#2656593 - 01/21/09 01:29 AM
Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
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Baron Von Martin
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Hello, I am interested in hearing the various opinions of the F4 and F6, I caught the tail end of a show the otherday on the tele and they were bragging up the F6 over the F4, they both look alike to me. We don't hear many of the Grummans over the European, mostly Boeing S! BVM
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#2656640 - 01/21/09 03:25 AM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Baron Von Martin]
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Well.. I assume you're aware that the Hellcat was the natural progression of the Wildcat. That being said.. here are the finer details, specs, performance etc: Hellcat WildcatSome of the older aircraft encyclopedias describe the Hellcat as a "big beefy fighter" as opposed to the lighter, older and less powerful Wildcat. Personally, I prefer the Wildcat mainly because of it's reputation in bearing the brunt of the Zekes early on. Those pilots won with mainly tactics, however the Wildcat was also a tough little fighter. While the two resemble each other, I can always tell the difference. The undercarriage is one giveaway.
It's a Game.
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#2656987 - 01/21/09 05:25 PM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
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Knegel
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Hi BVM,
although this two planes look somewhat similar, they have only the same developper, otherwise they are absolut different.
The F6F is a by far more big plane. With 31m² winarea and 5650kg it have the size of an P38, Ju87 and its bigger than the F4U, while the F4F with 24m² and 3500kg is rather in the Hurri class.
Another good visible different is the low wing of the F6F, while the F4F have a middle wing.
The F6F could carry more bullets, more bombs and was faster, nevertheless the F4F-8, better known as FM2, got used till the end of war.
The FM2 had only 4 MG´s again, with a longer time to shoot and it got a better engine, this pushed its performence much upward and brought it very close to the F6F. It could manouver better at slower speed, but wasnt as fast.
This advantage of the FM2 and its smaler size made it a very good plane for the smaler escort carriers. The FM2 was equal to the A6M5, or even better, cause the FM2 always could disengage in a smooth dive and could take some punishment while that, while the Zero, if cought below the FM2, couldnt do much and only needed some lonly bullets to be down.
In a real war, i would always choose the FM2 over the Zero. In a game, where we normaly dont run away, if we are in a bad position, the zero for sure have some advanages(climb ratio, so the FM2 need a good pilot to get into a advancd position). The FM2 in Aces High is a real fun plane.
Greetings,
Knegel
If you think `thats close enough´, go closer, until the plane fill up the windscreen, then a short burst is enough!
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#2657688 - 01/22/09 05:00 PM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Boilerplate*]
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Knegel
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Much depends to the pilot and mission order. In R/L often enemys got suprised, when it came to a fight, it depends to the pilots tactical and pilot skill. For example the Me262 for sure was the most advanced fighter in WWII, but some stupid pilots did try to fight like in a propeller plane(slow donw and turn with the enemy). With such a behaviour the best plane cant show its performence. After the few Bf109B and C´s in spain massacred the I-15 and I-16´s and all other planes, with the only advantage of a higher dive speed, many constructeurs saw that in "modern" warfare the turn ability is nothing, but speed is all. As result the wingload of the planes got higher and higher and the drag smaler and smaler, resulting in planes like the P38, FW190, Yak 1/7/3, P51, P40, Ki61, Ki44, B26, Misquito, Me410, Me262 and He162. This planes all had a rather high wingload, but due to their speed they all was very advanced, although most of them had a rather poor climb ratio and turn performence(in comparison to the A6M, Spitfire, Hurricane), they all did count as good planes. But why?? The reason was the ability to escape, if needed. Its well known that the 109´s and 190´s, although with problems in a close combat, still could escape the Spitfires in a dive. With this advantage the pilot, if not suprised, was rather safe. VS the same fast diving US planes the 109/190 lost this most important advantage, what is specialy bad vs a numerical advantage. The F4F had this advantage vs the Zero, but not vs the 109 or 190 and the german planes was faster and could climb even better than the FM2. So the only advantage of the F4F was the ability to turn tighter, so the relation was like FW190 vs SpitVB, the outcome we know. The F6F-5 was a other class, but still slower than the german planes(109G6, 109G14, FW190A5, FW190A8, D9), but its by far closer to the german planes than the F4F The F6F was specialy made to counter the light wingloaded japanese planes(A6M), cause if the discrepancy regarding the turnperformence is to big, its almost impossible to shoot each other down, at least if the enemy dont got suprised(P51 vs 262, Bf109E vs I-15). So the F6F got very big wings(also good for carrier service), but this wings made it rather slow. All over it was a very good carrier plane, flown by very good trained pilots, due to this, the F6F-5 squads dont had to fear any enemy plane, while the F6F-3 still was outclassed by the german planes. Here is a very good plane performence comparison page, basing on the Aces high flight performences, which are good inside the "greyzone of realism". http://www.gonzoville.com/ahcharts/index.phpGreetings, Knegel
If you think `thats close enough´, go closer, until the plane fill up the windscreen, then a short burst is enough!
