed, which it completes in 27 seconds.
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Performance-wise, the Tigercat has a maximum speed of 668 km/h (415 mph) at an altitude of 5,190 m (17,028 ft), or 695 km/h (431 mph) at the same altitude with WEP. At sea level, the maximum speed is 619 km/h (384.6 mph), or 638 km/h (396.4 mph) with WEP. The Tigercat can climb to an altitude of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 155 seconds (135 seconds with WEP), giving it an average climb rate of 19.3 m (63.3 ft) per second (22.2 m or 72.8 ft per second with WEP). It can perform a full horizontal turn at 3,000 m in 24 seconds at a speed of 500 km/h (310.6 mph), as well as perform a full vertical turn at the same altitude and speed, which it completes in 27 seconds.
  
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===
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|-
 
|-
 
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
 
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
−
=== Modules ===
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 
−
! Survivability
 
−
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Fuselage repair
 
−
| Radiator
 
−
|
 
−
| Offensive 12 mm
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
|
 
−
| Compressor
 
−
| Airframe
 
−
| New 12 mm MGs
 
−
| FMBC mk.1
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Wings repair
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Offensive 20 mm
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
|
 
−
| Engine injection
 
−
| Cover
 
−
| New 20 mm cannons
 
−
| FLBC mk.1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Punishing armament
+
* Excellent armament
−
* 12.7 mm guns are mounted on the nose and the 20mm AN/M3's are mounted very close to the fuselage, resulting in very little convergence
+
* 12.7 mm guns are mounted on the nose and the 20 mm AN/M3's are mounted very close to the fuselage, resulting in very little convergence
−
* Reasonable turn rate
 
 
* Excellent energy retention
 
* Excellent energy retention
 
* Excellent ammunition capacity
 
* Excellent ammunition capacity
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* Very good cockpit visibility
 
* Very good cockpit visibility
 
* Very fast at low to medium altitudes, especially with WEP
 
* Very fast at low to medium altitudes, especially with WEP
 +
* Decent survivalability
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Engine starts to lose power above 5,000 meters
+
* Poor maneuverability
−
* Mediocre roll rate
+
* Dive performance good, but not good enough
 
* Large target
 
* Large target
−
* Durability is average
 
 
* Locks up quickly
 
* Locks up quickly
 +
* Engines start to lose power above 5,000 m
 
* Engines overheat quickly, needs manual engine control to remedy
 
* Engines overheat quickly, needs manual engine control to remedy
−
* Tends to have pilot knocked out due to bubble canopy
 
−
* Lack of solo potential, needs a good team or squad in order to perform well
 
 
* WEP is time-limited
 
* WEP is time-limited
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
By around 1938, the U.S. Navy started investigating into the possibilities of a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter. The contract to develop such a fighter was awarded to Grumman. Quickly thereafter the [[XF5F]] was designed. The compact aircraft was to include a 23 mm Madsen cannon, two .50 calibre machine guns, and two .30 calibre machine guns. The Skyrocket test results were not very satisfactory and in 1941 the U.S. Navy moved onto to a new aircraft. The new goal was to create a heavy fighter for its upcoming Midway-class aircraft carriers. This next design was to incorporate two R-2800 engines, four 20 mm cannons, four .50 calibre machine guns, and the ability to carry bombs, rockets, and torpedoes.
+
By around 1938, the US Navy started investigating into the possibilities of a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter. The contract to develop such a fighter was awarded to Grumman. Quickly thereafter the [[XF5F]] was designed. The compact aircraft was to include a 23 mm Madsen cannon, two .50 calibre machine guns, and two .30 calibre machine guns. The Skyrocket test results were not very satisfactory and in 1941 the US Navy moved onto to a new aircraft. The new goal was to create a heavy fighter for its upcoming Midway-class aircraft carriers. This next design was to incorporate two R-2800 engines, four 20 mm cannons, four .50 calibre machine guns, and the ability to carry bombs, rockets, and torpedoes.
  
−
The XF7F-1 Tigercat prototype made its original flight on December 2, 1943. The F7F-1 aircraft went into production in April of 1944, but the Midway-class carriers had not yet been completed, so the first Tigercats were given to the U.S. Marine Corp. Only 35 of these aircraft were built until production switched to the two-seat night fighter variant. These were built in limited numbers as well.
+
The XF7F-1 Tigercat prototype made its original flight on December 2, 1943. The F7F-1 aircraft went into production in April of 1944, but the Midway-class carriers had not yet been completed, so the first Tigercats were given to the US Marine Corp. Only 35 of these aircraft were built until production switched to the two-seat night fighter variant. These were built in limited numbers as well.
  
