Origins<\/h2>\n
The Wildcat was essentially a product of the 1930s. Not many know that it was initially envisaged as a biplane (G-16, XF4F-1), the culmination of the development of an entire line of Grumman fighters, among them the FF-1, F2F and F3F. However, the rapid development of technology and the appearance of competing designs resulted in the Wildcat being converted into a monoplane \u2013 specifically a mid-wing monoplane. And so the F4F-3 was born. But development brought with it a problem: successive versions of the aeroplane became noticeably larger and heavier. The F3F had a wingspan of 8.7 m, while that of the F4F was expanded to 11.6 m, and its weight increased from 1.8 tons to 3.4 tons. Since overall aircraft dimensions were of critical importance for operation from crowded carrier decks, this led to a plan for equipping the new USN fighter with folding wings.<\/p>\n
F4F-4 Wildcat, 41 fighting squadron from USS Ranger, early 1942. Note big fuselage starts with red dots, unit code 41-F-8 and stripes on rudder. Official US Navy photo.<\/em><\/p>\n In 1940, Leroy Grumman himself put forward a proposal that would allow the Wildcat to take up less stowage space on ship. This concept came to be known as the Sto-Wing<\/em>. The wings were to be folded using a hydraulic mechanism, with the axis of rotation arranged such that they were turned to the rear and collapsed along the fuselage, with the edge of attack directed downwards. As a result, the Wildcat\u2019s footprint was reduced from 11.6 m to 4.4 m, which made it possible to increase the numerical strength of carrier-based fighter squadrons from 18 to 27 aircraft.<\/p>\n April 10, 1942, weapon tests on the USS Enterprise deck. Grumman F4F-4 from fighting squadron six with early national insignia. Stripes on rudder are covered with canvas cover. Official US Navy photo.<\/em><\/p>\n The US Navy was so taken by the idea that it immediately commissioned the construction of a prototype, and so the last ordered F4F-3 became the first XF4F-4 (build no. 1897). The wing was redesigned, with the axis of rotation being centred on the wing spar and also shifted aft. For this reason, the spar in the section adjoining the fuselage proceeded slantwise to the rear, only running perpendicularly to the aircraft\u2019s axis in the folding wing parts.\u00a0 The incorporation of a wing folding mechanism also impacted the arrangement of the aeroplane\u2019s armament: a third pair of machine guns was added, and all six were moved outward and rearward. This version of the aeroplane was ready by April 1941, and in May it was sent for testing with VF-42 aboard USS Yorktown<\/em>. But the advantages, obvious as they were, were accompanied by problems. Pilots complained about the aircraft\u2019s weight, which had risen by 310 kg in comparison with the standard F4F-3. This, in turn, impacted rate of climb, speed and manoeuvrability. The US Navy, however, was so impressed with the compactness of the F4F-4 that it immediately placed an order \u2013 with the proviso that the aircraft would have to be slimmed down to 3,400 kg. Grumman satisfied this requirement mainly by replacing the hydraulic wing folding mechanism with a manual design. The engine and cowling were standardised and did not undergo further modification throughout the fighter\u2019s entire period of manufacture, while the straight Pitot tube was swapped for a smaller, L-shaped device. Production commenced forthwith, with 5 aircraft leaving the factory by the end of 1941; the rest were completed in 1942.<\/p>\n Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat No F-26 from fighting squadron eight on the USS Hornet deck, April 18, 1942. North American B-25B Mitchell bomber prepared for Doolittle Raid is visible in foreground. Photo: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n Wildcats with folding wings started arriving at squadrons on the East Coast in the beginning of 1942. The USS Wasp<\/em> and USS Ranger<\/em> received their F4F-4s in first order. On the West Coast, VF-6 and VF-8 took delivery of the new fighters towards the end of March 1942, just prior to the Tokyo Raid. At the time of Doolittle\u2019s famous attack, there were already 30 F4F-4s on the USS Hornet<\/em>, and 22 F4F-4s and 5 F4F-3s on the USS Enterprise<\/em>. The Wildcats were not used in the raid, however. Following the Battle of the Coral Sea, VF-3 squadron collected its new aeroplanes and embarked on USS Yorktown<\/em>, soon rejoining the conflict.\u00a0 The new Wildcat had to wait for its d\u00e9but until the Battle of Midway, which involved units from three aircraft carriers \u2013 the USS Yorktown<\/em>, USS Enterprise<\/em>, and USS Hornet<\/em>. From this moment on, the aircraft served as the primary fighter of the US Navy\/US Marines right until the end of 1943, when it was supplanted by the Corsairs and Hellcats.<\/p>\n Before Doolittle Raid, F4F-4 with folded wings on USS Hornet flightdeck. Photo: US Navy.<\/em><\/p>\n Fighting Squadron 3 i \u201eJimmy\u201d Thach w Bitwie o Midway<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/80-G-7026.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Prototype<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nThe F4F-4 in Front-Line Service<\/h2>\n
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