Grumman F4F Wildcat

{{Short description|United States Navy World War II era fighter plane}} {{Use American English|date=October 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = F4F/FM/F2M Wildcat/Martlet | image = File:F4F-3 new pitot tube of later model.jpg | caption = F4F-3 in non-reflective blue-gray over light gray scheme from early 1942 | type = [[Carrier-based aircraft|Carrier-based]] [[fighter aircraft]] | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = [[Grumman]] | builder = [[Eastern Aircraft Division|GM Eastern Aircraft Division]] | first_flight = 2 September 1937 | introduction = December 1940 | retired = 1945 | status = Retired from military use | primary_user = [[United States Navy]] | more_users = [[United States Marine Corps]] <br> [[Royal Navy]] <br> [[Royal Canadian Navy]] | produced = | number_built = 7,885<ref>Hickman, Kennedy. [http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwariiaircraft/p/f4fwildcat.htm "World War II: Grumman F4F Wildcat."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207102214/http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwariiaircraft/p/f4fwildcat.htm |date=2016-12-07 }} ''About.com''. Retrieved: 15 June 2010.</ref> | variants = | developed_into = }}

The '''Grumman F4F Wildcat''' is an American [[Carrier-based aircraft|carrier-based]] [[fighter aircraft]] that entered service in 1940 with the [[United States Navy]] and the British [[Royal Navy]]. The British made the first use of the type in combat, initially as a base-defense fighter; later they operated it from escort carriers in the North Atlantic, and later still from fleet carriers, under the name '''Martlet'''.<ref>Note; British [[Fleet Air Arm]] fighters were named after sea birds. Later the "Wildcat" name would be adopted by the RN to simplify supply and prevent possible confusion over delivery orders.</ref> By the time of Pearl Harbor the Wildcat was the best fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and remained so until mid-1943. The disappointing [[Brewster F2A Buffalo]] remained in limited front-line and second-line service through much of 1942, but was withdrawn as soon as enough Wildcats became available.

In the Pacific, Wildcats found themselves matched against various marks of the [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]]. US Navy pilots were reasonably satisfied with the F4F-3 model of the Wildcat, with which they fought through May 1942 and the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lundstrom |first=John B. |title=The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-1591144717 |edition=First Paperback |location=Annapolis, MD |publication-date=2005 |pages=132, 300}}</ref> but were initially much less satisfied with the "improved" F4F-4, which first engaged the Zero at Midway. This mark suffered from increased weight, resulting mainly from the addition of folding wings and a heavier gun battery, without any increase in engine power;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lundstrom |first=John B. |title=The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-1591144717 |edition=First Paperback |location=Annapolis, MD |publication-date=2005 |pages=317-318, 441}}</ref> this left the F4F-4 with a more sluggish performance than its predecessor. Improved tactics, based on close mutual support by fighters operating as a unit, helped reduce the consequences of reduced performance,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TF 16 Action Report |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/archives/digital-exhibits-highlights/action-reports/wwii-battle-of-midway/tf-16-action-report.html |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Yorktown Action Report |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/archives/digital-exhibits-highlights/action-reports/wwii-battle-of-midway/uss-yorktown-action-report.html |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Edward |first=M. |title=F4F Vs. A6M |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2013 |pages=60 |language=English}}</ref> and later models (which entered service after the type had been withdrawn from front-line service) were given reduced gun batteries and upgraded engines, giving them better performance in their reduced roles.<ref>Wildcat Mk V (FM-1) and Wildcat Mk VI (FM-2). Sections of unsubdivided, unpaginated article, "Grumman F4F Martlet, Part Two: Variants." Available at armouredcarriers.com/grumman-f4f-martlet-variants. Accessed March 10, 2026</ref><ref>Lundstrom (2005):444.</ref> In the final tally Wildcat pilots [[Confirmation and overclaiming of aerial victories during World War II|claimed]] an air combat kill-to-loss ratio of 5.9:1 for 1942 and 6.9:1 for the war as a whole.<ref name="polmar">Polmar 2004</ref>

In the spring of 1942, lessons learned from early Wildcat combat operations were applied, at the last minute, to prototypes of Grumman's vastly superior [[Grumman F6F Hellcat|F6F Hellcat]], the design of which already owed a great deal to the Wildcat. While the Wildcat had better range and maneuverability at low speed, the Hellcat, with c. 50 percent greater power available, could easily outperform the Zero, and superseded the Wildcat in front-line service in 1943-44.<ref>Tillman 1991 , pp. 5, 96.</ref><ref>[http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/japan/ptr-1111.pdf TAIC REPORT NO.17, November 1944]</ref>

From mid-1942 onward production of the Wildcat was subcontracted to a new division of [[General Motors]], the [[Eastern Aircraft Division]], which was established specifically to produce other firms' aircraft, and which ultimately did produce more than three-quarters of all the Wildcats and Avengers that were built.

==Design and development== [[File:Grumman XF4F-3 prototype in flight in 1939.jpg|thumb|The XF4F-3 in 1939; it was written off in a fatal accident on 16 December 1940]]

Grumman fighter development began with the two-seat [[Grumman FF]] [[biplane]]. The FF was the first U.S. naval fighter with a retractable [[landing gear]]. The wheels retracted into the [[fuselage]], leaving the tires visibly exposed, flush with the sides of the fuselage. Two single-seat biplane designs followed, the [[Grumman F2F|F2F]] and [[Grumman F3F|F3F]], which established the general fuselage outlines of what would become the F4F Wildcat. In 1935, while the F3F was still undergoing flight testing, Grumman started work on its next biplane fighter, the G-16. At the time, the U.S. Navy favored a [[monoplane]] design, the [[Brewster F2A Buffalo|Brewster F2A-1]], ordering production early in 1936. However, an order was also placed for Grumman's G-16 (given the navy designation XF4F-1) as a backup in case the Brewster monoplane proved to be unsatisfactory.<ref name="Swan US Navy p205">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 205.</ref><ref name="Green v4 p90">Green 1969, p. 60.</ref>

It was clear to Grumman that the XF4F-1 would be inferior to the Brewster monoplane, so Grumman abandoned the XF4F-1, designing instead a new monoplane fighter, the XF4F-2.<ref name="Swan US Navy p205"/><ref name="donald wildcat">Donald 1995, pp. 128–134.</ref> The XF4F-2 would retain the same, fuselage-mounted, hand-cranked main landing gear as the F3F, with its relatively narrow track. The unusual manually-retractable main landing gear design for all of Grumman's U.S. Navy fighters up to and through the F4F, as well as for the amphibious [[Grumman J2F]] utility biplane, was originally created in the 1920s by Leroy Grumman for [[Grover Loening]].<ref>[http://www.willyvictor.com/Biographies/waters.html "Wayne Waters CDR USN(ret)."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512231659/http://www.willyvictor.com/Biographies/waters.html |date=2006-05-12 }} ''willyvictor.com.''</ref>{{refn|Quote: ...landing gear was almost identical to that in the J2F's.|group=N}} Landing accidents caused by failure of the main gear to fully lock into place were distressingly common.<ref>Tillman 1983, p. 12.</ref>

[[File:F4F-3 in flight in summer of 1940.jpg|thumb|An early F4F-3 with [[Spinner (aeronautics)|prop spinner]] and cowling guns]]

The overall performance of Grumman's new monoplane was felt to be inferior to that of the Brewster Buffalo. The XF4F-2 was marginally faster, but the Buffalo was more maneuverable. The Buffalo was judged superior and was chosen for production.<ref name="donald wildcat"/> After losing out to Brewster, Grumman completely rebuilt the prototype as the XF4F-3 with new wings and tail and a supercharged version of the [[Pratt & Whitney]] [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp|R-1830 "Twin Wasp"]] radial engine.<ref name="donald wildcat"/><ref name="green 4 F4f">Green 1961, pp. 90–96.</ref> Testing of the new XF4F-3 led to an order for F4F-3 production models, the first of which was completed in February 1940. France also ordered the type, powered by a [[Wright R-1820]] "Cyclone 9" radial engine, but France fell to the Axis powers before they could be delivered and the aircraft went instead to the British Royal Navy, who christened the new fighter the [[Martlet]]. The U.S. Navy officially adopted the aircraft type on 1 October 1941 as the Wildcat. The Royal Navy's and U.S. Navy's F4F-3s, armed with four .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns, joined active units in 1940.<ref name="green 4 F4f"/>

