F8F-1B

This page is about the American naval fighter F8F-1B. For other versions, see F8F-1 and F8F-1B (France).

F8F-1B

F4U-4B

F7F-1

360://https://old-wiki.warthunder.com/images/f/f0/Cockpit_f8f1b.jpg

F8F-1B

F4U-4B

F7F-1

USA

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.3	6.3

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:54 000

Purchase:185 000

Description

The F8F-1B Bearcat is a rank IV American naval fighter with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.33.

The F8F-1B is truly a worthy aircraft to end the single engine fighter line of the USN branch. Nimble, fast, and with great acceleration, it is sight of fear for the foe's eye. Most of its enemies will be jets and they will shiver as the Bearcat faces them with a 2 km altitude and (sometimes with) speed advantage. With WEP running (War Emergency Power), includes ADI (Water-Methanol Injection) for the big and hungry 2,300 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp) and modules maximized, the climb rate is well over 35 m/s. However, its main weakness is the Bearcat's very power source: the hot-running R-2800 Double Wasp.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Max speed

at 4 268 m708 km/h

Turn time19 s

Max altitude10 900 m

EnginePratt & Whitney R-2800-34W

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,268 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	672	647	10900	20.1	20.8	19.3	19.3	220
Upgraded	752	708		18.0	19.0	32.8	24.8

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	+	-
827	340	616	585	427	~10	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 465	< 466	< 600	> 460

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
995 m	2,120 hp	2,826 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,090 m	1,700 hp	2,244 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural827 km/h

Gear340 km/h

• 8.5 mm Steel - Under cowling engine armor plate
• 8.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit protection plate
• 9.5 mm Steel - Pilots seat and headrest
• 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 505 → 3 354

RB6 019 → 8 059

SB9 105 → 12 191

Total cost of modifications47 100

85 600

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces940

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 220 / 470 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200 Radiator Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200 Airframe Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220 Compressor Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220 Wings repair Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250 Engine Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250 Cover Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260 Engine injection Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260 G-suit Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260		DGP-1 Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200 bmg50_belt_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 200 FRC mk.2 Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220 bmg50_new_gun Research: 2 600 Cost: 4 700 220 LFRC mk.12 Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250 anm3_belt_pack Research: 2 900 Cost: 5 300 250 FLBC mk.1 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260 anm3_new_gun Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 260

The stock ammo belt for the M3 is great. So don't waste research here. Biggest problem early on is the sluggish behaviour and gun jamming. The latter can be resolved with spending crew points in , which by now in Rank 4 should be already at a decent level. If you're trigger happy, there is bad news: "New 20 mm cannons" are a tier 4 upgrade. Instead focus on the engine upgrades. Especially "Engine Injection" which gives the plane a great boost of performance and turns it into a true bear. The new 20 mm cannons turn the weapons from a shotgun-like spread to significantly more accurate grouping. It is worthwhile to skip the 20 mm belt upgrade and focus on engine improvements until unlocking the new 20 mm cannons upgrade, as the default belts are nearly as devastating as stealth ammo, but with a tracer round added into the mix.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F8F-1B is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm AN/M3 cannon, wing-mounted (188 rpg outer + 225 rpg inner each wing = 826 total)

Suspended armament

The F8F-1B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (gunpods) (340 rpg = 1,360 total)
• 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
• 4 x HVAR rockets
• 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 4 x HVAR rockets (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)
• 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

In Arcade battles the F8F-1B can perform at its prime, which is, accordingly, remarkably. Due to the lack of damage due to overheating and such, the F8F-1B can easily outstrip any piston-engine fighter in a climb once upgraded.

Prior to the engine-injection upgrade, the 1B performs very well, but not as sublimely as it does with the latter modification. Thus, climbing and Boom & Zoom match perfectly with the F8F-1B in AB due to its astounding climb rate, speed, acceleration, and weaponry.

Regarding weaponry, fire in very short bursts with the M3 20 mm because they will jam rather quickly. The most ideal belt is Air Targets, as the belt has - together with the stealth belt, but the Air Targets belt has instead of a practice shell an API-T shell - the most HEF-I shells.

A Bearcat dives towards a formation of Kikka fighter-bombers.

In Realistic Battles. the F8F-1B possesses flight performance, armament and, engine power that are top of it's class. However, the F8F-1B's engine tends to overheat after ~2-2.5 minutes of continuous WEP. These poor thermals force the Bearcat to be played more carefully. avoiding long dogfights with enemy aircraft to preserve the engine as much as possible. Another caviat to take not of is the rudder of the F8F-1B. past 680-700KPH (422-435MPH/367-377 Knots), the rudder controls become very stiff and unresponsive. This necessitates careful management of speed. or carefully setting up targets so the rudder's usage is mitigated.

