Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Grumman
Grumman F3F Aircraft Overview
The Grumman F3F was a biplane fighter aircraft that was used by the United States Navy during the 1930s. It was designed and built by the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation as a successor to the earlier F2F.
The F3F was a single-engine aircraft with a mixed construction of steel tubing and aluminum alloy. It was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-84 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, which gave it a top speed of around 264 mph. The aircraft was armed with two .30 caliber machine guns in the nose and two .50 caliber machine guns in the wings.
The F3F was operated by the United States Navy and Marine Corps from 1936 to 1941. It saw action in several conflicts, including the Battle of Midway in 1942. Despite its success in combat, the F3F was quickly becoming outdated and was replaced by newer and more advanced aircraft such as the Grumman F4F Wildcat.
A total of 147 F3Fs were built, and some were exported to other countries, including Greece and Thailand. Today, only a handful of F3Fs survive, and they are mainly found in museums or private collections.
Grumman F3F-2 Specifications
- Crew: one pilot
- Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
- Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
- Wing area: 260 sq ft (24.15 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,285 lb (1,490 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,795 lb (2,175 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-22 “Cyclone” 9-cylinder radial engine, 950 hp (710 kW)
Grumman F3F-2 Performance
- Maximum speed: 264 mph (425 km/h, 229 kn) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m)
- Cruise speed: 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kn)
- Range: 980 mi (1,600 km, 850 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,120 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14 m/s) at sea level
Grumman F3F-2 Armament
- Guns:
- 1× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 machine gun, 500 rounds (left)
- 1× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun, 200 rounds (right)
- Bombs: 2× 116 lb (52.6 kg) Mk IV bombs, one under each wing.