On 16 December 1940, the XF4F-3 prototype, BuNo ''0383'', c/n 356, modified from XF4F-2, was lost under circumstances that suggested that the pilot may have been confused by the poor layout of fuel valves and flap controls and inadvertently turned the fuel valve to "off" immediately after takeoff rather than selecting flaps "up". This was the first fatality in the type.<ref>"Grumman's Willing Wildcat". ''Air Enthusiast Quarterly'', Bromley, Kent., UK, Number 3, 1976, p. 51.</ref>

==Operational history==

[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A24529.jpg|thumb|A Fleet Air Arm Wildcat in 1944, showing "[[invasion stripes]]"]] Even before the Wildcat had been purchased by the U.S. Navy, the French Navy's [[Aeronavale]] and the Royal Navy's [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) had ordered the Wildcat, with their own configurations, via the [[British Purchasing Commission|Anglo-French Purchasing Board]].

===Royal Navy===

The Martlet was taken on by the FAA as a single-seat, high-performance fighter to supplement the [[Fairey Fulmar]] in carrier service. The Fulmar was a two-seat fighter with good range, but it operated at a performance disadvantage against single-seat fighters. The Royal Navy decided it needed single-seat fighters to go with their two-seaters, but because, in 1940, every modern single-seater that could be produced domestically ([[Hawker Hurricane|Hawker Hurricanes]] and [[Supermarine Seafire|Supermarine Spitfires]]) was needed by the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>Buttler 2004</ref>{{page needed|date=June 2020}}<ref>Memorandum by the Joint Staff Mission, dated 23rd September 1941, re: The Strategic Importance of Single-Seat Fighters to the Navy. Quoted in non-paginated article, "Grumman F4F Wildcat, Part One: Development," available at armouredcarriers.com/grumman-f4f-martlet-development. Accessed March 10, 2026.</ref> for service against German bombers, the Grumman plane was adopted by the Fleet Air Arm as soon as it became available. The first types received, the Martlet I and Martlet II, were aircraft diverted from French and Greek orders after those countries were overrun by the Axis powers in 1940 and 1941, respectively. Martlet Is were used for training and the defense of naval bases, with the type's first combat victory coming on [[Christmas Day]] 1940, when a land-based Martlet destroyed a [[Junkers Ju 88]] bomber over the [[Scapa Flow]] naval base.<ref name="thetp201"/> This was the first combat victory by a US-built fighter in British service in World War II.<ref name="thetp201">Thetford 1978, p. 201.</ref>

The type also pioneered combat operations from [[escort carriers]].<ref name="EGustin">Gustin Emmanuel. [http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/history/f4f.html "Grumman F4F Wildcat."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428005332/http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/history/f4f.html |date=2012-04-28 }} ''skynet.be.'' Retrieved: 22 April 2010.</ref> Six Martlets went to sea aboard the very first operational escort carrier, the converted former German merchant vessel {{HMS|Audacity|D10|6}}, in September 1941, and shot down several [[Luftwaffe]] [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200|Fw 200 Condor]] bombers during highly effective convoy escort operations.<ref>Smith, Gordon. [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-05CVE-Audacity.htm "HMS Audacity (D 10)."] ''Naval-History.Net''. Retrieved: 11 October 2011.</ref><ref name="thetp202">Thetford 1978, p. 202.</ref> These were the first of many Wildcats to engage in aerial combat at sea, including [[Convoy HG 76]] to Gibraltar, in December 1941. In March 1945, Wildcats shot down four [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s over [[Norway]], the FAA's last Wildcat victories.<ref name="thetp202" />

The Martlet proved popular among prominent Fleet Air Arm pilots, in part because of oddly exaggerated perceptions of its performance, and also in part because it represented tangible evidence of American backing for the war effort.<ref name=":1">. . . now America was sending Britain the sinews of war in Lend-Lease agreement, and we in 802 [Squadron] were licking our lips in anticipation of a new fighter built especially for high-performance carrier flying by the excellent firm of Grumman. She was called the Wildcat in America and the Martlet in Britain. She was a monoplane, she was fast, and she had big .5 machine guns. We just couldn't wait.

—Capt. Eric "Winkle" Brown, from his autobiography "Wings on My Sleeve", quoted at length in the non-paginated article "Grumman F4F Wildcat, Part One: Development," available at armouredcarriers.com/grumman-f4f-martlet-development. Accessed March 10, 2026.</ref> The pilots saw it as, if not a great naval fighter, at least a genuine one, designed by a company which understood what was needed; and, unlike most in the British Air Ministry (which was fixated on the power of 20-mm cannons), they were very pleased with the plane's Browning M2 heavy machine guns.<ref name=":1" /> {{blockquote|I would still assess the Wildcat as the outstanding naval fighter of the early years of World War II ... I can vouch as a matter of personal experience, this Grumman fighter was one of the finest shipboard aeroplanes ever created.|[[Eric Brown (pilot)|Eric M. "Winkle" Brown]], British test pilot<ref name="polmar"/>}}

The last air raid of the war in Europe was carried out by Fleet Air Arm aircraft in [[Operation Judgement (1945)|Operation Judgement]] on 5 May 1945. Twenty-eight Wildcat VI aircraft from [[846 Naval Air Squadron|846]], [[853 Naval Air Squadron|853]] and [[882 Naval Air Squadron]], flying from escort carriers, took part in an attack on a U-boat depot near [[Harstad Municipality|Harstad , Norway]]. Two ships and a U-boat were sunk with the loss of one Wildcat and one [[Grumman TBF Avenger|Grumman Avenger]] [[torpedo bomber]].

===US Navy and Marine Corps=== ====Pacific==== The first model of the Wildcat to see action with the U.S. Pacific Fleet was the F4F-3. This mark was generally well-received by American pilots although it did have teething pains: as delivered the type lacked pilot armor,<ref>Lundstrom (2005):14.</ref> self-sealing fuel tanks,<ref>Lundstrom (2005):160-161.</ref> and reflector gunsights,<ref>Lundstrom (2005):56.</ref> and its guns tended to jam;<ref>Lundstrom (2005):76.</ref> but all these defects were addressed by squadron mechanics, though not always before the planes saw action. Although it was slower in level flight, had a lower rate of climb, and was less maneuverable in those regimes than the [[Mitsubishi Zero|Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero]], its major opponent in the early part of the war, it was faster and more controllable in a dive, more sturdily built (even before armor was applied), and had a more effective gun battery.<ref>Lundstrom (2005):186.</ref> Four U.S. Marine Corps F4F-3s played a prominent role in the defense of [[Battle of Wake Island|Wake Island]] in December 1941, and seven other land-based examples operated off of Midway Island during the battle there in June 1942. Carrier-based F4F-3s served as the U.S. Navy's principal shipboard fighters from Pearl Harbor through the [[Battle of Coral Sea]]. Curiously, the F4F-3's reputation among its pilots benefitted from the fact that its pilots exaggerated its capabilities: experiences at Coral Sea left many pilots believing that the type's speed and climbing ability were equal to those of the Zero (things that were manifestly untrue), falling short only in maneuverability.<ref>Lundstrom (2005):300.</ref>

By the time of Midway the last F4F-3s based on Pacific Fleet carriers had been superseded by F4F-4s. This ostensibly improved model was equipped with folding wings (which allowed the size of fighter squadrons to be increased from 18 to 27) and two extra guns; but it was equipped with the same engine as the F4F-3, and the extra weight from the modifications contributed to a reduction in performance.<ref>Lundstrom (2005):138-139.</ref> U.S. Navy pilots were not pleased with the changes (which also included a reduction in the number of rounds per gun, and therefore a reduction in the length of time that firing could be sustained), and a general belief in the F4F-4s inferiority developed.<ref>Lundstrom (2005):141.</ref>

The solution to this crisis of confidence was to be found in technology and tactics. Regarding technology, during this period many U.S. Navy pilots were saved by the Wildcat's ZB (Zed Baker) homing device, an electronic beacon which allowed them to find their carriers in poor visibility, provided they could get within the {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on|abbr=on}} range of the homing beacon. The system was far from foolproof; during the [[Battle of Midway]] 10 F4F-4s from ''Hornet''<nowiki/>'s VF-8 crashed in the sea after failing to locate their carrier, even though the planes they had been escorting, for the most part, made it home.<ref name="Fighting the U-boats" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tully |first1=Anthony P. Tully Print Book |last2=Parshall |first2=Jonathan B. |title=Shattered Sword: the untold story of the Battle of Midway |publisher=Potomac Books |year=2005 |isbn=9781574889239 |pages=272}}</ref>

As for tactics, one vocal critic of the F4F-4 was Lieutenant Commander [[John Thach]], commander of ''Saratoga''<nowiki/>'s fighter squadron, VF-3. In mid-1941, after reading Fleet Air Tactical Unit Intelligence Bureau reports describing the new Japanese fighter and concluding that the still-untried F4F would be no match for it, then-Lieutenant Thach devised a defensive tactic (later named the "[[Thach Weave]]" by fellow fighter pilot [[James H. Flatley|James Flatley]]<ref>Lundstrom 1984, pp. 483-484.</ref>) which called for friendly fighters in formation to maneuver in a coordinated manner to counter diving attacks.<ref>Lundstrom (1984), pp. 480-481.</ref> Thach used his tactic successfully at Midway. However, it took some time for the tactic to be disseminated widely, and as a result the most widely employed tactic used by American pilots during the [[Guadalcanal campaign]] was high-altitude ambush, in which pilots pre-positioned at relatively high altitudes used diving, hit-and-run maneuvers against enemy aircraft below, swooping in, gaining speed, and then, after firing, using that speed to climb back up to altitude and position themselves to attack again. The pre-positioning was made possible by a combination of [[coastwatchers]] and [[radar]], which together served as an early warning system.<ref>Lundstrom 1994, pp. 186-187, Stille 2019, Kindle location 565–582.</ref> The early warning system did not always deliver results. On 7 August 1942, the day of the [[Guadalcanal campaign|Guadalcanal]] landings, while American carriers were the sole providers of air cover for the invasion force, [[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|USS ''Enterprise'']] lost 10 F4F-4s and an SBD performing CAP duty to [[Rabaul]]-based [[Tainan Air Group|Tainan Kōkūtai]] Zero fighters, in exchange for one Zero that was forced to crash-land later. These losses included US Fighter Ace [[Pug Southerland|James 'Pug' Southerland]] who was shot down by [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service|IJNAS]] ace [[Saburō Sakai]] (but survived--as did Sakai, who was severely injured later in the day, but brought his plane back to base).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Loxton |first=Bruce |title=Shame of Savo |date=1997 |location=Annapolis, MD |publisher=Naval Institute Press |pages=92}}</ref> Later, on 2 October 1942, a Japanese air raid from [[Rabaul]] was not detected in time, and the [[Cactus Air Force]] lost six Wildcats to only one Zero destroyed.<ref>Lundstrom 1994, pp. 266–270, Stille 2019, Kindle location 1233–1237.</ref> During the most intense initial phase of the [[Guadalcanal campaign|Guadalcanal Campaign]], between 1 August and 15 November, combat records indicate that US lost 115 Wildcats and Japanese lost 106 Zeros to all causes; the Japanese lost many more pilots compared to the US.<ref>Stille 2019, Kindle location 1895–1925.</ref>

Even after his success at Midway Thach remained greatly dissatisfied with the F4F-4s performance at this and later battles, stating in his Midway action report<ref name=":0" />{{Blockquote|text=It is indeed surprising that any of our pilots returned alive. Any success our fighter pilots may have had against the Japanese Zero fighter is not due to the performance of the airplane we fly but is the result of the comparatively poor marksmanship of the Japanese, stupid mistakes made by a few of their pilots and superior marksmanship and team work of some of our pilots. The F4F airplane is pitifully inferior in climb, maneuverability and speed.|author=[[John Thach|John "Jimmy" Thach]]|source=Midway action report.}}

Nonetheless, it was not until 1943 that more advanced naval fighters capable of taking on the Zero on more even terms, the [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] and [[Vought F4U Corsair]], reached the South Pacific theater.

[[File:Grumman F4Fs on Guadalcanal 1942 NAN1-93.JPG|thumb|F4F-4s on Guadalcanal, 1942]]

Reflecting on his duel with "Pug" Southerland over Guadalcanal, the Japanese ace [[Saburō Sakai]] described the Wildcat's capacity to absorb damage:

{{blockquote|text=I had full confidence in my ability to destroy the Grumman and decided to finish off the enemy fighter with only my 7.7 mm machine guns. I turned the 20 mm cannon switch to the "off" position, and closed in. For some strange reason, even after I had poured about five or six hundred rounds of ammunition directly into the Grumman, the airplane did not fall, but kept on flying. I thought this very odd—it had never happened before—and closed the distance between the two airplanes until I could almost reach out and touch the Grumman. To my surprise, the Grumman's rudder and tail were torn to shreds, looking like an old torn piece of rag. With his plane in such condition, no wonder the pilot was unable to continue fighting! A Zero which had taken that many bullets would have been a ball of fire by now.|sign=Saburo Sakai|source=''Zero''<ref name=autogenerated1 />}}

Grumman's Wildcat production ceased in early 1943 to make way for the newer F6F Hellcat but [[General Motors]] continued producing Wildcats for U.S. Navy and Fleet Air Arm use. At first, GM produced the '''FM-1''' (identical to the F4F-4 but with four guns). Production later switched to the improved '''FM-2''' (based on Grumman's XF4F-8 prototype, informally known as the "Wilder Wildcat") optimized for small-carrier operations, with a more powerful engine and a taller tail to cope with the increased torque.<ref name="Fighting the U-boats">Garner, Forest. [http://uboat.net/allies/aircraft/wildcat.htm "Fighting the U-boats."] ''UBoat.net'', 2009. Retrieved: 25 September 2009.</ref>

From 1943, Wildcats equipped with bomb racks were primarily assigned to escort carriers for use against submarines and ground targets, though they also continued to score kills against Japanese fighters, bombers, and [[kamikaze]] aircraft. Larger fighters such as the Hellcat and the Corsair and dive bombers were needed aboard fleet carriers and the Wildcat's slower landing speed made it more suitable for shorter flight decks.<ref name="Kinzey 2000, p. 68">Kinzey 2000, p. 68.</ref>

In the [[Battle off Samar]] on 25 October 1944, escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") and their escort of [[destroyer]]s and [[destroyer escort]]s found themselves as the sole force standing between vulnerable troop transport and supply ships engaged in landings on the Philippine island of [[Leyte]] and a powerful Japanese surface fleet of battleships and cruisers. In desperation, lightly armed [[Grumman Avenger|Avengers]] and FM-2 Wildcats from Taffys 1, 2 and 3 resorted to tactics such as strafing ships, including the bridge of the Japanese battleship {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}}, while the destroyers and destroyer escorts attacked the Japanese surface force. This action contributed to buying enough time for Taffy 3's escort carriers to escape into a rain squall.

====Atlantic==== U.S. Navy Wildcats participated in [[Operation Torch]]. USN escort carriers in the Atlantic used Wildcats until the end of the war. In October 1943 F4Fs participated in [[Operation Leader]], an anti-shipping strike on Norway.