With Air Combat Maneuvers in mind, the F8F-1B is a surprisingly responsive aircraft. much like its direct predecessor- the F6F-5, the F8F-1B maintains a competitive turn rate at most speeds below 700KPH (435MPH/377 Knots). That being said, sustained turning engagements are not advised in this aircraft due to the poor elevator response below 350KPH (217MPH/189 Knots). The most ideal tactics to use in Air Realistic battles are Boom and Zoom, combined with wide energy saving maneuvers in order to pull the opponent into an energy trap.

due to the current state of the matchmaker between battle ratings 5.0 to 6.7, the F8F-1B's most common opponents will be the German Junkers Ju 288C, a premium frontline bomber with potent defensive armament consisting of four rear facing MG131 machine guns in one dorsal and one belly turret, two front facing MG131s in a chin mounted turret, and a single MG151/20 mounted in a barbette at the extreme tail, engaging this bomber is best done with head on attacks at the start of the match. or high speed passes from above- thus minimizing your exposure to the Ju 288C's gunners.

Common enemies from the German aviation tree at the battle ratings of 5.3-6.3 that the F8F-1B can potentially face are as follows, the Focke Wulf Fw 190 D-9, Fw 190 D-12, Fw 190 D-13, Focke Wulf Ta 152 C-3 and Ta 152 H-1, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4, Bf 109 G-10, Bf 109 G-14 Heinkel He 162, Dornier Do 335B-2 and Arado Ar 234 B-2. each of these enemies, and subsequent nations that will be listed, require different methods of engagement to be successful.

Starting with the Focke Wulf Fw 190 D family, the most ideal method of engaging these enemies is to take advantage of the F8F-1B's superior energy retention, combined with superior turn radius at most speeds to bait the Fw 190D into energy traps. DO NOT attempt head on attacks against these, or any other german fighter you see. this is because of the high damage output of their MG 151/20 or Mk 108 autocannons. though the AN/M3 20mm does have superior ballistics, it is much better to not put your aircraft at risk when it is unneccesarry.

To engage the Focke Wulf Ta 152C-3, it is best to take advantage of the aircraft's largely inferior rudder and elevator response when compared to the F8F-1B. the Ta 152C-3 is able to match the F8F-1B's speed in straight line engagements with ease due to its powerful DB 603. but the german aircraft accelerates more slowly than the F8F-1B despite good energy retention thus, being easily baited into an unwinnable situation against the F8F-1B. The Focke Wulf Ta 152 H-1 requires a similar method to the Ta 152 C-3. However, this variant turns much better than its cousin, at the expense of roll rate, and the issue of poor rudder response remains with this aircraft- as well as worse energy retention due to the much larger wings.

When engaging any of the three (Technically four) Messerschmitt Bf 109 G variants that face the F8F-1B. it is best to bait them into higher speed energy fights, this is due to the bearcat's superior control response between 450-700KPH (280-435MPH/242-377 Knots), much more powerful radial engine. and superior Power to weight ratio, these advantages make vertical engagements against the Bf 109 family the most desireable. as the german aircraft will lose more energy attempting to stay in steep climbs with the Bf 109. However, engaging in sustained turning engagements that go below 450KPH (280MPH/242 Knots) is not advised. this is because the Messerschmitt's leading edge slats allow the aircraft to pull higher angles of attack than the F8F-1B at those speeds and thus turn inside of it.

For engaging the Dornier Do 335 B-2. it is arguably the most straight forward. the Do 335 B-2 is a far inferior aircraft to the F8F-1B in every respect. only really being a danger to the American fighter in direct head on engagements. this is because the Do 335 B-2 is unable to match the flight performance of the bearcat and is thus a sitting duck.

Engaging the He 162s and Ar 234 B-2 require different methodologies however. the tactics against them will become far more prevalent when facing later jets in uptiers. The Ar 234 B-2 can really only run from the F8F-1B, however in an extended chase at low altitude, or in a head on pass. the "Bearcat" faces no danger from the arado itself. to engage the he 162 however. it is adviseable to bait the aircraft into a low energy state, due to poor acceleration and throttle response from early turbojets. and it is not adviseable to run from the Heinkel either, as the He 162s can catch the F8F-1B in an extended straight line engagement.

On to commonly faced Soviet and Chinese aircraft within the battle ratings of 5.3-6.3, they are as follows the Yakolev Yak-3U, Yak-3 (VK-107), Mikoyan i-225, Tupolev Tu-2S family, Tu-1 and Yakolev Yak-15.

