GRUMMAN F6F HELLCAT
HELLCAT SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Grumman Aircraft Engr. Corp., Bethpage, Long Is., New York, USA |
| Models: | G-50; G-54, G-59, G-60, G-61, G-69 |
| Designations: | F6F; FV |
| Name: | Hellcat |
| First official flight: | (XF6F-1) 26/06/1942 |
| Factory production period: | 1942 - 1945 |
| Primary service period: | 1943 - 1954 |
| Last official flight: | (F6F-5D / -5K) 05/1961 |
HELLCAT VARIANTS
| 1942 | Model G-50 | XF6F-1 | 1 | |
| 1942 | Model G-50 | XF6F-3 | 1 | Total: 00002 |
| 1942 | Model G-50 | F6F-3 | 4402 | Total: 04402 |
| 1944 | Model G-50 | F6F-5 | 6341 | |
| 1944 | Model G-50 | F6F-5N | 1529 | Total: 07870 |
|
Grand Total: 12274 |
HELLCAT PRODUCTION
XF6F-1
Prototype carrier-based fighter, large
prop spinner. Later with engine
upgrade,
re-serialled as BuNo. 02982, redesignated
as XF6F-3.
Produced 1942
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.02981 | 3188 |
Total: 00001 |
XF6F-3
Ordered as XF6F-1, then XF6F-2, again
redesignated after engine upgrade. Later
re-serialled as BuNo. 02981.
Later
converted as the XF6F-4.
Produced 1942
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.02982 | 3189 |
Total: 00001 |
F6F-3
As XF6F-3, 6 wing guns, drop tank, prop spinner
deleted, redesigned u/c, folding wings. Later
airframes had engine upgrade, minor changes.
229 as F6F-3N night-fighter with radar upgrade.
Produced 1942 - 1944
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.04775 / 04958 | ? | |
| BuNo.08798 / 09047 | ? | |
| BuNo.25721 / 26195 | ? | |
| BuNo.39999 / 43136 | ? | |
| BuNo.65890 / 66244 | ? |
Total: 04402 |
FV-1 - Canadian-Vickers built version of the F6F-3, orders cancelled.
F6F-4 - 1943, proposed light-weight version,
cancelled.
F6F-5
As late F6F-3, strengthened airframe, new cowling,
redesigned canopy glass, underwing rockets / bombs.
Later airframes had 4 wing guns and 2 cannons.
Some later converted to F6F-5N.
Produced 1944 - 1945
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.58000 / 58999 | ? | |
| BuNo.69992 / 71462 | ? | |
| BuNo.77259 / 80258 | ? | |
| BuNo.93652 / 94521 | ? |
Total: 06341 |
| 630 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
F6F-5N
As F6F-5, night-fighter version with APS-6 radar.
Additional airframes converted from F6F-5.
Produced 1944 - 1945
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.71463 / 72991 | ? |
Total: 01529 |
| 1047 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
Model G-54, G-59,
G-60, G-61, G-69
- Proposed designs and upgrades, all cancelled.
|
Grand Total: 12274 |
HELLCAT CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| XF6F-2 | 1 | F6F-3(66244), 1944, prototype
with turbo-supercharger, 4-bladed prop. Later back to F6F-3 standard, delivered as BuNo. 43137. |
| F6F-3E | 18 | F6F-3, 1943, night-fighter conversions with wing mounted APS-4 radar. |
| F6F-3F | 1 | F6F-3, experimental engine upgrade. |
| F6F-3K | 1+ | F6F-3, 1946, conversions to radio controlled drones. |
| XF6F-3N | 1 | F6F-3, 1943, prototype
factory conversion, night-fighter with ASP-6 radar. 228 F6F-3N production aircraft followed. |
| F6F-3P | 1+ | F6F-3, photo reconnaissance conversions. |
| XF6F-4 | 1 | XF6F-1(02981), 1942-1946, engine / 4 cannon armament upgrade. |
| F6F-5D | 1+ | F6F-5, 1949-1961, conversions as drone directors. |
| F6F-5E | 1+ | F6F-5, night-fighter conversions with wing mounted APS-4 radar. |
| F6F-5K | 1+ | F6F-5 / -5N, 1949-1961, conversions to radio controlled drones. |
| F6F-5P | 1+ | F6F-5, photo reconnaissance conversions. |
| XF6F-6 | 2 | F6F-5(70188, 70913), 1944, engine upgrade, 4-bladed prop. |
British Royal Navy
Original name was Gannet, changed to Hellcat in 1943.
| Hellcat Mk. I | 252 | F6F-3, 1943-1945, aircraft
in service with the Royal Navy. Assigned RN s/n: FN320 / FN449, JV100 / JV221. |
| Hellcat Mk. II | 849 | F6F-5, 1944-1945, aircraft
in service with the Royal Navy. Assigned RN s/n: JV222 / JV324, JW700 / JW784, JW857 / JW899, JX670 / JX964, JX968 / JX999, JZ775 / JZ827, JZ912 / JZ946, JZ960 / JZ964, JZ968 / JZ994, KD118 / KD152, KD158 / KD160, KE118 / KE159, KE170 / KE214, KE220 / KE265. Conversions: FR.Mk. II, PR.Mk. II. |
| Hellcat NF.Mk. II | 76 | F6F-5N, 1944-1945, night-fighter
version for the Royal Navy. Assigned RN s/n: JX965 / JX967, JZ890 / JZ911, JZ947 / JZ959, JZ965 / JZ967, JZ995 / JZ999, KD108 / KD117, KD153 / KD157, KE160 / KE169, KE215 / KE219. |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- F6F's in service post WW2 with Argentina, France, Paraguay
and Uruguay.