Grumman F2F
{{Short description|US Navy biplane}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = F2F
|image = File:F2F-1 2-F-6 NAN1-76.jpg
|caption = An F2F-1 of fighter squadron VF-2B, aboard {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}}
|type =Naval fighter
|national_origin = United States
|manufacturer =Grumman
|designer = Leroy Grumman
|first_flight = 18 October 1933 Graff 2009, p. 18.
|introduction =1935
|retired =1940
|primary_user =United States Navy
|produced = 1934–1935
|number_built = 55
|developed_from =
|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.{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Corey C.|url=http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman2.html|title=Grumman's Ascendency: Chapter Two|website=Planes and Pilots Of World War Two|access-date=2011-07-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325044407/http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Grumman2.html|archive-date=2012-03-25}} Armed with two {{cvt|0.30|in|2}} 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.Cacutt 1989, pp. 155–162. The prototype first flew on 18 October 1933, equipped with the experimental {{cvt|625|hp}} XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, and reached a top speed of {{cvt|229|mph}} at {{cvt|8400|ft}} – {{cvt|22|mph}} faster than the FF-1 at the same altitude. Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.
Operational history
The Navy ordered 54 F2F-1 fighters on 17 May 1934, with the first aircraft delivered 19 January 1935.{{cn|date=March 2024}} One additional aircraft (BuNo 9997) 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.{{cn|date=March 2024}} 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. The last F2F-1s were stricken from the list of naval aircraft in early 1943.
Variants
;XF2F-1
:United States Navy designation for the Grumman Model G-8 prototype with a {{cvt|625|hp}} XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, one built
;F2F-1
:Production variant with a {{cvt|700|hp|0}} R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, 55 built
Operators
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}
;{{USA}}
Specifications (Grumman F2F-1)
File:Grumman F2F-1 NAN1-76 drawing.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|ref=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 201.
|crew=One
|length ft=21
|length in=5
|length m=
|span ft=28
|span in=6
|span m=
|height ft=9
|height in=1
|height m=
|wing area sqft=230
|wing area sqm=
|empty weight lb=2,691
|empty weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=3,847
|max takeoff weight kg=
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior
|eng1 type=radial engine
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 hp=700
|eng1 kw=522
|max speed mph=231
|max speed kts=
|max speed kmh=
|range miles=985
|range nmi=
|range km=
|ceiling ft=27,100
|ceiling m=8,260
|climb rate ftmin=2,050
|climb rate ms=
|power/mass=
|guns=2 × {{cvt|0.30|in|2}} machine guns
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|see also=
}}
References
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{Refbegin}}
- Cacutt, Len, ed. “Grumman Single-Seat Biplane Fighters.” Great Aircraft of the World. London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989. {{ISBN|1-85435-250-4}}.
- {{cite book|last=Dann|first=Richard LCDR|title=Grumman Biplane Fighters in Action|location=Carrollton, TX|publisher=Squadron Signal|year=1993|isbn=0-89747-353-1}}
- {{cite book|last=Graff|first=Cory|title=F6F Hellcat at War|location=New York|publisher=Zenith Imprint|year=2009|isbn=978-0-76033-306-8}}
- {{cite book|last1=Swanborough|first1=Gordon|first2=Peter M.|last2=Bowers|title=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911|location=London|publisher=Putnam|edition=Second|year=1976|isbn=0-370-10054-9}}
{{Refend}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Grumman F2F}}
{{USN fighters}}
{{Grumman aircraft}}
Category:1930s United States fighter aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Carrier-based aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1933
Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear