Grumman F2F

Grumman F2F
A F2F-1 of fighter squadron VF-2B, USS Lexington (CV-2)
Role	Naval fighter
Manufacturer	Grumman
Designed by	Leroy Grumman
First flight	31 October 1933
Introduced	1935
Retired	1940
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	1934-1935
Number built	55
Unit cost	$12,000 (as of 1935)[1]
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.

Contents 1 Development 2 Service 3 Operators 4 Specifications (Grumman F2F-1)

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. 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.^[1] 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.^[1] Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.

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

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,^[1] bringing the total to 55, and the final F2F-1 was delivered on 2 August 1935.

Service

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.^[1] By September 1940, the F2F had been completely replaced in fighter squadrons and was relegated to training and utility duties.

Operators

 United States

• United States Navy

Specifications (Grumman F2F-1)

Three-side drawing of a Grumman F2F-1

Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 ^[2]

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 Jr 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