Grumman F7F Tigercat

{{Short description|1943 twin-engine fighter aircraft family}} {{Redirect|Tigercat}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox aircraft |name= F7F Tigercat |image= File:F7F-3P Tigercat.jpg |caption= An F7F-3P preserved in United States Marine Corps markings in flight |type= [[Heavy fighter]] |national_origin= United States |manufacturer= [[Grumman]] |first_flight= 2 November 1943 |introduction= 1944 |retired= 1954 |primary_user= [[United States Navy]] |more_users= [[United States Marine Corps]] |produced= 1943–1946 |number_built= 364 |developed_into= [[Grumman XTSF]] }}

The '''Grumman F7F Tigercat''' is a [[heavy fighter]] aircraft that served with the [[United States Navy]] (USN) and [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC) from late in [[World War II]] until 1954. It was the first twin-engined [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] to be deployed by the USN. While the Tigercat was delivered too late to see combat in World War II, it did serve in reconnaissance roles. The Tigercat primarily saw action as a [[night fighter]] and [[attack aircraft]] during the [[Korean War]].

Designed initially for service on [[Midway-class aircraft carrier|''Midway''-class aircraft carriers]], early production F7Fs were land-based variants. The type was too large to operate from older and smaller carriers, and only a late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for carrier service.

==Design and development== Based on the earlier [[Grumman XP-50]] that was eventually canceled, the company developed the '''XP-65''' ('''Model 51''') further for a future "convoy fighter" concept. In 1943, work on the XP-65 was terminated in favor of the design that would eventually become the F7F.<ref name ="Dorr p. 119">Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 119.</ref> The contract for the prototype '''XF7F-1''' was signed on 30 June 1941. Grumman's aim was to produce a fighter that outperformed and outgunned all existing fighter aircraft and that had an auxiliary ground-attack capability.<ref>Thruelsen 1976, p. 204.</ref> [[File:F7F-3N VMFN-513 Wonsan 1952.jpg|thumb|An F7F-3N of VMF(N)-513 at Wonsan, Korea, in 1952]] Performance of the prototype and initial production aircraft met expectations; the F7F was one of the fastest piston-engined fighters, with a top speed significantly greater than single-engined USN aircraft — 71 mph faster than a [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] at sea level.<ref>Meyer 2002, p. 51.</ref> Captain [[Frederick M. Trapnell|Fred Trapnell]], one of the premier USN test pilots of the era, stated: "It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown."<ref>Meyer 2002, p. 54.</ref> The F7F was to be heavily armed — four 20 mm cannon and four .50 caliber ([[.50 BMG|0.50 in]]; 12.7 mm) machine guns, as well as underwing and underfuselage hardpoints for bombs and torpedoes. This speed and firepower were bought at the cost of heavy weight and a high landing speed, but what caused the aircraft to fail carrier suitability trials was poor directional stability with only one engine operational, as well as problems with the [[tailhook]] design.<ref>Meyer 2002, p. 55.</ref> The initial production series was, therefore, used only from land bases by the USMC, as night fighters with APS-6 radar.<ref>Thruelsen 1976, p. 205.</ref>

While the F7F was initially also known as the Grumman Tomcat, this name was abandoned, because it was considered at the time to have excessively sexual overtones;<ref>Meyer 2002, p. 50</ref> (from the 1970s, the name Tomcat became commonly associated with, and officially used by the Navy for, another Grumman design, the [[F-14]] twin-jet carrier-based interceptor). The first production variant was the single-seat '''F7F-1N''' aircraft; after the 34th production aircraft, a second seat for a radar operator was added and these aircraft were designated '''F7F-2N'''.