All of the Yakolev aircraft that pose significant threats to the F8F-1B, startng with the Yak-3U and Yak-3 (VK-107). These aircraft are incredibly maneuverable. and retain energy as well as the F8F-1B. easily able to match it in any engagement that doesn't involve straight line speed. however their major weakness is their low redline speed. which allows the F8F-1b to dictate the engagement, and escape if need be. The Yak-9UT is similar to the Yak-3s listed, however. it is less maneuverable but more heavily armed. meanwhile the Yak-15 is essentially a Yak-3 VK-107 in regards to performance and redline.

The Mikoyan i-225 is less capable than the F8F-1B by far. and is best engaged in a similar manner to engaging the Bf 109 family. this aircraft is more maneuverable than the Bf 109, and has incredibly good high altitude performance. and is best engaged below 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).

Engaging the Tupolev Tu-2S and Tu-1 is best done in a similar manner to engaging the Ju 288 C. with the caviat of avoiding direct head on passes due to the Soviet Bomber's powerful armament.

Now for the commonly seen Japanese and Italian aircraft of 5.3 to 6.3. They are as follows the Mitsubishi A7M2, J2M3, J2M5, Ki-83 Kawanshi N1K1-Ja, N1K2-J, N1K2-Ja, Kyushu J7W1, Nakajima Ki-84 ko, Ki-84 Otsu, Ki-84 Hei, J5N1, Fiat G.56, and Reggiane Re.2005

These aircraft are all largely similar to the previously mentioned aircraft in this guide- with one major exception. the A7M2.

The Mitsubishi A7M2 is much slower than any other aircraft mentioned in this list but is extremely maneuvrable. it has a great power to weight ratio and is able to turn inside of the F8F-1B at any speed. enganging this aircraft is a matter of speed management.

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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent dive speed
• Excellent manoeuvrability in moderate to high speeds
• Fast acceleration
• High rate of fire
• High ammo count
• Can support high G's in sharp turns and has a G-suit upgrade available
• Combat Flaps can't break, the wings will break faster
• Double the burst mass of the first F8F-1 Bearcat and in general powerful armament
• Great roll rate compared to planes such as the BF-109
• Respectable climb rate up to 5 km
• Excellent bomb capacity

Cons:

• Engine overheats quickly
• With the unbreakable combat flaps deployed, wings can rip in a high speed turn
• AN/M3 cannons jam in barely three seconds unless it's modified
• Not the fastest plane, so lots of planes can catch up
• Ground loops if landing with full brakes
• Sluggish controls at speeds less than 300 km/h
• Dumps velocity in high-G turns
• Rudder compresses to the point of uselessness over 600 km/h

History

The first idea for the creation of the Grumman F8F Bearcat was pitched after the Battle of Midway. Many pilots who took part in it remarked that one of the most important parts of naval air warfare was an aircraft's rate of climb. This of course meant that an increase in power was necessary. In 1943 the design work on the new aircraft began. The outline called for a fighter-interceptor, capable of operating even from small escort carriers. While the engine – the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial – was the same model used on the earlier F6F Hellcat, the new fighter would be lighter which also meant an increase in speed and climb rate. The concession was limiting the range of the new aircraft. The F8F would also feature a bubble canopy for better all around visibility. The first prototype, the XF8F-1, first took to the skies on the 21st August 1944. Further tests proved the aircraft's reliability and ruggedness, and the F8F was accepted into mass production. The first serial models rolled off the assembly line in February 1945 and were delivered to VF-19 fighter squadron, which began operating flights with the Bearcats in May 1945.

The new fighter, was, however, too late for any combat in World War II. After the war the situation of this propeller aircraft got even more complicated thanks to the introduction of naval jet aircraft. Even though the F8F was one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft of its time, it was clear that the jet age was dawning. The F8F was replaced in US Navy and USMC service by the F9F Panther and the F2H Banshee jet aircraft. Some Bearcats saw combat service with the French in French Indochina in 1951, when they were used in the CAS role against the Viet Minh troops. Thailand also received a shipment of Bearcats which were then operated by the Thai Air Force. The F8F found a new life – thanks to its speed and acceleration - it was and still is widely used as a racing aircraft. One of the most famous racing Bearcats is the Rare Bear – a specially modified F8F, which holds many propeller aircraft speed and climb records.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F8F-1B from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #239 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the F8F-1B.

Last piston fighters discusses the F8F-1B at 5:28 - War Thunder Official Channel

Best naval fighters discusses the F8F-1B 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

• Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F8F-1

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
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