Grumman F6F Hellcat (WW 2): Books - History and Deployment

F6F Hellcat - Grumman's Ace Maker in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

The Grumman F6F Hellcat formed the backbone of America's carrier-based fighter force as the Allies pressed the war toward Japan. Powered by a massive and reliable Pratt & Whitney radial engine, the Hellcat racked up an incredible 19: 1 kill ratio against its foes in WWII, and 305 aviators earned ace status while flying the Hellcat. Such famed US naval aces as David McCampbell, Cecil Harris, Eugene Valencia, and Alex Vraciu all flew the Hellcat.
In addition to its wing-mounted .50-caliber machine guns, the F6F was equipped to carry bombs as well, allowing pilots to deliver up to 2,000 pounds of bombs on targets.

By the time that Hellcat production ended in November 1945, 12,275 examples had rolled off Grumman's Bethpage, Long Island, assembly line. Through carefully researched photos, many never before published, the history and details of this iconic aircraft are revealed. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

F6F Hellcat vs A6M Zero-Sen - Pacific Theater 1943-44 (Osprey)

The Grumman F6F Hellcat and Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen were the two principal opposing fighters in the brutal aerial clashes of the Pacific War from 1943 onwards. Reminiscent of the preceding F4F Wildcat, the F6F Hellcat was designed specifically to counter the earlier A6M2 Zero-sen, the strengths and weaknesses of which became fully understood by US designers after an undamaged example was recovered in the Aleutians. The powerful Hellcat had an impressive top speed, rate of climb and armament, and it retained its predecessor's incredible ruggedness.
The A6M5 Zero-sen was also born out of an earlier type, but was intended merely as a stop-gap until more modern Japanese fighters could be produced to restore performance parity with Allied aircraft. The chaotic conditions of the Japanese Aircraft industry and war economy prevented new types from being built.
Featuring detailed artwork illustrating the technical specifications of these two types and the dramatic encounters between them, this volume focuses on how these iconic fighters came into being, and how they fared as they faced one another over the Pacific skies of World War II.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and Development - Technical Specifications - The Strategic Situation - The Combatants - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Aftermath - Further Reading - Index.

Les derniers F6F-5 Hellcat

Depuis toujours le Hellcat est présenté comme le « Vainqueur du Pacifique » ; c'est grâce à cet appareil que les pilotes américains purent vaincre les « Zéro » japonais. Ce recueil vous aidera à comprendre pourquoi.

Les ingénieurs de chez Grumman ont insisté particulièrement sur la sécurité et le confort des pilotes. Les divers circuits ont été doublés. Ainsi le train d'atterrissage peut-il être sorti grâce à deux circuits hydrauliques et à une bouteille d'air comprimé. Le blindage est beaucoup plus important que celui de son adversaire. L
E moteur est très puissant et robuste, ses 46 litres de cylindrée sont limités à 2 100 cv ; il eut été possible de doubler cette puissance, mais au détriment du potentiel moteur, et pour les survols maritimes il faut un moteur qui « dure ».
L'avion est un peu lourd mais l'histoire à montré que c'était le bon choix.

Ce si bel avion a eu malheureusement beaucoup d'accidents, comme tous ceux de son époque. Malgré cela ses performances étaient comparables à celles des premiers chasseurs à réaction.