−
The Tigercat came too late to see any action in World War II. Late-model Tigercats did eventually see action in Korea with the Marines. The aircraft was eventually retired from U.S. service in 1954.
+
The Tigercat came too late to see any action in World War II. Late-model Tigercats did eventually see action in Korea with the Marines. The aircraft was eventually retired from US service in 1954.
  
 
=== [[wt:en/news/3033/current/|Vehicle Profile]] ===
 
=== [[wt:en/news/3033/current/|Vehicle Profile]] ===
 
In 1942, after an unsuccessful XF5F Skyrocket (and XP-50, its land-based modified variant) project, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation began work on an improved aircraft using the same twin-engine concept as the Skyrocket, which they named the XP-65. It was only a year later, however, that this project was cancelled, and Grumman began work on an entirely new plane based on the XF5F concept. This plane was intended to be operated from new, large Midway-class carriers (the first vessel being the USS Midway, which was commissioned in 1945) and Grumman had two main goals in sight – the plane would have ground attack capabilities, and it would be able to outperform and outgun any other fighter of that time. The maiden flight of the prototype, titled XF7F-1, occurred in December 1943, and was rushed into production in 1944 under the name F7F-1 Tigercat, continuing the Grumman's tradition of giving planes "cat" names.
 
In 1942, after an unsuccessful XF5F Skyrocket (and XP-50, its land-based modified variant) project, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation began work on an improved aircraft using the same twin-engine concept as the Skyrocket, which they named the XP-65. It was only a year later, however, that this project was cancelled, and Grumman began work on an entirely new plane based on the XF5F concept. This plane was intended to be operated from new, large Midway-class carriers (the first vessel being the USS Midway, which was commissioned in 1945) and Grumman had two main goals in sight – the plane would have ground attack capabilities, and it would be able to outperform and outgun any other fighter of that time. The maiden flight of the prototype, titled XF7F-1, occurred in December 1943, and was rushed into production in 1944 under the name F7F-1 Tigercat, continuing the Grumman's tradition of giving planes "cat" names.
  
−
The Tigercat was designed for two things – speed and firepower. The first of these was achieved by the combination of its sleek hull and two massive 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W Double Wasp radial engines, producing 2100 horsepower each. With these power plants, the Tigercat was able to achieve a maximum speed of 700 kph (435 mph) at an altitude of 6706 meters (22 000 feet), and had climb rate of more than 1372 meters (4500 feet) per minute. It was nearly 114 kph (71 mph) faster than the F6F Hellcat, and Captain Fred M. Trapnell, one of the US Navy's best test pilots, was quoted saying: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown!" The Tigercat's firepower was no less impressing. The Tigercat was armed with four 20 mm M2 cannons in the wing roots, and four .50 M2 nose-mounted machine guns. Additionally, it could carry up to two 454 kg (1000 lb) bombs on under wing racks, or one torpedo under the fuselage. It was also the first US Navy twin-engine fighter ever accepted into service, and the first US Navy fighter ever to use a tricycle landing gear configuration.
+
The Tigercat was designed for two things – speed and firepower. The first of these was achieved by the combination of its sleek hull and two massive 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W Double Wasp radial engines, producing 2100 horsepower each. With these power plants, the Tigercat was able to achieve a maximum speed of 700 km/h (435 mph) at an altitude of 6706 m (22 000 ft), and had climb rate of more than 1,372 m (4,500 ft) per minute. It was nearly 114 km/h (71 mph) faster than the F6F Hellcat, and Captain Fred M. Trapnell, one of the US Navy's best test pilots, was quoted saying: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown!" The Tigercat's firepower was no less impressing. The Tigercat was armed with four 20 mm M2 cannons in the wing roots, and four .50 cal M2 nose-mounted machine guns. Additionally, it could carry up to two 454 kg (1,000 lb) bombs on under wing racks, or one torpedo under the fuselage. It was also the first US Navy twin-engine fighter ever accepted into service, and the first US Navy fighter ever to use a tricycle landing gear configuration.
  
−
However, air tests and trials proved that the Tigercat was simply too overpowered for Midway-class carriers. Its landing speed was too high and it suffered instability in single-engine flight. The arrestor hook design was also proven to be unreliable. As a result of these multiple issues, the Tigercat was then assigned to be used as a land-based fighter in the US Marine Corps service. Deliveries started in April 1944, but problems with carrier operations clearance and changes in its operational requirements caused significant delays. As a result, the Tigercat was too late to participate in World War 2, and only 34 aircraft of initial F7F-1 versions were made. Tigercats eventually saw combat at last, but no sooner than during the initial stages of the Korean War, where F7F's managed to shoot down two North Korean Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. Subsequently, due to the development of jet fighters, Tigercats were phased out of service, with the last of them retiring in 1954.
+
However, air tests and trials proved that the Tigercat was simply too overpowered for Midway-class carriers. Its landing speed was too high and it suffered instability in single-engine flight. The arrestor hook design was also proven to be unreliable. As a result of these multiple issues, the Tigercat was then assigned to be used as a land-based fighter in the US Marine Corps service. Deliveries started in April 1944, but problems with carrier operations clearance and changes in its operational requirements caused significant delays. As a result, the Tigercat was too late to participate in World War 2, and only 34 aircraft of initial F7F-1 versions were made. Tigercats eventually saw combat at last, but no sooner than during the initial stages of the Korean War, where F7Fs managed to shoot down two North Korean Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. Subsequently, due to the development of jet fighters, Tigercats were phased out of service, with the last of them retiring in 1954.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f7f1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|t3xD7JpnHeI|'''Best aircraft for Boom & Zoom''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:38 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|d5k2T9FP0bQ|'''Avoid them in frontal attack!''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:06 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PNkoJ-MFERc|'''Best naval fighters''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:24 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/325084-f7f-1/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
 
* [[wt:en/news/3033/current/|[Vehicle Profile] Grumman F7F-1 Tigercat [Decal included]]]
 
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{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
 
{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
 
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}
 
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

Latest revision as of 20:54, 27 August 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
This page is about the American twin-engine fighter F7F-1. For the gift version, see F7F-3.
F7F-1
f7f1.png
GarageImage F7F-1.jpg
360://https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/images/2/2b/Cockpit_f7f1.jpg
F7F-1
USA flag.png USA
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.7 6.3 6.3
Class:
Research:31 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:200 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

By around 1938, the US Navy had started investigating the possibilities of a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter. Quickly thereafter, the XF5F Skyrocket was designed. The compact aircraft was to include a 23 mm Madsen cannon, two .50 calibre machine guns, and two .30 calibre machine guns. The Skyrocket test results were not very satisfactory, and in 1941 the US Navy moved on to a new aircraft. The XF7F-1 Tigercat prototype made its original flight on December 2, 1943. The F7F-1 aircraft went into production in April of 1944, but the Midway-class carriers had not yet been completed, so the first Tigercats were given to the US Marine Corps. Only 35 of these aircraft were built until production switched to the two-seat night fighter variant. These were also built in limited numbers.

Introduced in Update 1.43, the Tigercat is a typical heavy fighter, having great firepower and survivability but low agility. For those reasons, it's crucial to be near teammates, as it will struggle to dogfight single-engine fighters. It performs best at medium to low altitudes. Its best performance advantage is speed - it's one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in the game. Despite this, and due to its high drag, the Tigercat will get caught in a dive by many fighters. The climb rate is mediocre, helped only by its air spawn. Players will want to utilise a hit-and-run playstyle, similarly to early-WWII American fighters like the P-51D-5 or P-47D-25. Unlike those, however, it can't just dive away from threats, making it significantly harder to play. Additionally, it overheats easily on automatic engine controls, and the availability of WEP is time-limited.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Max speed
at 5 181 m688 km/h
Turn time25 s
Max altitude12 300 m
Engine2 х Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight10 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 5,182 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 659 641 12300 26.3 27.1 20.0 20.0 444
Upgraded 724 688 23.8 25.0 31.7 25.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
✓ ✓ ✓ X ✓
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
835.14 463 455 425 277 ~10 ~8
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 467 < 450 < 555 > 317
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
850 m 2,100 hp 2,468 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
5,337 m 1,600 hp 1,880 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural835 km/h
Gear463 km/h

With 9.5 mm of steel in the front and 12.7 mm steel in the back as well as bullet-proof glass, the pilot is fairly decently protected against small calibre fire and HE rounds, such as the minengeschoss. The wings and engines are basically unprotected and thus prone to taking damage easily; however being radial engines, they can take some damage. The plane can easily flight on one engine, and it has full propeller feathering. Should a wing get damaged, asymmetric thrust from the engines may help to control the aircraft.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 524 → 3 833 Sl icon.png
RB6 113 → 9 285 Sl icon.png
SB9 247 → 14 046 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications52 900 Rp icon.png
91 200 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 700 Ge icon.png
Crew training57 000 Sl icon.png
Experts200 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces520 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
120 / 240 / 510 % Sl icon.png
172 / 172 / 172 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
4 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
4 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
bmg50_belt_pack
Research:
3 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
bmg50_new_gun
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FMBC mk.1
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
anm3_belt_pack
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 600 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
anm3_new_gun
Research:
4 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
FLBC mk.1
Research:
4 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm M3 cannon
Ammunition800 rounds
Fire rate750 shots/min
Weapon 24 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun
Ammunition1 600 rounds
Fire rate750 shots/min
Main articles: M3 (20 mm), M2 Browning (12.7 mm)