===Totals=== In all, 7,860 Wildcats were built.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.acepilots.com/planes/f4f_wildcat.html "Grumman F4F Wildcat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103170604/http://www.acepilots.com/planes/f4f_wildcat.html |date=3 January 2007 }} ''acepilots.com.'' Retrieved: 17 July 2017.</ref>{{refn|7,860 aircraft produced, starting in December, 1940|group=N}} Nearly three-quarters of this total were built by the [[Eastern Aircraft Division]] of General Motors, which took over production in 1942. During the course of the war, Navy and Marine F4Fs and FMs flew 15,553 combat sorties (14,027 of these from aircraft carriers<ref name="Barber1">Barber 1946, Table 1</ref>), destroying a claimed figure of 1,327 enemy aircraft at a cost of 178 aerial losses, 24 to ground/shipboard fire, and 49 to operational causes<ref>"Naval Aviation Combat Statistics World War II, OPNAV-P-23V No. A129," 17 June 1946.</ref> (an overall claimed kill-to-loss ratio of 6.9:1).<ref name="Barber2">Barber 1946, Table 2</ref> True to their usual pure fighter role, Wildcats dropped only 154 tons of bombs during the war.<ref name="Barber2"/>

====Medal of Honor recipients==== [[File:Foss_JJ_USMC.jpg|thumb|[[Joe Foss]], Medal of Honor recipient and leading Marine Corps flying ace while flying F4F]] Eight F4F pilots (including two posthumously) received the [[Medal of Honor]] during World War II: *Lt Col. [[Harold W. Bauer]] of the [[VMFA-212|Marine Fighting Squadron 212]], was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in aerial combat in the [[South Pacific]] Area between May 10 and November 14, 1942. During operations over [[Guadalcanal]], he led repeated engagements against Japanese bombers and fighters, often outnumbered more than two-to-one. He shot down multiple enemy aircraft in separate battles, including one bomber on 28 September and four fighters on 3 October. On October 16, while low on fuel and returning from a long ferry mission, he engaged enemy fighters attacking an American [[destroyer]], helping defend the ship and shooting down four enemy planes before being forced to return Guadalcanal due to fuel shortage. He was killed in action on November 14, 1942.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2840272/medal-of-honor-monday-marine-lt-col-harold-bauer/|title=Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Lt. Col. Harold Bauer|first=Katie|last=Lange|newspaper=Department of War|date=2021-11-15|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

*1st Lt. [[Jefferson J. DeBlanc]] of the [[VMFA-112|Marine Fighting Squadron 112]] was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during aerial operations over [[Kolombangara Island]] in [[Solomon Islands]] on January 31, 1943. While leading a six-plane fighter escort protecting American dive bombers and torpedo aircraft attacking Japanese naval forces, DeBlanc engaged large numbers of Japanese fighters and floatplanes. Despite heavy opposition and dangerously low fuel, he shot down five enemy aircraft, becoming [[ace in a day]], before bailing out of his badly damaged fighter out over enemy-held territory on Kolombangara, where he was rescued by the island natives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/jefferson-deblanc-and-air-battle-guadalcanal|title=Jefferson DeBlanc and the Air Battle for Guadalcanal|newspaper=The National WWII Museum|date=2024-07-10|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

*Capt. [[Henry T. Elrod]] of the [[VMFA-211|Marine Fighting Squadron 211]] was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during combat at [[Wake Island]] from 8 to December 23, 1941. During repeated engagements with superior Japanese air and naval forces, Elrod shot down two enemy aircraft and carried out low-level bombing and strafing attacks that contributed to the sinking of a Japanese destroyer, while flying the F4F. After his aircraft was disabled, he continued fighting on the ground, helping organize the defense of the island and leading his men in repelling repeated enemy assaults. He was ultimately mortally wounded on December 23, 1941 while continuing to lead the defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmcmuseum.com/uploads/6/0/3/6/60364049/henry_elrod.pdf|title=Henry “Hammerin' Hank” Elrod – Wake Island|newspaper=National Musueum of the Marine Corps|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

*Capt. [[Joe Foss]] of the [[VMFA-121|Marine Fighter Squadron 121]] was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during aerial combat over [[Guadalcanal]] between October 9 and November 19, 1942. During nearly daily engagements with Japanese forces, Foss shot down 23 enemy aircraft while leading multiple escort missions protecting reconnaissance, bombing and surface operations. On January 15, 1943, he added three more aerial victories to his record. Later, on January 15, 1943, he led a mixed force of Marine F4F Wildcats and [[USAAF|Army Air Forces]] [[P-38]]s against a larger Japanese aerial formation, helping shoot down four enemy fighters and forcing enemy bombers to turn back without releasing their payload.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/joseph-j-foss-medal-honor|title=Joseph J. Foss' Medal of Honor|newspaper=The National WWII Museum|date=2023-01-20|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

*Maj. [[Robert E. Galer]] of the [[VMFA-224|Marine Fighter Squadron 224]] was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during aerial combat against Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Over a period of 29 days, he led repeated aggressive fighter operations against enemy aircraft despite being heavily outnumbered, personally shooting down 11 Japanese bombers and fighters. Under his leadership, his squadron destroyed a total of 27 enemy aircraft while conducting sustained combat missions at high altitude.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/robert-e-galer|title=Robert Edward Galer|newspaper=Congressional Medal of Honor Society|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

*Lt. [[Edward O'Hare]] of the Navy Fighting Squadron 3 on {{USS|Lexington|CV-2}} was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action during a carrier defense mission off [[New Ireland (island)|New Ireland]] in the South Pacific on February 20, 1942, On that mission, O'Hare shot down five Japanese bombers while protecting the carrier and became the Navy's first ace in a day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/edward-henry-butch-ohare|title=Edward Henry O'Hare|newspaper=Congressional Medal of Honor Society|access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref>

*Maj. [[John Smith (flying ace)|John L. Smith]] of [[VMA-223|Marine Fighting Squadron 223]] was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during aerial combat operations in the Solomon Islands Area between August 21 and September 15, 1942. Despite leading a squadron with limited combat experience against a determined Japanese force greatly superior in numbers, Smith personally shot down sixteen enemy planes. He commanded his squadron to destroy a total of 83 enemy aircraft during this period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2012/july/no-ordinary-john-smith|title=No Ordinary John Smith|first=Robert J.|last=Mrazek|newspaper=U.S. Naval Institute|date=2012|access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref>

*1st Lt. [[James E. Swett]] of [[VMF-221|Marine Fighting Squadron 221]] was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during an interception mission over the Solomon Islands on April 7, 1943. On that mission, Swett shot down seven Japanese dive bombers and became an ace in a day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3730223/medal-of-honor-monday-marine-corps-col-james-e-swett/|title=Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Col. James E. Swett|first=Katie|last=Lange|newspaper=Department of War|date=2024-04-08|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

==Variants== ===U.S. Navy Wildcats=== ====F4F-1/-2==== The original Grumman '''F4F-1''' design was a biplane, which proved inferior to rival designs, necessitating a complete redesign as a monoplane named the '''F4F-2'''. This design was still not competitive with the Brewster F2A Buffalo which won initial U.S. Navy orders, but when the '''F4F-3''' development was fitted with a more powerful version of the engine, a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830-76, featuring a two-stage supercharger, it showed its true potential.<ref>Tillman 1983, p. 7.</ref>

====F4F-3==== U.S. Navy orders followed as did some (with [[Wright Cyclone]] engines) from France; these ended up with the [[Royal Navy]]'s Fleet Air Arm after the fall of France and entered service on 8 September 1940. These aircraft, designated by Grumman as '''G-36A''', had a different cowling from other earlier F4Fs and fixed wings, and were intended to be fitted with French armament and instruments following delivery. In British service initially, the aircraft were known as the '''Martlet I''', but not all Martlets would be to exactly the same specifications as U.S. Navy aircraft. All Martlet Is featured the four .50 in (12.7 mm) [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s of the F4F-3 with 450 rpg. The British directly ordered and received a version with the original Twin Wasp, but again with a modified [[cowling]], under the manufacturer designation '''G-36B'''. These aircraft were given the designation '''Martlet II''' by the British. The first 10 G-36Bs were fitted with non-[[folding wing]]s and were given the designation '''Martlet III'''. These were followed by 30 folding wing aircraft (F4F-3As) which were originally destined for the [[Hellenic Air Force]], which were also designated Martlet IIIs.<ref name="thetp202"/><ref name="Marchp133">March 1998, pp. 132–133.</ref> On paper, the designation changed to '''Martlet III(A)''' when the second series of Martlet III was introduced.

