 | Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIB vs. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat| Aviation Discuss Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIB vs. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat in the World War II - Aviation forums; them roles don't make it versatile, almost any fighter can, with the addition of bombs, be a figher bomber, ... |
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07-26-2005, 10:20 AM
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#61 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country:  | them roles don't make it versatile, almost any fighter can, with the addition of bombs, be a figher bomber, and it doesn't need much to be a recon aircraft...........
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | 
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07-26-2005, 10:26 AM
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#62 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,523
Country:  | And if it carried a gland-slam? 
Just another F4F note....
In early 1941, Grumman began work on an ultra-long-range photo-reconnaissance version of the Wildcat. An F4F-4 was extensively modified to this configuration, with nonfolding "wet" wings and distinctive twin "tailpipes" that were actually used for dumping excess fuel to lighten the aircraft for carrier deck landings. A single camera was installed behind the cockpit, an autopilot was fitted for long missions, and the armament and gunsight were deleted. The first such "F4F-7" performed its first flight on 30 December 1941.
The F4F-7 could carry a load of 2,596 liters (685 gallons) of fuel, giving the type a range of 5,950 kilometers (3,700 miles). A hundred were ordered but only 21 were delivered. In 1942, one flew across the US, coast to coast nonstop, in eleven hours. When the flight plan was filed, an Army air traffic controller called the Navy and said it looked as though there was a mistake. A Navy man replied: "The flight plan is correct. All Navy fighters have a 3,000 mile range." This was a record flight, but the F4F-7 was a secret and the record wasn't claimed.
The F4F-7s served in the Solomons but the actual need for an extremely long range reconnaissance fighter was slight. Those F4F-7s that were delivered were used for spares hulks, with some possibly modified back to a fighter specification.
There were trials in which Wildcats were towed by bombers such as the B-17 to give them longer range. These experiments were said to have worked out fairly well from a technical point of view but the scheme did not go into service.
From: http://www.vectorsite.net/avwcat.html
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07-26-2005, 10:44 AM
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#63 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | that's quite a feat, but that doesn't make her versatile........
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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07-26-2005, 10:52 AM
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#64 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | Ok- that's it - She's going into "Pimp my ride." We'll see what Versitle is! 
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07-26-2005, 11:37 AM
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#65 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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07-26-2005, 12:25 PM
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#66 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | *sigh*
You guys are hopeless.   | |
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07-26-2005, 12:41 PM
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#67 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
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07-26-2005, 04:53 PM
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#68 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | If I wanted to shoot something down, I'd take the Hurricane
If I wanted to not get shot down I'd take the Wildcat
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07-26-2005, 04:56 PM
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#69 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | Quote: |
Originally Posted by mosquitoman If I wanted to shoot something down, I'd take the Hurricane
If I wanted to not get shot down I'd take the Wildcat | Ok - the games begin - 173 Wildcats were lost in combat. 548 Hurricanes were lost in the BOB alone. Hurricane was a good aircraft, I'd take my chances in a Wildcat. http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevo.../strength.html
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07-27-2005, 06:37 AM
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#70 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,061
Country: | The Hurricane was largely out-numbered during the Battle of Britain and German aircraft were actually good. And they were Hurricane I in the BoB, not IIB.
That's something a lot of people forget about the Battle of Britain, the numbers. When people rant about how the Luftwaffe was only beaten by superior numbers; the RAF had to deal with the same situation as the Luftwaffe. RAF interceptors were going up against formations 10-20 times their own size!
No one could ever call the Spitfire or Hurricane poor planes due to those high losses because they were severely out-numbered, but I know some people still do. 
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. | |
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07-27-2005, 09:49 AM
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#71 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | yes to base your argument on loss figures for the most numerous british plane in the largest air battle of all time stikes me as a bit stupid.........
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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07-27-2005, 09:51 AM
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#72 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country: | Good point D - I'll go on to say that the Hurricane was some advantages over the F4F - Speed, manuevability and firepower. I think the Wildcat was more rugged, could absorb more damage, had a range advantage, and was more reliable with its radial engine
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07-27-2005, 09:53 AM
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#73 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,061
Country: | I'll agree with that. 
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
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07-27-2005, 10:01 AM
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#74 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,523
Country: | But as for Mr. Mossie - I used to think about the F4F in the same light, well based on this thread, I'm a believer! \  /
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07-27-2005, 04:49 PM
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#75 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 1,178
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ But as for Mr. Mossie - I used to think about the F4F in the same light, well based on this thread, I'm a believer! \ / | I'll agree too, if were talking a Hurricane with 20mm guns, otherwise I think I'll go with the Wildcat and it's .50s.
I think the P-40 Hawk series in the same light as the Wildcat/Hurricane none of these aircraft got the credit they deserved for their workhorse duties in the war. Their work allowed the flashier planes shine.
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