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#2657695 - 01/22/09 05:11 PM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Knegel]
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Skylark
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The Wildcat came first and then the Hellcat came next. All those things that were wrong about the Wildcat got fitted in the the Hellcat...... Oh, one other thing, the Wildcat was called 'Zero Fodder' while the Hellcat earned the title 'Zero Killer'... Simple answers are usually best.... Cheers mate David
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#2657770 - 01/22/09 06:36 PM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Skylark]
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Oh, one other thing, the Wildcat was called 'Zero Fodder' while the Hellcat earned the title 'Zero Killer'...
Really? The Japanese ace Saburo Sakai describes the Wildcat's ability for absorbing damage:[10]
“ I had full confidence in my ability to destroy the Grumman and decided to finish off the enemy fighter with only my 7.7 mm machine guns. I turned the 20 mm cannon switch to the 'off' position, and closed in. For some strange reason, even after I had poured about five or six hundred rounds of ammunition directly into the Grumman, the airplane did not fall, but kept on flying. I thought this very odd - it had never happened before – and closed the distance between the two airplanes until I could almost reach out and touch the Grumman. To my surprise, the Grumman's rudder and tail were torn to shreds, looking like an old torn piece of rag. With his plane in such condition, no wonder the pilot was unable to continue fighting! A Zero which had taken that many bullets would have been a ball of fire by now. I'd like to know where you got the term "zero fodder". Perhaps in a dream?
It's a Game.
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#2657781 - 01/22/09 06:51 PM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Skylark]
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Knegel
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But interesting is that the F4F wasnt "Zero Fodder" at all!
It was the F4F Pilots, who fought the elite pilots of the IJNAF down, while when the F6F came most of them was already history and got replaced by rather poor pilots, with an in most cases disadvanced number.
When the F6F came, the japanese fleet already was defeated and the US mass production of pilots, planes and carriers was going strong, iam sure, even with only the FM2 as carrier based fighter the USA would have won the war.
If you think `thats close enough´, go closer, until the plane fill up the windscreen, then a short burst is enough!
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#2658324 - 01/23/09 09:11 AM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Knegel]
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Baron Von Martin
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Hello,
I know little of these Pacifc aeroplanes, I always sought out the p38 vs Betty, or when I was feeling like a fighter pilot I would go for the P40. Normally I am in ETO flying my custom 109G vs B17, or something big, some with chins some without.
I am sick of the dog fight, since ages and look at bomber interception as the ultimate challege!!!
I am currently trying out the overhead dive tactic, in the day light bombing raids... Where I come screaming straight down with my 109G6, out of the skies. I am trying to get the sun in my advantage, all of this is hard. Especially when ttrying to capture screenie and combat business in and out of the cockpit!!!
I also specialize in the 110G as well at night. Although I have not had any night calls since 4 years.
I play the tactic of rammming planes and trying to bail out before impact too! Wiht the 109G.
And my band played a casino, now I am home and its 03:00 this fine January morning. ON top of this!
Forgive me I'm a bit tippsy. So I should just sign off.
S!
BVM
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#2659176 - 01/24/09 10:36 AM
Re: Wildcat vs Hellcat, what's the difference?
[Re: Baron Von Martin]
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Fran_Zee
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ALL WRONG That´s a Wildcat IN a Hellcat: - borrowed from the dark shores - (reporting back from illness. Must have been the bird flu . feel like a chicken now )
Greetings Fran http://www.sandbagger.uk.com/franzee.html______________________________________________ "War does not determine who is right - only who is left. Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so."( Bertrand Russell )
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Exodus
by RedOneAlpha. 04/18/24 05:46 PM
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