Grumman F2F

F2F

An F2F-1 of fighter squadron VF-2B, aboard Lexington
Role	Naval fighter
Manufacturer	Grumman
Designer	Leroy Grumman
First flight	18 October 1933 ^[1]
Introduction	1935
Retired	1940
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	1934-1935
Number built	55
Unit cost	$12,000 (as of 1935)^[2]
Developed from	Grumman FF
Variants	Grumman F3F

The Grumman F2F was a single-engine, biplane fighter aircraft with retractable undercarriage, serving as the standard fighter for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940. It was designed for both carrier- and land-based operations.

Design and development

Grumman's success with the two-seat FF-1, which was significantly faster than even the single-seat fighters of its time, resulted in a contract for the single-seat XF2F-1.^[3] Armed with two .30 caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns above the cowl, the new design also incorporated watertight compartments to reduce weight and improve survivability in the event of a water landing.^[2] The prototype first flew on 18 October 1933, equipped with the experimental 625 hp (466 kW) XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, and reached a top speed of 229 mph (369 km/h) at 8,400 ft (2,600 m) - 22 mph (35 km/h) faster than the FF-1 at the same altitude.^[2] Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.^[3]

Three F2F-1s in service with fighter squadron VF-2B

Operational history

The Navy ordered 54 F2F-1 fighters on 17 May 1934, with the first aircraft delivered 19 January 1935. An additional aircraft was ordered to replace one which crashed on 16 March 1935, bringing the total to 55, with the final F2F-1 delivered on 2 August 1935. The F2F-1 had a relatively long service life for the time, serving in front-line squadrons from 1935 to late 1939, when squadrons began to receive the F3F-3 as a replacement. By September 1940, the F2F had been completely replaced in fighter squadrons and was relegated to training and utility duties.^[2]

Variants

XF2F-1: United States Navy designation for the Grumman G.6 prototype with a 625 hp (466 kW) XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, one built.
F2F-1: Production variant with a 700 hp (522 kW) R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, 55 built.

Operators

United States

United States Navy

Specifications (Grumman F2F-1)

Three-view drawing of Grumman F2F-1

Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 ^[4]

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 21 ft 5 in (6.53 m)
Wingspan: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
Wing area: 230 ft² (21.4 m²)
Empty weight: 2,691 lb (1,221 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,847 lb (1,745 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, 700 hp (522 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 231 mph (201 knots, 372 km/h)
Range: 985 mi (857 nmi, 1,585 km)
Service ceiling: 27,100 ft (8,260 m)
Rate of climb: 2,050 ft/min (10.4 m/s)

Armament

Guns: 2× .30-in machine guns

References

Citations

↑ Graff 2009, p. 18.
1 2 3 4 Cacutt 1989, pp. 155–162.
1 2 Jordan, Corey C. "Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter Two." Planes and Pilots Of World War Two, 2000. Retrieved: 22 July 2011.
↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 201.

Bibliography

Cacutt, Len, ed. “Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters.” Great Aircraft of the World. London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989. ISBN 1-85435-250-4.
Graff, Cory. F6F Hellcat at War. New York: Zenith Imprint, 2009. ISBN 978-0-76033-306-8.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.

External links

Media related to Grumman F2F at Wikimedia Commons

United States Navy fighter designations pre-1962

General Aviation Brewster	FA FA² F2A F3A

Boeing	FB F2B F3B F4B F5B F6B F7B F8B

Curtiss	CF F2C F3C F4C F5C¹ F6C F7C F8C F9C F10C F11C F12C F13C F14C F15C

Douglas McDonnell	XFD F2D² F3D F4D F5D F6D FD F2D to "H"

Grumman	FF F2F F3F F4F F5F F6F F7F F8F F9F-1 to -5 F9F-6 to -8 F10F F11F F12F

Eberhart Goodyear	FG F2G FG F2G

Hall McDonnell	FH FH F2H F3H F4H

Berliner-Joyce North American	FJ F2J F3J FJ-1 FJ-2/3 FJ-4

Loening Bell	FL FL YF2L-1 F2L-1K F3L

General Motors	FM F2M F3M

Naval Aircraft Factory	FN

Lockheed	FO (I) FO (II)

Ryan	FR F2R F3R

Supermarine	FS

Northrop	FT F2T

Vought	FU F2U F3U F4U F5U F6U F7U F8U F8U-3

Lockheed	FV

Wright CC&F	WP F2W F3W FW² F2W² F3W² F4W

Convair	FY F2Y

¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to a different manufacturer's type See also: Aeromarine AS • Vought VE-7

Grumman and Northrop Grumman aircraft

Manufacturer
designations

G-1 (floats only)
G-2 (floats only)
G-3
G-4
G-5
G-6
G-7
G-8
G-9
G-10
G-11
G-12
G-13
G-14
G-15
G-16
G-17
G-18
G-19
G-20
G-21
G-22
G-23
G-24
G-25
G-26
G-27
G-29
G-30
G-31
G-32
G-33
G-34
G-35
G-36
G-37
G-38
G-39
G-40
G-41
G-42
G-43
G-44
G-45
G-46
G-47
G-48
G-49
G-50
G-51
G-52
G-53
G-54
G-55
G-56
G-57
G-58
G-59
G-60
G-61
G-62
G-63
G-64
G-65
G-66
G-67
G-68
G-69
G-70
G-71
G-72
G-73
G-74
G-75
G-76
G-77
G-78
G-79
G-80
G-81
G-82
G-83
G-84
G-85
G-86
G-87
G-88
G-89
G-90
G-91
G-92
G-93
G-94
G-96
G-97
G-98
G-98J
G-99
G-100
G-101
G-102
G-103
G-104
G-105
G-106
G-107
G-108
G-109
G-110
G-111
G-112
G-113
G-114
G-115
G-116
G-117
G-118
G-119
G-120
G-121
G-122
G-123
G-124
G-125
G-126
G-127
G-128
G-134
G-159
G-164
G-191
G-231
G-234
G-251
G-262
G-303
G-426
G-712
G-1128
G-1159
Model 400

By role

Piston fighters	FF F2F F3F F4F XF5F XP-50 F6F XP-65 F7F F8F

Jet fighters	F9F-1 to -5 F9F-6 to -8 F-9 XF10F F11F/F-11/F11F-1F G-118 F-111B F-14

Bombers	B-2 B-21

Attack/Patrol	TBF XTSF TB2F AF S-2 A-6

Recon/Scouts	SF XSBF E-1 OV-1 EA-6 E-2

Utility/Transports	UC-103 JF J2F OA-12 JRF J3F OA-9 OA-13 OA-14/J4F U-16/JR2F/UF C-1 C-2

Civil aircraft	Mallard Ag Cat Kitten Tadpole Gulfstream I Gulfstream II

Others	Apollo Lunar Module EF-111 X-29 Q-8/C X-47A X-47B

By name

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