A second production version, the '''F7F-3''', was modified to correct the issues that caused the aircraft to fail carrier acceptance, and this version was again trialled on the {{USS|Shangri-La|CV-38|6}}. A wing failure on a heavy landing caused the failure of this carrier qualification, as well. F7F-3 aircraft were produced in day-fighter, night-fighter, and photo-reconnaissance versions.<ref name="Taylor p. 504">Taylor 1969, p. 504.</ref>

The final production version, the '''F7F-4N''', was extensively rebuilt for additional strength and stability, and did pass carrier qualification, but only 12 were built.<ref name="Taylor p. 504" />

==Operational history== The F7F Tigercat was produced too late to serve in its intended role in WWII; however, early F7F-1 models saw service in the Pacific Theatre before the end of the war. One USMC photographic reconnaissance squadron equipped with the F7F, [[VMP-354]], arrived in Guam in June 1945, and was quickly transferred to [[Yontan Airfield]] in Okinawa in July 1945.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=O'Brien |first=J. T. |title=Top secret: an informal history of electronic warfare & photographic reconnaissance in Marine Corps aviation 1940-2000 |date=2004 |publisher=Equidata Pub. Co |isbn=978-0-9714185-3-0 |edition=1st |location=Anaheim, Calif |pages=64–69}}</ref> In July and August 1945, VMP-354 used the F7F to photograph potential invasion beaches for [[Operation Downfall]] in Southern Kyushu.<ref name=":0" />

USMC night-fighter squadron [[VMF(N)-513]] flying F7F-3N Tigercats saw action in the early stages of the Korean War, flying night interdiction and fighter missions and shooting down two [[Polikarpov Po-2]] biplanes.<ref name="Grossnick">Grossnick and Armstrong 1997</ref> This was the only combat use of the aircraft.

Most F7F-2Ns were modified to control drones for combat training, and these gained [[bubble canopy|bubble canopies]] over the rear cockpit for the drone controller. An F7F-2D used for pilot transitioning also had a rear-sliding, bubble canopy.<ref>Gault 1973, p. 25.</ref>

In 1945, two Tigercats, [[United Kingdom military aircraft serial numbers|serial numbers]] TT346 and TT349, were evaluated, but rejected by the British [[Royal Navy]] in favor of a naval version of the [[de Havilland Hornet]].<ref>Zuk 2004, p. 129.</ref>

==Variants== [[File:XF7F-1 at Moffett Field 1946.jpg|thumb|The second XF7F-1 in 1946]] [[File:F7F-2D with F8F windshield NAN3-49.jpg|thumb|An F7F-2D drone controller with an additional F8F windshield]] [[File:F7F-3N Tigercat VMF(N)-531.jpeg|thumb|An F7F-3N night fighter of VMF(N)-513 in April 1950]]

;XP-65 :Proposed [[United States Army Air Forces]] pursuit fighter ;XF7F-1 :Prototype aircraft, two built ;F7F-1 Tigercat :Twin-engined fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W radial piston engines, first production version, 34 built ;F7F-1N Tigercat :Single-seat night fighter aircraft, fitted with an APS-6 radar ;XF7F-2N :Night-fighter prototype, one built ;F7F-2N Tigercat :Two-seat night fighter, 65 built ;F7F-2D :Small numbers of F7F-2Ns were converted into drone control aircraft; they were fitted with a [[Grumman F8F Bearcat]] windshield behind the cockpit. ;F7F-3 Tigercat :Single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radial piston engines and featuring an enlarged tailfin for improved stability at high altitudes, 189 built ;F7F-3N Tigercat :Two-seat night fighter aircraft, 60 built ;F7F-3E Tigercat :Small numbers of F7F-3s were converted into electronic-warfare aircraft. ;F7F-3P Tigercat :Small numbers of F7F-3s were converted into photo-reconnaissance aircraft. ;F7F-4N Tigercat :Two-seat night-fighter aircraft, fitted with a tailhook and other naval equipment, 12 built

==Operators== ;{{USA}} * [[United States Marine Corps]] * [[United States Navy]]

==Surviving aircraft== [[File:Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat 2007.jpg|thumb|The Tigercat was designed to have a very small frontal area.]] [[File:Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat Sis-Q Santa Rosa CA 29.03.88 edited-2.jpg|thumb|F7F-3N Tigercat in use with belly tank in the fire-fighting role in 1988]] [[File:F7F Tigercat N747MX La Patrona 2014 Reno Air Races Silver photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|F7F Tigercat N747MX ''La Patrona'' at 2014 Reno Air Races]]

Beginning in 1949, F7Fs were flown to the then-USN storage facility at [[Naval Air Station Litchfield Park]], Arizona.<ref>Legg 1991, p. 26.</ref> Although the vast majority of the airframes were eventually scrapped, a number of examples were purchased as surplus. The surviving Tigercats were primarily used as [[water bombers]] to fight [[wildfire]]s in the 1960s and 1970s, and Sis-Q Flying Services of [[Santa Rosa, California]], operated an F7F-3N tanker in this role until retirement in the late 1980s.