The F7F-1 is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)
  • 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, chin-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (3)
Setup 12 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb
Setup 21 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
Setup 32 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb
1 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
Main articles: AN-M64A1 (500 lb), AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)

The F7F-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
  • 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb (1,000 lb total)
  • 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The main armament is extremely powerful. Equipped with 4 x 20 mm cannon and M2 Brownings in the nose, expect to knock planes out of the skies frequently. Unlike many other planes that have more spread out armament, the Tigercat packs a massive punch. If one cannon shell hits, the rest will as well. It is recommended that you research "New 20 mm Cannons" and "12.7 mm Ammo Belts", as the Cannon jam quite quickly and the stealth and ground target ammo for the 12.7 mm is far more effective than the default.

The Tigercat's devastating armament, coupled with high survivalability and air spawn, are perfect for hunting down troublesome German bombers like the Ju 288 C. Those also mean that players should not avoid headons with fighters, and often even seek them: if you don't kill them in headon, they will likely end on your tail, and in that case, there is nothing one can do except hope to outrun them.

Due to lackluster maneuverability, the Tigercat should not be in front of its teammates. Let them take on enemies, pick a distracted one, come in and kill it (shoudln't be hard with all the guns). Keep your speed up and head for next target - rinse and repeat. Don't be fooled by agility. It turns good and rolls great - for a heavy fighter. It's much worse than almost any single-engine fighter. Notable exception is Ta-152H, a common fighter at this tier, known for it's poor roll rate: you can evade its guns in a dive; but that's about it. The agility is enough to point your guns at enemies, not enough to win any dogfight.

The F7F-1 also has great late game potential due to its armament and lots of ammo. Taking out AI attackers is really fast and easy. And if you aim well, you can take down light pillboxes with short, controlled bursts. Lightly armoured vehicles normally only need 1 or 2 taps. Unlike its event vehicle variant which has vastly better ordnance options, the F7F-1 is average at best in this department. With the maximum load being 2 x 500 lb and 1 x 1,000 lb bomb, don't really expect to take down many hard targets before going back to rearm. The secondary weapons are not recommended for use, as they will reduce performance considerably- also, due to the high BR, jets will exist and will intercept you before you are halfway to your bombing target due to their speed.

Performance-wise, the Tigercat has a maximum speed of 668 km/h (415 mph) at an altitude of 5,190 m (17,028 ft), or 695 km/h (431 mph) at the same altitude with WEP. At sea level, the maximum speed is 619 km/h (384.6 mph), or 638 km/h (396.4 mph) with WEP. The Tigercat can climb to an altitude of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 155 seconds (135 seconds with WEP), giving it an average climb rate of 19.3 m (63.3 ft) per second (22.2 m or 72.8 ft per second with WEP). It can perform a full horizontal turn at 3,000 m in 24 seconds at a speed of 500 km/h (310.6 mph), as well as perform a full vertical turn at the same altitude and speed, which it completes in 27 seconds.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable
Auto control available 		Controllable
Auto control available 		Controllable
Auto control available 		Separate Controllable
2 gears 		Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent armament
  • 12.7 mm guns are mounted on the nose and the 20 mm AN/M3's are mounted very close to the fuselage, resulting in very little convergence
  • Excellent energy retention
  • Excellent ammunition capacity
  • Very high speed in dive and at level flight
  • Very good cockpit visibility
  • Very fast at low to medium altitudes, especially with WEP
  • Decent survivalability

Cons:

  • Poor maneuverability
  • Dive performance good, but not good enough
  • Large target
  • Locks up quickly
  • Engines start to lose power above 5,000 m
  • Engines overheat quickly, needs manual engine control to remedy
  • WEP is time-limited

History

By around 1938, the US Navy started investigating into the possibilities of a twin-engine carrier-borne fighter. The contract to develop such a fighter was awarded to Grumman. Quickly thereafter the XF5F was designed. The compact aircraft was to include a 23 mm Madsen cannon, two .50 calibre machine guns, and two .30 calibre machine guns. The Skyrocket test results were not very satisfactory and in 1941 the US Navy moved onto to a new aircraft. The new goal was to create a heavy fighter for its upcoming Midway-class aircraft carriers. This next design was to incorporate two R-2800 engines, four 20 mm cannons, four .50 calibre machine guns, and the ability to carry bombs, rockets, and torpedoes.

