Type: Naval Fighter, later versions include
   fighter-bombers and night fighters
Origin: Grumman
Crew: 1
Models: F6F-1 to F6F-5
First Flight:
   With R-2600: June 26, 1942
   Same aircraft With R-2800: July 30, 1942
   F6F-3: October 2, 1942
Service Delivery:
   F6F-3: January 16, 1943
Final Delivery: November 1945
Production: 12,272
Powerplant:
Early Production:
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp
Type: 18-cylinder dual-row radial engine
Horsepower: 2,000 hp

From January 1944 (Final F6F-3 batch):
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp
Type: 18-cylinder dual-row radial engine
   With Water Injection
Horsepower: 2,200 hp

Dimensions:
Wing Span: 13.05m (42 ft. 10 in.)
Length: 10.2m (33 ft. 7 in.)
Height: 3.99m (13 ft. 1 in.)
Wing Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty (F6F-3): 4101 kg (9,042 lb)
Loaded: 5528 kg (12,186 lb)
Clean: 6000 kg (13,228 lb)
Maximum (F6F-5N): 6443 kg (14,250 lb)

Performance:
Max. Speed (F6F-3, -5), Clean: 605 km/h (376 mph)
Max. Speed (F6F-5N): 590 km/h (366 mph)
Initial Climb: 3,240 ft/min (990 m/min)
Service Ceiling (F6F-3): 11,430m (37,500 ft.)
Service Ceiling (F6F-5NO): 11,185m (36,700 ft.)
Max. Range (Internal Fuel): 1755 km (1,090 miles)

Armament:
Typical:
Three .50 in. Brownings in each outer wing
   Ammunition: 400 rounds per gun

Some F6F-5 & F6F-5N
Two .50 in. Brownings in each outer wing
One 20mm Cannon in each outer wing
   Ammunition: N/A

Bomb Load:
2,000 lb. of bombs on centerline pylon
Underwing attachments for six rockets

Avionics:
F6F-3N & -5N: APS-6 Radar in wing pod

Production:
1942: 10
1943: 2,545
1944: 6,139
1945: 3,578
Total: 12,272

Variants:
F6F-3N and -5N: Nightfighters
F6F-5K: Drone
F6F-5P: Photographic Reconnaissance
Comments:
This destructive little fighter was built in amazing numbers in a short time, equipping Navy and USMC squadrons with the means to gain complete mastery of the air. Over 6,000 enemy aircraft (including 4,947 by USN squadrons and 209 by land based USMC squadrons, the remainder by Allied Hellcat squadrons). The Fleet air armed used the type, christened the Gannet, in Europe as well as the Far East. After VJ-day hundreds were sold to Allied countries and dozens ended up in the civilian market.
IMAGE LIBRARY:
Image 1 - Bright orange Hellcat Image 10 - Flight deck loaded with Hellcats
Image 2 - Numerous orange Hellcats (Drones?) Image 11 - Preparing for take-off
Image 3 - On flight deck with prop vortices Image 12 - Taxiing on tarmac
Image 4 - Two aircraft in flight Image 13 - Running up
Image 5 - Preparing for carrier launch Image 14 - Busy flight deck
Image 6 - Another preparing for launch Image 15 - Going over the side
Image 7 - Two aircraft in flight Image 16 - Parked
Image 8 - Aircraft in flight Image 17 - Parked
Image 9 - Preparing for catapult launch
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