[WWII] Grumman F3F fighter (USA)

copeab · 11-02-2009, 06:05 AM

Grumman F3F "Flying Barrel" naval fighter
Copyright 2009 by Brandon Cope

The F3F was the last biplane fighter to enter service with the US Navy, starting in 1936. A development of the F2F, the F3F corrected stability and spin problems of the F2F by lengthening the fuselage by nearly two feet and adding 30 sf to the wing area. It also featured retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The radial engine helped the the plane a distinctive barrel-like appearance. None remained in combat roles by the end of 1941, but continued to be used as trainers and utility aircraft until 1943.

The F3F-2 uses 32 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Medium Fighter Chassis +3, Recon Plane Wings with Biplane option +2, three retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 708-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 708-kW old prop and 130-gallon standard fuel tank [Body].
Occupancy: 1 CS Cargo: 5 Body

Armor
All: 2/2 C
Pilot: B 0/+20
Armament
Very Long Aircraft HMGs/M-2 [Body:F] (200)*
Aircraft LMG/M-2 [Body:F] (500)*
2x116-lb bombs [Wings:U]
* Link fires both guns

Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot, arrestor gear. Wings: 116-lb hardpoint each

Statistics
Size: 23'x32'x9'
Payload: 0.77 tons
Lwt: 2.4 tons
Volume: 200
Maint.: 51 hours
Price: $15,200

HT: 10.
HP: 120 [body], 100 [each wing], 12 [each wheel]

aSpeed: 255
aAccel: 9
aDecel: 34
aMR: 8.5
aSR: 2
Stall: 62

Design Notes
Design speed was 275 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (260 square feet). Weight, cost and HPs of the wings were doubled. Loaded weight was increased by 6%.

One third of an armored crew station was purchased.

Variants
The F3F-1 (1936) had aSpeed 231; 54 were built.

The F3F-3 (1938) had a 710-kW engine and slightly improved aerodynamics, giving aSpeed 264. Twenty-seven were built..

A small number were used as utility planes by the Army Air Force as the UC-103.

The 55 F2F's (1935) used a 485-kW engine giving aSpeed 238. It was armed with two Aircraft LMGs. Reduce aSR to 1

The FF-1 "Fifi" of 1933 was roughly similar, although it carried a second crewman. Its 520-kW engine propelled it to 207 mph. It mounted two forward-firing and two rear pintle M-1919 Brownings (Aircraft LMGs) and carried a single 100-lb bomb. 120 were built, including 57 in Canada under the designation G23 Goblin. The 25 FF-2 were conversions to two-seat trainers (dropping one forward LMG and adding dual controls).

11-02-2009, 06:05 AM	#1
copeab Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Houston	[WWII] Grumman F3F fighter (USA) Grumman F3F "Flying Barrel" naval fighter Copyright 2009 by Brandon Cope The F3F was the last biplane fighter to enter service with the US Navy, starting in 1936. A development of the F2F, the F3F corrected stability and spin problems of the F2F by lengthening the fuselage by nearly two feet and adding 30 sf to the wing area. It also featured retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The radial engine helped the the plane a distinctive barrel-like appearance. None remained in combat roles by the end of 1941, but continued to be used as trainers and utility aircraft until 1943. The F3F-2 uses 32 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. Subassemblies: Medium Fighter Chassis +3, Recon Plane Wings with Biplane option +2, three retractable wheels +0. Powertrain: 708-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 708-kW old prop and 130-gallon standard fuel tank [Body]. Occupancy: 1 CS Cargo: 5 Body Armor All: 2/2 C Pilot: B 0/+20 Armament Very Long Aircraft HMGs/M-2 [Body:F] (200)* Aircraft LMG/M-2 [Body:F] (500)* 2x116-lb bombs [Wings:U] * Link fires both guns Equipment Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot, arrestor gear. Wings: 116-lb hardpoint each Statistics Size: 23'x32'x9' Payload: 0.77 tons Lwt: 2.4 tons Volume: 200 Maint.: 51 hours Price: $15,200 HT: 10. HP: 120 [body], 100 [each wing], 12 [each wheel] aSpeed: 255 aAccel: 9 aDecel: 34 aMR: 8.5 aSR: 2 Stall: 62 Design Notes Design speed was 275 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (260 square feet). Weight, cost and HPs of the wings were doubled. Loaded weight was increased by 6%. One third of an armored crew station was purchased. Variants The F3F-1 (1936) had aSpeed 231; 54 were built. The F3F-3 (1938) had a 710-kW engine and slightly improved aerodynamics, giving aSpeed 264. Twenty-seven were built.. A small number were used as utility planes by the Army Air Force as the UC-103. The 55 F2F's (1935) used a 485-kW engine giving aSpeed 238. It was armed with two Aircraft LMGs. Reduce aSR to 1 The FF-1 "Fifi" of 1933 was roughly similar, although it carried a second crewman. Its 520-kW engine propelled it to 207 mph. It mounted two forward-firing and two rear pintle M-1919 Brownings (Aircraft LMGs) and carried a single 100-lb bomb. 120 were built, including 57 in Canada under the designation G23 Goblin. The 25 FF-2 were conversions to two-seat trainers (dropping one forward LMG and adding dual controls). __________________ A generous and sadistic GM, Brandon Cope GURPS 3e stuff: http://copeab.tripod.com