The XF7F-1 Tigercat prototype made its original flight on December 2, 1943. The F7F-1 aircraft went into production in April of 1944, but the Midway-class carriers had not yet been completed, so the first Tigercats were given to the US Marine Corp. Only 35 of these aircraft were built until production switched to the two-seat night fighter variant. These were built in limited numbers as well.

The Tigercat came too late to see any action in World War II. Late-model Tigercats did eventually see action in Korea with the Marines. The aircraft was eventually retired from US service in 1954.

Vehicle Profile

In 1942, after an unsuccessful XF5F Skyrocket (and XP-50, its land-based modified variant) project, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation began work on an improved aircraft using the same twin-engine concept as the Skyrocket, which they named the XP-65. It was only a year later, however, that this project was cancelled, and Grumman began work on an entirely new plane based on the XF5F concept. This plane was intended to be operated from new, large Midway-class carriers (the first vessel being the USS Midway, which was commissioned in 1945) and Grumman had two main goals in sight – the plane would have ground attack capabilities, and it would be able to outperform and outgun any other fighter of that time. The maiden flight of the prototype, titled XF7F-1, occurred in December 1943, and was rushed into production in 1944 under the name F7F-1 Tigercat, continuing the Grumman's tradition of giving planes "cat" names.

The Tigercat was designed for two things – speed and firepower. The first of these was achieved by the combination of its sleek hull and two massive 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W Double Wasp radial engines, producing 2100 horsepower each. With these power plants, the Tigercat was able to achieve a maximum speed of 700 km/h (435 mph) at an altitude of 6706 m (22 000 ft), and had climb rate of more than 1,372 m (4,500 ft) per minute. It was nearly 114 km/h (71 mph) faster than the F6F Hellcat, and Captain Fred M. Trapnell, one of the US Navy's best test pilots, was quoted saying: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown!" The Tigercat's firepower was no less impressing. The Tigercat was armed with four 20 mm M2 cannons in the wing roots, and four .50 cal M2 nose-mounted machine guns. Additionally, it could carry up to two 454 kg (1,000 lb) bombs on under wing racks, or one torpedo under the fuselage. It was also the first US Navy twin-engine fighter ever accepted into service, and the first US Navy fighter ever to use a tricycle landing gear configuration.

However, air tests and trials proved that the Tigercat was simply too overpowered for Midway-class carriers. Its landing speed was too high and it suffered instability in single-engine flight. The arrestor hook design was also proven to be unreliable. As a result of these multiple issues, the Tigercat was then assigned to be used as a land-based fighter in the US Marine Corps service. Deliveries started in April 1944, but problems with carrier operations clearance and changes in its operational requirements caused significant delays. As a result, the Tigercat was too late to participate in World War 2, and only 34 aircraft of initial F7F-1 versions were made. Tigercats eventually saw combat at last, but no sooner than during the initial stages of the Korean War, where F7Fs managed to shoot down two North Korean Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. Subsequently, due to the development of jet fighters, Tigercats were phased out of service, with the last of them retiring in 1954.

Media

Skins
Videos
Best aircraft for Boom & Zoom discusses the F7F-1 at 4:38 - War Thunder Official Channel
Avoid them in frontal attack! discusses the F7F-1 at 1:06 - War Thunder Official Channel
Best naval fighters discusses the F7F-1 at 2:24 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Aircraft 
Fighters 
F3F  F3F-2 · Galer's F3F-2
F4F Wildcat  F4F-3 · F4F-4
XF5F Skyrocket  XF5F · XP-50
F6F Hellcat  F6F-5 · F6F-5N
F7F Tigercat  F7F-1 · F7F-3
F8F Bearcat  F8F-1 · F8F-1B
Jet Fighters 
F9F Panther/Cougar  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
F-11 Tiger  F11F-1
F-14 Tomcat  F-14A Early · F-14B
Jet Strike Aircraft 
A-6 Intruder  A-6E TRAM
Bombers  TBF-1C
Export  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄F6F-5 · ▄F6F-5N · ▄F8F-1B · ▄Avenger Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II
  ▄F-14A IRIAF
Naval Vehicles 
Patrol Gunboat Hydrofoil (PGH)  USS Flagstaff

USA twin-engine fighters
P-38  XP-38G · P-38E · P-38G-1 · P-38J-15 · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38L-5-LO · P-38K · YP-38
P-61  P-61A-11 · P-61C-1
F7F  F7F-1 · F7F-3
Other  XF5F · XP-50 · F-82E

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