; Airworthy ;; F7F-3 * 80374 is based at the [[National Museum of World War II Aviation]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7629C "FAA Registry: N7629C"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/grumman-f7f-tigercat/ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80374."] ''Grumman F7F Tigercat.'' Retrieved: 14 July 2021.</ref> * 80375 is based at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs.<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=379AK "FAA Registry: N379AK"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/complete-aircraft-list/ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80375."] ''Grumman F7F Tigercat.'' Retrieved: 14 July 2021.</ref>

* 80411 is based at [[Palm Springs Air Museum]] in [[Palm Springs, California]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=207F "FAA Registry: N207F."] FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref><ref>[http://www.palmspringsairmuseum.org/aircrafts.htm "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80411"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317173342/http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/aircrafts.htm |date=2012-03-17 }}. Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 23 February 2014.</ref> * 80425 is privately owned in [[Seattle, Washington]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=909TC "FAA Registry: N909TC"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref> * 80483 is privately owned in [[Houston, Texas]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6178C "FAA Registry: N6178C"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref> * 80503 is based at Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas.<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=747MX "FAA Registry: N747MX"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.lewisairlegends.com/lewis-air-legends/f7f-3p-tigercat-la-patrona "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80503"]. Lewis Air Legends. Retrieved: 13 January 2020.</ref> * 80532 is privately owned in [[Bentonville, Arkansas]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7195C "FAA Registry: N7195C"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref>

;F7F-3P * 80390 is based at [[Lewis Air Legends]] in [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=700F "FAA Registry: N700F"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.lewisairlegends.com/lewis-air-legends/f7f-3p-tigercat-here-kitty-kitty "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80390"]. Lewis Air Legends. Retrieved: 13 January 2020.</ref>

; On display ;; F7F-3 * 80373: [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] in [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], [[Florida]]<ref>[https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/f7f-tigercat/ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80373"]. National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 23 March 2020.</ref>

* 80410: [[Pima Air & Space Museum]], adjacent to [[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base]], in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>[https://pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/grumman-f7f-3/ "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80410"]. Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 23 March 2020.</ref>

; F7F-3N * 80382: [[Planes of Fame Air Museum]] in [[Chino, California]]<ref>[https://planesoffame.org/aircraft?submit=Submit&planessearchv2=f7f "Grumman F7F Tigercat/Bu. 80382"]. Planes of Fame Museum. Retrieved: 23 March 2020.</ref>

; Under restoration or in storage ;; F7F-3 * 80404 is in storage at the [[Fantasy of Flight]] in [[Polk City, Florida]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7626C "FAA Registry: N7626C"]. FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref>

==Specifications (F7F-4N Tigercat)== [[File:Grumman F7F-3N drawing.jpg|thumb|3-view drawing of a Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat]] {{Aircraft specs | ref=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II<ref name=jane>Bridgman 1946, p. 233.</ref> |prime units?=imp  |crew=2 |length ft=45||length in=4 |span ft=51||span in=6 |height ft=16||height in=7 |wing area sqft=455 |airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA 23015]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA 23012]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref> |empty weight lb=16270 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb=25720  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp]] |eng1 type=18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines |eng1 hp=2100

|prop blade number=3 |prop name=constant-speed fully-feathering propellers |prop dia ft= |prop dia in=  |max speed mph=460 |range miles=1200 |ceiling ft=40400 |climb rate ftmin=4530  | guns= ** 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404|AN/M3 cannon]] (200 rpg, wing roots) ** 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) [[M2 Browning]] [[machine gun]] (400 rpg, in nose) (normal fighter versions only; replaced by radar unit in the -3N nightfighter) | bombs= ** 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) [[Aerial bomb|bomb]]s ''or'' ** 8 × 127mm unguided rockets under wings ''and'' ** 1 × 150 gallon fuel or napalm tank under fuselage ''or'' ** 1 × [[torpedo]] under fuselage (day fighter only) | avionics= * AN/APS-19 radar }}

