Grumman F2F

{{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.

File:F2F-1s VF-2 NAN11-80.jpg

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

;{{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

}}

References

=Citations=

=Bibliography=

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}}