Poor design of the armament installation on early F4Fs caused these otherwise reliable machine guns to frequently jam, a problem common to wing-mounted weapons of many U.S. fighters early in the war.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-the-cactus-air-force-fought-at-guadalcanal.htm "World War II: The Cactus Air Force Fought at Guadalcanal."] ''historynet.com.'' Retrieved: 17 July 2017.</ref>{{refn|Quote: "Early Wildcat guns had a tendency to jam during hard maneuvers"|group=N}} An F4F-3 flown by [[Lieutenant]] [[Edward O'Hare]] shot down, within a few minutes, five Mitsubishi twin-engine bombers attacking {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}} off Bougainville on 20 February 1942. But contrasting with O'Hare's performance, his wingman was unable to participate because his guns would not function.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/usn_ohare.html "Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214055231/http://acepilots.com/usn_ohare.html |date=14 February 2012 }} ''Acepilots.'' Retrieved: 22 October 2010.</ref>{{refn|Quote" "...O'Hare's wingman discovered his guns were jammed."|group=N}}

[[File:F4F-3 Wildcats of VF-5 in flight c1941.jpg|thumb|F4F-3s of VF-5, 1941]]

A shortage of two-stage [[supercharger]]s led to the development of the '''F4F-3A''', which was basically the F4F-3 but with a {{convert|1200|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90 [[radial engine]] with a more primitive single-stage two-speed supercharger. The F4F-3A, which was capable of {{convert|312|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, was used side by side with the F4F-3, but its poorer performance made it unpopular with U.S. Navy fighter pilots. The F4F-3A would enter service as the '''Martlet III(B)'''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

At the time of Pearl Harbor, only {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}} had a fully equipped Wildcat squadron, [[VF-6]] with F4F-3As. ''Enterprise'' was then transferring a detachment of VMF-211, also equipped with F4F-3s, to Wake. {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}} was in San Diego, working up for operations of the F4F-3s of VF-3. 11 F4F-3s of VMF-211 were at the Ewa Marine Air Corps Station on Oahu; nine of these were damaged or destroyed during the Japanese attack. The detachment of VMF-211 on Wake lost seven Wildcats to Japanese attacks on 8 December, but the remaining five put up a fierce defense, making the first bomber kill on 9 December. The destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Kisaragi|1925|2}} was sunk by the Wildcats,<ref>[http://www.combinedfleet.com/kisara_t.htm "IJN Kisaragi: Tabular Record of Movement."] ''Imperial Japanese Navy Page''. Retrieved: 21 June 2009.</ref> and the Japanese invasion force retreated.

In May 1942, the F4F-3s of [[VF-2 (1927-42)|VF-2]] and [[VF-42]], aboard {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|2}} and ''Lexington'', participated in the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]]. ''Lexington'' and ''Yorktown'' fought against the fleet carriers {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuikaku||2}} and {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}} and the light carrier {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōhō||2}} in this battle, in an attempt to halt a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby on Papua. During these battles, it became clear that attacks without fighter escort amounted to suicide, but that the fighter component on the carriers was completely insufficient to provide both fighter cover for the carrier and an escort for an attack force. Most U.S. carriers carried fewer than 20 fighters.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

====F4F-3P==== In June 1942, 17 F4F-3s and one F4F-3A (18 total) were converted into '''F4F-3P''' photoreconnaissance planes. The F4F-3Ps were for short-range tactical reconnaissance, as their reserve fuel tanks were removed and replaced with Fairchild F-56 cameras.<ref>Rickard, J (19 March 2007), Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_F4F-3.html. Retrieved 28 October 2021.</ref> The F4F-3Ps retained their machine guns and were mainly flown by [[VMFA-251|VMO-251]] on air defense missions from [[Espiritu Santo]] in the South Pacific, arriving in July 1942.<ref name="mcara.us">Whitten, H. Wayne, Grumman F4F-3P Wildcat, https://www.mcara.us/F4F-3P.html. Retrieved 28 October 2021.</ref> In October 1942, long-ranged and unarmed F4F-7s began replacing the F4F-3Ps, but a detachment of three F4F-3P from VMO-155 operated from the ''Bogue''-class escort carrier [[USS Nassau (CVE-16)|USS ''Nassau'' (CVE-16)]] during the amphibious invasion of Attu Island in May 1943.<ref>Morison, S. E. (1951), History of United States Naval Operations in World War II (Vols. Volume 7 - Aleutians, Gilberts, and Marshalls: June 1942 – April 1944) {{ISBN|978-0785813088}}.</ref> Boston, MA, USA: Little, Brown and Co./Atlantic Monthly Press <ref name="mcara.us"/><ref>Rickard, J (19 March 2007), Grumman F4F-7 Wildcat, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_F4F-7.html. Retrieved 28 October 2021.</ref>

====F4F-3S "Wildcatfish"==== [[File:F4F-3S Wildcatfish NAN12-70.jpg|thumb|The F4F-3S "Wildcatfish", a floatplane version of the F4F-3. Edo Aircraft fitted one F4F-3 with twin floats.]]

This [[floatplane]] version of the F4F-3 was developed for use at forward island bases in the Pacific, before the construction of airfields. It was inspired by appearance of the A6M2-N "Rufe", a modification of the Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zeke". BuNo 4038 was modified to become the '''F4F-3S "Wildcatfish"'''. Twin floats, manufactured by [[Edo Aircraft Corporation]], were fitted. To restore the stability, small auxiliary fins were added to the [[tailplane]]. Because this was still insufficient, a ventral fin was added later.<ref name="Green v6 p180-1">Green 1962, pp. 180–181.</ref>

The F4F-3S was first flown 28 February 1943.<ref name="Green v6 p181">Green 1962, p. 181.</ref> The weight and drag of the floats reduced the maximum speed to {{convert|241|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. As the performance of the basic F4F-3 was already below that of the Zero, the F4F-3S was clearly of limited usefulness. In any case, the construction of the airfields at forward bases by the "[[Seabee (US Navy)|Seabees]]" was surprisingly quick. Only one was converted.

====F4F-4==== [[File:Comparison of F4F Wildcats with and without folded wings c1942.jpg|thumb|One of the main features of the F4F-4 were the [[Grumman Sto-Wing|Sto-Wing]]-design folding wings, a Grumman patented design]]

A new version, the '''F4F-4''', entered service in 1941 with six machine guns and the Grumman-patented [[Grumman Sto-Wing|Sto-Wing]] [[folding wing]] system,<ref name=sto>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviation-history.com/grumman/f4f.html |title=The Aviation History Online Museum - Grumman F4F Wildcat |last1=Dwyer |first1=Larry |date=19 February 2014 |website=aviation-history.com |publisher=The Aviation History Online Museum |access-date=2 April 2016 |quote=The F4F-4 was the first version of the Wildcat to feature a Grumman innovation, the ''Sto-Wing''. The ''Sto-Wing'' used a novel approach using a compound angle folding-wing that was unique to Grumman...It was a successful design that was later used on the F6F Hellcat and TBF Avenger.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asme.org/getmedia/2d64abc8-3fa3-4d29-92d4-40db4777e8b2/238-Grumman-Wildcat-Sto-Wing-Wing-folding-Mechanism.aspx |title=WING-FOLDING MECHANISM OF THE GRUMMAN WILDCAT - An American Society of Mechanical Engineers Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark |author= |date=15 May 2006 |website=asme.org |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |access-date=29 April 2017 |quote=The innovative wing folding mechanism (STO-Wing), developed by Leroy Grumman in early 1941 and first applied to the XF4F-4 Wildcat, manufactured by the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, is designated an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021083204/https://www.asme.org/getmedia/2d64abc8-3fa3-4d29-92d4-40db4777e8b2/238-Grumman-Wildcat-Sto-Wing-Wing-folding-Mechanism.aspx |archive-date=21 October 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which allowed more aircraft to be stored on an aircraft carrier, increasing the number of fighters that could be parked on a surface by more than a factor of 2. The F4F-4 was the definitive version that saw the most combat service in the early war years, including the Battle of Midway. Navy F4F-3s were replaced by F4F-4s in June 1942. During the Battle of Midway, only [[VMF-221]] still used F4F-3s. VF-42 of the ''Yorktown'' was the last carrier group converted to the F4F-4, and that was done as it left Pearl Harbor on the way to the Battle of Midway as VF-3 flew in new F4F-4s with Commander Thach.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lundstrom |first=John |author-link= |title=The First Team |year=1984 |url= |location= |publisher=Naval Institute Press |page=393,397 |isbn=9780870211898}}</ref>

The F4F-4 version was less popular with American pilots because the amount of ammunition was spread over two additional guns, decreasing firing time.<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/logs/CV/cv5-Midway.html "F4F-4 Airplanes."] ''Battle of Midway Action Report, USS Yorktown (CV-5).'' Retrieved: 22 October 2010.</ref> With the F4F-3's four .50 in (12.7 mm) guns and 450 rpg, pilots had 34 seconds of firing time; six guns decreased ammunition to 240 rpg, which could be expended in less than 20 seconds. The increase to six guns was attributed to the Royal Navy, who wanted greater firepower to deal with German and Italian foes. Jimmy Thach is quoted as saying, "A pilot who cannot hit with four guns will miss with eight."<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/games/combatfs2/articles_thatch_interview.asp "Excerpts from a 1942 Interview with Lt. Cdr. John S. Thach."] ''microsoft.com.'' Retrieved: 22 October 2010.</ref> Extra guns and folding wings meant extra weight and reduced performance: the F4F-4 was capable of only about {{convert|318|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at {{convert|19400|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Rate of climb was noticeably worse in the F4F-4; while Grumman optimistically claimed the F4F-4 could climb at a modest {{convert|1950|ft|m|abbr=on}} per minute, in combat conditions, pilots found their F4F-4s capable of ascending at only {{convert|500|to|1000|ft|m|abbr=on}} per minute.<ref name="Fighting the U-boats"/> Moreover, the F4F-4's folding wing was intended to allow five F4F-4s to be stowed in the space required by two F4F-3s. In practice, the folding wings allowed an increase of about 50% in the number of Wildcats carried aboard U.S. fleet aircraft carriers. A variant of the F4F-4, designated '''F4F-4B''' for contractual purposes, was supplied to the British with a modified cowling and Wright Cyclone engine. These aircraft received the designation of '''Martlet IV'''.

====F4F-5 Wildcat==== Two F4F-3s (the 3rd and 4th production aircraft, BuNo 1846/1847) were fitted with a [[Wright R-1820|Wright R-1820-40]] engine and designated XF4F-5.

====FM-1/-2 Wildcat==== [[File:Grumman F4F Wildcat in formation.jpg|thumb|FM-2s from {{USS|White Plains|CVE-66|2}}, in June 1944, with 58 gallon drop tanks]] General Motors' [[Eastern Aircraft Division]] produced 5,280 FM variants of the Wildcat.<ref name="polmar"/> Grumman's Wildcat production ceased in early 1943 to make way for the newer F6F Hellcat, but General Motors continued producing Wildcats for both U.S. Navy and Fleet Air Arm use. Late in the war, the Wildcat was obsolescent as a front line fighter compared to the faster (380 mph/610 km/h) F6F Hellcat or much faster (446 mph/718 km/h) F4U Corsair. However, they were adequate for small escort carriers against submarine and shore threats. These relatively modest ships only carried two types of aircraft, the Wildcats and GM-built TBM Avengers. The Wildcat's lower landing speed and ability to take off without a catapult made it more suitable for shorter flight decks.<ref name="Kinzey 2000, p. 68"/> At first, GM produced the '''FM-1''', identical to the F4F-4, but reduced the number of guns to four, and added wing racks for two 250 lb (110 kg) bombs or six rockets. Production later switched to the improved '''FM-2''' (based on Grumman's XF4F-8 prototype) optimized for small-carrier operations, with a more powerful engine (the {{convert|1350|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Wright R-1820]]-56), and a taller tail to cope with the torque.<ref name="Fighting the U-boats"/>

====F4F-7==== The '''F4F-7''' was a photoreconnaissance variant, with armor and armament removed. It had non-folding "wet" wings that carried an additional 555 gal (2,101 L) of fuel for a total of about 700 gal (2,650 L), increasing its range to 3,700 mi (5,955 km). A total of 21 were built.<ref name="donald wildcat"/>

====F2M Wildcat==== [[File:General Motors XF2M-1 Wildcat 3-view line drawing.png|100px|thumb|A three view drawing of the proposed XF2M-1.]]

The '''F2M-1''' was a planned development of the FM-1 by General Motors / Eastern Aircraft to be powered by the improved XR-1820-70 engine, but the project was canceled before any aircraft were built.<ref name="EGustin"/>

===Royal Navy Martlets=== ====Martlet Mk I==== At the end of 1939, Grumman received a French order for 81 aircraft of model G-36A, to equip their new {{sclass|Joffre|aircraft carrier}}s {{Ship|French aircraft carrier|Joffre||2}} and {{Ship|French aircraft carrier|Painlevé||2}}. The main difference from the basic model G-36 was due to the unavailability for export of the two-stage supercharged engine of the F4F-3. The G-36A was powered by the nine-cylinder, single-row [[Wright Cyclone|Wright R-1820-G205A]] radial engine, of {{convert|1200|hp|kW|abbr=on}} and with a single-stage two-speed supercharger.<ref name="willing p52,60-1">Green, Swanborough and Brown 1977, pp. 52, 60–61.</ref>

[[File:Martlet at Grumman 1940.jpg|thumb|A G-36A at Grumman, 1940]]

The G-36A also had French [[Flight instruments|instruments]] (with metric calibration), radio and [[Sight (device)|gunsight]]. The throttle was modified to conform to French pre-war practice: the throttle lever was moved towards the pilot (i.e. backward) to increase engine power. The armament which was to be fitted in France was four 7.5 mm (.296 in) [[Darne machine gun]]s (two in the fuselage and two in the wings).<ref name="Bert Kinzey">Bert Kinzey, ''F4F Wildcat in Detail and Scale'', Vol.65, p.72</ref><ref name="Richard Dann">Richard S. Dann, ''F4F Wildcat In Action'', Aircraft Number 191, p.41</ref> The first G-36A was flown on 11 May 1940.<ref name="Wixley two p51">Wixley ''Air Enthusiast'' July–August 1997, p. 51.</ref> After France's defeat in the [[Battle of France]], all contracts were taken over by Britain. The throttle was modified again, four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) guns were installed in the wings and most traces of the original ownership removed.<ref name="Willing p61">Green, Swanborough and Brown 1977, p. 61.</ref>

The Martlets were modified for British use by [[Blackburn Aircraft|Blackburn]], which continued to do this for all later marks. British gunsights, [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]] spools and other items were installed.<ref name="Blackburn p40-2">Jackson 1968, pp. 40–42.</ref> After attempts to fit British radio sets, it was decided to use the superior American equipment.<ref name="Willing p68">Green, Swanborough and Brown 1977, p. 68.</ref> The first Martlets entered British service in August 1940, with [[804 Naval Air Squadron]], stationed at [[RNAS Hatston|Hatston]] in the [[Orkney]] Islands. The Martlet Mk I did not have a wing folding mechanism and was therefore used primarily from land bases, with the notable exception of six aircraft of 882 Sqn aboard ''Illustrious'' from March 1942.<ref name="Jones, p. 108">Jones, p. 108</ref> In April 1942 ''Illustrious'' transferred two Martlet I aircraft to HMS ''Archer'' while in port at Freetown. One of her four retained Martlet I aircraft were subsequently fitted with folding wings by ship's staff during passage to Durban.<ref name="Jones, p. 108"/> In 1940, Belgium also placed an order for at least 10 G-36A's. These were to be modified with the same changes to the French aircraft, plus the removal of the tailhook as they were to be landbased. Belgium surrendered before any aircraft were delivered and by 10 May 1940, the aircraft order was transferred to the Royal Navy.