==See also== {{Aircontent |see also= |related= * [[Grumman XTSF]] |similar aircraft= * [[de Havilland Hornet]] * [[FMA I.Ae. 30 Ñancú]] * [[Focke-Wulf Ta 154]] * [[Kawasaki Ki-102]] * [[Mitsubishi Ki-83]] * [[Northrop P-61 Black Widow]] * [[Rikugun Ki-93]] |lists= * [[List of aircraft of World War II]] * [[List of military aircraft of the United States]] * [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]] }}

==References== {{reflist|25em}}

==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * Bridgman, Leonard (ed.). "The Grumman Tigercat." ''Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II''. London: Studio, 1946. {{ISBN|1-85170-493-0}}. * Carlson, Ted. "Semper Fi Tigercat". ''Flight Journal'', Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2008. * Carr, Orrin I. "Fire 'Cat!" ''Air Classics'', Vol. 12, No. 9, Sept. 1976. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications, pp. 38–47. * Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. ''Fighters of the United States Air Force''. London: Temple, 1990. {{ISBN|0-600-55094-X}}. * Gault, Owen. "Grumman's Tiger Twins: The Skyrocket & Tigercat". ''Air Classics'', Vol. 9, No. 8, Aug. 1973. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications, pp. 22–27. * Green, William. "Grumman F7F-1 – F7F-3 Tigercat". ''War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters'' London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1961, pp. 106–108. {{ISBN|0-356-01448-7}}. * Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Grumman F7F Tigercat". ''WW2 Fact Files: US Navy and Marine Corps Fighters''. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1976, pp. 57–61. {{ISBN|0-356-08222-9}}. * Grossnick, Roy A. and William J. Armstrong. ''United States Naval Aviation: 1910–1995''. Annapolis, MA: Naval Historical Center, 1997. {{ISBN|0-16-049124-X}}. * Legg, David. "Tigercat on camera". ''Aircraft Illustrated'', Volume 24, no. 1, January 1991. * Meyer, Corwin ("Corky") H. "F7F Tigercat: The Untold Story". ''Flight Journal'', August 2002. Ridgefield, CT: AirAge Publications. pp. 48–56, 58. * Morgan, Eric B. "Grumman F7F Tigercat F.7/30". ''Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 1, No. 11''. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISSN 0961-8120. * Morgan, Eric B. "The Grumman Twins". ''Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 2, No. 15''. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd. ISSN 0961-8120. * O'Leary, Michael. "Tigercat Restoration". ''Air Classics'', Vol. 38, No. 11, Nov. 2002. Canoga Park, CA: Challenge Publications. * O'Leary, Michael. ''United States Naval Fighters of World War II in Action''. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press, 1980. {{ISBN|0-7137-0956-1}}. * Taylor, John W.R. "Grumman F7F Tigercat". ''Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. {{ISBN|0-425-03633-2}}. * Thruelsen, Richard. ''The Grumman Story''. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. {{ISBN|0-275-54260-2}}. * Zuk, Bill. ''Janusz Zurakowski: Legends in the Sky''. St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell, 2004. {{ISBN|1-55125-083-7}}. {{refend}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190216013844/http://www.avialogs.com/index.php/en/aircraft/usa/grumman/f-7ftigercat/an-01-85fa-1-pilot-s-handbook-for-f7f-1n-f7f-2n-f7f-3-f7f-3n-f7f-4n-airplanes.html Manual: (1949) AN 01-85FA-1 Pilot's Handbook for Navy Model F7F-1N, F7F-2N, F7F-3, F7F-3N, F7F-4N Airplanes] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100620230636/http://navalaviationmuseum.org/ExhibitsAndCollections/History-Up-Close/SpotlightAircraft/F7F-Tigercat.aspx Naval Aviation Museum: F7F History & Pictures] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060224061603/http://www.septemberpops.com/Racers/BossmanPage.htm F7F Tigercat "Big Bossman" air Racer] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20151220130952/http://www.kbvp.com/extreme-videos/f7f-tigercat-airshow-video-clay-lacy F7F Tigercat Flight Demonstration by Clay Lacy]

[[Category:Grumman aircraft|F07F Tigercat]] [[Category:1940s United States fighter aircraft]] [[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]] [[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1943]] [[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]