====Martlet Mk II==== Before the Fleet Air Arm took on charge the Martlet Mk Is, it had already ordered 100 G-36B fighters. The British chose the [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp|Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G]] engine to power this aircraft; this too had a single-stage, two-speed supercharger. The FAA decided to accept a delay in delivery to get Martlets fitted out with the Grumman-designed and patented Sto-Wing folding wing system first fitted onto U.S. Navy F4F-4 Wildcats,<ref name=sto /> which were vitally important if the Martlet was to be used from the first 3 [[Illustrious-class aircraft carrier|''Illustrious'' class]] carriers which had elevators that were too narrow to accommodate non-folding wing aircraft. Nevertheless, the first 10 received had fixed wings. The first Martlet with folding wings was not delivered until August 1941.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

In contrast to the USN F4F-3, the British aircraft were fitted with armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. The Mk II also had a larger tailwheel. For carrier operations, the "sting" tail hook and attachment point for the American single-point catapult launch system were considered important advantages. Nevertheless, the Martlets were modified to have British-style catapult spools. Deliveries of the folding-wing G-36Bs began in August 1941, with 36 shipped to the UK and 54 shipped to the Far East; they were designated "Martlet Mark II". {{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] (A&AEE) testing of the Martlet II at a mean weight of approximately {{cvt|7,350|lb|kg}} showed a maximum speed of {{cvt|293|mph|km/h}} at {{cvt|5,400|ft|m}} and {{cvt|13,800|ft|m}}, a maximum climb rate of {{cvt|1940|ft/min|m/s}} at {{cvt|7,600|ft|m}} at {{cvt|7,790|lb|kg}} weight, and a time to climb to {{cvt|20,000|ft|m}} of 12.5 minutes. The service ceiling at {{cvt|7,790|lb|kg}} was {{cvt|31,000|ft|m}}.<ref name="Mason, p.306">Mason, p.306.</ref>

[[File:Martlet Mk II 888 Sqn HMS Formidable Oran Dec. 1942.jpg|thumb|A Martlet II from {{HMS|Formidable|67|6}}, 1942]]

The Martlet was the second single-seat, monoplane fighter to operate from Royal Navy aircraft carriers following the introduction of the [[Sea Hurricane]] IB on {{HMS|Furious|47|6}} in July 1941.<ref>Brown 1980, pp. 45, 110.</ref>

The majority of the Martlet Mk IIs were sent to the Far East. The first shipboard operations of the type in British service were in September 1941, aboard {{HMS|Audacity|D10|6}}, a very small escort carrier with a carrier deck of {{convert|420|ft|m|abbr=on}} by {{convert|59|ft|m|abbr=on}}, no elevators and no hangar deck. The six Wildcats were parked on the deck at all times. On its first voyage, it served as escort carrier for a convoy to Gibraltar. On 20 September, a German [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor|Fw 200]] was shot down. On the next voyage, four Fw 200 ''Condors'' fell to the guns of the Martlets, and of the combined total, two of these five Condors were shot down by [[Eric Brown (pilot)|Eric "Winkle" Brown]] during his time aboard. Operations from ''Audacity'' also demonstrated that the fighter cover was useful against U-boats. ''Audacity'' was sunk by a U-boat on 21 December 1941, and of the pilots only Brown and one other survived,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30039300|title=Eric 'Winkle' Brown: The man who seemed not to notice danger|work=[[BBC News]]|last=Jones|first=Luke|date=14 November 2014|access-date=17 July 2017}}</ref> but it had already proved the usefulness of escort carriers.<ref name="Fighting the U-boats"/>

In May 1942, 881 and 882 squadrons on {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}} participated in operations against [[Battle of Madagascar|Madagascar]]. In August 1942, 806 NAS on {{HMS|Indomitable|92|6}} provided fighter cover for a [[Malta Convoys|convoy to Malta]]. Later in that year they participated in the landings in French North Africa.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

====Martlet Mk III==== The first 30 F4F-3As were released for sale to Greece, after the [[Greco-Italian War|Italian invasion in November 1940]]. However, at the defeat of Greece in April 1941 the aircraft had only reached Gibraltar. They were taken over by the FAA as Martlet Mk III(B). As these aircraft did not have folding wings, they were only used from land bases. They served in a shore-based role in the [[Western Desert Campaign|Western Desert]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Wildcat Aces of World War 2|date=25 April 1995|publisher=Osprey|isbn=1-85532-486-5|pages=71|edition=1st}}</ref>

Ten fixed-wing G-36Bs were used by the FAA as Martlet III(A).

====Martlet Mk IV==== The Royal Navy purchased 220 F4F-4s adapted to British requirements. The main difference was the use of a Wright R-1820-40B Cyclone in a distinctly more rounded and compact cowling, with a single double-wide flap on each side of the rear and no lip intake. These machines were named Martlet Mk IV. [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment|Boscombe Down]] testing of the Martlet IV at {{cvt|7,350|lb|kg}} weight showed a maximum speed of {{cvt|278|mph|km/h}} at {{cvt|3,400|ft|m}} and {{cvt|298|mph|km/h}} at {{cvt|14,600|ft|m}}, a maximum climb rate of {{cvt|1580|ft/min|m/s}} at {{cvt|6,200|ft|m}} at {{cvt|7,740|lb|kg}} weight, and a time to climb to {{cvt|20,000|ft|m}} of 14.6 minutes. The service ceiling at {{cvt|7,740|lb|kg}} was {{cvt|30,100|ft|m}}.<ref name="Mason, p.306"/>

====Martlet Mk V==== The Fleet Air Arm purchased 312 FM-1s, originally with the designation of Martlet V. In January 1944, a decision was made to retain the American names for US-supplied aircraft, redesignating the batch as the Wildcat V.

====Wildcat Mk VI==== The Wildcat VI was the Air Ministry name for the FM-2 Wildcat in FAA service.

==Operators== ;{{flag|Belgium|1921}} * [[Belgian Air Force]]: at least 10 G-36A's ordered, never delivered, transferred to France (who then transferred them to the Royal Navy) after [[Battle of Belgium|surrender]]. ;{{flag|France|1921}} * [[Aeronavale]]: 81 aircraft ordered, never delivered, transferred to Royal Navy after French [[Battle of France|defeat]]. ;{{flag|Greece|1940}} * [[Hellenic Air Force]]: 30 Martlet Mk III's ordered, delivered to Gibraltar, transferred to Royal Navy after [[Battle of Greece|defeat]].

;{{flag|Canada|1921}} * [[Royal Canadian Navy]]: RCN personnel assigned to the Royal Navy {{HMS|Puncher|D79|6}}, were to provide the RCN with experience in aircraft carrier operations. The RCN flew 14 Martlets as part of 881 (RN) Squadron from February–July 1945.<ref>L’Heureux, Commander E.J, RCN (Ret’d). [http://doczz.net/doc/164743/aircraft-carriers-royal-canadian-navy--rcn- "Aircraft Carriers: Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)."] ''doczz.net'' Retrieved: 17 July 2017.</ref> ;{{UK}} * [[Royal Navy]] [[Fleet Air Arm]] ;{{flag|United States|1912}} * [[United States Navy]] * [[United States Marine Corps]]

==Surviving aircraft== {{Main|List of surviving Grumman F4F Wildcats}}

==Specifications (F4F-3)== [[File:Grumman F4F Wildcat 3-view line drawing.svg|thumb]] {{Aircraft specs |ref= The American Fighter <ref name="Enzo, p. 226.">Angelucci 1987, p. 226.</ref> |prime units?=imp  |crew=1 |length ft=28 |length in=9 |length note= |span ft=38 |span in=0 |span note= |height ft=11 |height in=10 |height note= |wing area sqft=260 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23015]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23009]]<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=4907 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=7423 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76]] |eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine |eng1 hp=1200 |eng1 note= |prop blade number=3 |prop name=constant-speed propeller |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |max speed mph=331 |max speed note= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=845 |range note= |combat range miles= |combat range note= |ferry range miles= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=39500 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=2303 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |wing loading lb/sqft=28.5 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass={{cvt|0.282|kW/kg}} |more performance=  |guns=4 × [[.50 BMG|0.50 in (12.7 mm)]] [[M2 Browning|AN/M2 Browning machine guns]] with 450 rounds per gun |bombs=2 × {{cvt|100|lb|1}} bombs and/or 2 × {{cvt|58|USgal|impgal l}} drop tanks

|avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent |related= * [[Grumman F3F]] * [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] |similar aircraft= * [[Brewster F2A Buffalo]] * [[Hawker Hurricane|Hawker Sea Hurricane]] * [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]] * [[Nakajima Ki-43]] * [[Supermarine Seafire]] |lists= * [[List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]] * [[List of fighter aircraft]] * [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]] * [[List of aircraft of the United States during World War II]] * [[List of aircraft of World War II]] |see also= * [[Joe Foss]], the top scoring Wildcat ace with 26 victories, flying with [[VMF-121]] during World War II and a recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]]. * [[John Lucian Smith]], second scoring Wildcat ace with 19 victories while flying with [[VMF-223]] and also a recipient of the Medal of Honor. * [[Marion Eugene Carl]], the third scoring Wildcat ace with 16.5 victories while flying Wildcats, plus an additional two flying [[Vought F4U Corsair]]s while in service with [[VMF-221]] and VMF-223. }}

==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations=== {{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography=== * Angelucci, Enzo. ''The American Fighter''. Sparkford, Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. {{ISBN|0-85429-635-2}}. * Barber, S.B. ''Naval Aviation Combat Statistics— World War II (OPNAV-P-23V No. A129)''. Washington, D.C.: Air Branch, [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], 1946. * Brown, Eric, CBE, DCS, AFC, RN.; William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "Grumman Wildcat". ''Wings of the Navy, Flying Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War Two''. London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1980, pp. 40–52. {{ISBN|0-7106-0002-X}}. * Buttler, Tony. ''British Secret Projects 3: Fighters and Bombers 1935–1950''. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|978-1-85780-179-8}}. * Dann, Richard S. ''F4F Wildcat in action, Aircraft Number 191''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2004. {{ISBN|0-89747-469-4}}. * Dann, Richard S. ''F4F Wildcat Walkaround''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1995. {{ISBN|0-89747-347-7}}. * Donald, David, ed. ''American Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. {{ISBN|1-874023-72-7}}. * Drendel, Lou. ''U.S. Navy Carrier Fighters of World War II''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1987. {{ISBN|0-89747-194-6}}. * Ehrman, Vlastimil. ''Grumman Wildcat'' {{in lang|cs}}. Prague, Czech Republic: Modelpres, 1995. {{ISBN|978-8-0901-3287-0}}. * Ewing, Steve. ''Thach Weave: The Life of Jimmie Thach.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2004. {{ISBN|1-59114-248-2}}. * Ewing, Steve. ''Reaper Leader: The Life of Jimmy Flatley.'' 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''The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1984. {{ISBN|0-87021-189-7}}. * March, Daniel J. (ed). ''British Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing. 1998. {{ISBN|1-874023-92-1}}. * Mason, Tim. ''The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down 1939–1945''. Manchester, UK: Hikoki, 1998. {{ISBN|0-9519899-9-5}}. * Mendenhall, Charles A. ''Wildcats & Hellcats: Gallant Grummans in World War II''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1984. {{ISBN|0-87938-177-9}}. * O'Leary, Michael. ''Grumman Cats''. London: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1992. {{ISBN|1-85532-247-1}}. * O'Leary, Michael. ''United States Naval Fighters of World War II in Action''. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press, 1980. {{ISBN|0-7137-0956-1}}. * Philips, Glen. ''Grumman F4F Wildcat, including Grumman Martlet Mks. I-VI, Warpaint series no.9''. Church End Farm, Bedfordshire, UK: Hall Park Books, 1997. No ISBN. * Polmar, Norman. ''Historic Naval Aircraft''. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2004. {{ISBN|978-1-57488-572-9}}. * Stille, Mark. ''Guadalcanal 1942–43: Japan's bid to knock out Henderson Field and the Cactus Air Force (Air Campaign).'' Osprey Publishing, 2019. {{ISBN|1472835514}}. * Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Navy Aircraft since 1912''. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-10054-9}}. * Thetford, Owen. ''British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, Fourth Edition''. London: Putnam, 1978. {{ISBN|0-85177-861-5}}. * Thruelsen, Richard. ''The Grumman Story.'' Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Press, 1976. {{ISBN|0-275-54260-2}}. * Tillman, Barrett. ''Hellcat, The F6F in World War II.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1979. {{ISBN|1-55750-991-3}}. * Tillman, Barrett. ''Wildcat Aces of World War 2''. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995. {{ISBN|1-85532-486-5}}. * Tillman, Barrett. ''Wildcat: The F4F in World War II.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval & Aviation Publishing, 1990, First edition 1983. {{ISBN|1-55750-819-4}}. * Winchester, Jim. ''Fighter - The World's Finest Combat Aircraft - 1913 to the Present Day''. Bath, UK: Parragon Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1-4054-3843-6}}. * Wixey, Ken. "Corpulent Feline: Grumman's F4F Wildcat: Part One". ''[[Air Enthusiast]]'', No. 68, March–April 1997, pp. 16–24. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}. * Wixey, Ken. "Corpulent Feline: Grumman's F4F Wildcat: Part Two". ''[[Air Enthusiast]]'', No. 70, July–August 1997, pp. 51–59. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}. * {{cite magazine|last=Wixey|first=Ken|title= 'Wild Catfish': The 'Sea-booted' F4F-3S Wildcat|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|date=March–April 1997|issue=68|page=25 |issn=0143-5450}} * Young, Edward M. "F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-Sen - Pacific Theater 1942 (Osprey Duel; 54)". Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-78096-322-8}} * Zbiegniewski, Andre R. and Krzysztof Janowicz. ''Grumman F4F Wildcat'' (Bilingual Polish/English). 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==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.theshermantank.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FM2-Pilots-Handbook-of-Flight-Operating-Instructions-F4F-Wildcat.pdf (1945) AN 01-190FB-1 Pilots Handbook of Flight Operating Instructions Navy Model FM-2 British Model Wildcat VI Airplanes] * [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/naval-aircraft/pdfs/f4f-4.pdf Naval History and Heritage Command Wildcat] * [https://www.history.navy.mil/search.html?q=f4f Naval History and Heritage Command - F4F] * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041010102543/http://vectorsite.net/avwcat.html VectorSite Wildcat Entry]}} * [https://archive.today/19991019002433/http://www.grummanpark.org/runway1.htm How Leroy Grumman and Jake Swirbul built a high-flying company from the ground up] * [http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/grumman-wildcat-retrieved-lake-michigan.html Grumman Wildcat Retrieved From Lake Michigan] * [https://archive.today/20121209052637/http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=51832 Newsreel footage of FAA pilots being introduced to the Grumman Martlet] * [https://books.google.com/books?id=1SYDAAAAMBAJ ''Popular Science'', February 1941] color cover of early F4F model * [http://toniosky7.blogspot.fr/2012/05/grumman-f4f-wildcat.html Pictures from the Grumman Archive] * [http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm The Grumman Wildcat in FAA Service by Bruce Archer] * [http://www.aviation-history.com/grumman/f4f.html Aviation-History.com's XF4F-1 3-view drawing]

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