F8F-1B (France)

▄F8F-1B

▄F6F-5N

S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late)

▄F8F-1B

▄F6F-5N

S.O.4050 Vautour IIN (late)

France

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.3	6.3

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:54 000

Purchase:185 000

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This page is about the naval fighter F8F-1B (France). For other versions, see F8F-1 and F8F-1B.

Description

The ▄F8F-1B Bearcat is a rank IV French naval fighter with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.73 "Vive la France".

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,268 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
669	650	10900	20.4	20.8	19.3	19.3	220
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,268 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
752	708	10900	17.8	19.0	37.5	24.8	220

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	X	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
827	340	???	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< ???	< ???	< ???	> ???

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
?,??? m	??? hp	?,??? hp

Survivability and armour

• 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot.
• 9.5 mm Steel plates on pilot's seat.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F8F-1B (France) is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm AN/M3 cannon, wing-mounted (188 outer + 225 inner rpg each wing = 826 total)

The four machine guns are arranged in bundles of two mounted in each wing. Each machine gun bundle are armed with 188 rounds of ammunition in one cannon and 225 rounds in the other, which means that two guns (one in each wing) will run out of ammo before the other two if fired until empty.

Suspended armament

The F8F-1B (France) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 х 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, suspended (340 rpg = 1360 total)
• 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
• 4 x HVAR rockets
• 4 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
• 1 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 1 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
• 3 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs

Usage in battles

In AB, the F8F-1B can perform at its prime, which is, accordingly, remarkably. Due to the lack of damage due to overheating and such, the F8F-1B can easily outstrip any piston-engined fighter in a climb once upgraded. Prior to the engine-injection upgrade, the 1B performs very well, but not as sublimely as it does with the latter modification. Thus, climbing and BnZ match perfectly with the F8F-1B in AB due to its astounding climb rate, speed, acceleration, and weaponry.

Regarding weaponry, fire in very short bursts with the M3 20mm because they will jam rather quickly. The most ideal belt is Air Targets, as the belt has - together with the stealth belt, but the Air Targets belt has instead of a practice shell an API-T shell - the most HEF-I shells.

In RB, the F8F-1B is a monster. It possesses a fantastic climb rate, roll rate, high-capacity armament, and flight performance. Top speed and level speed are top notch in this aircraft, as is the dive-speed tolerance (~800 kph). Unfortunately, this power comes at a great price. Called the "Ovencat" by some players, the F8F-1B's engine will overheat in less than a minute while utilizing WEP. It is not recommended for any pilot to use WEP UNTIL unlocking the "Radiator" modification!. Therefore, always side-climb at the beginning of a match as the 1B needs all the energy it can get, especially when facing opponents such as the FW-190 D which can out-climb an F8F-1B in continuous climb due to the lower thermal restraints of its Junkers engine.

The F8F-1B suffers at altitudes over 6,500 m. Below that, of course, utilize Boom & Zoom as your main tactic. Acceleration is magnificent as is dive speed. You will find it rather difficult to rip your wings in a dive. Careful not to push the Bearcat too far, though, as rolling manoeuvres and fast-paced moves can easily rip its wings.

The M3 20 mm cannons have an extremely fast fire rate and thus may drain your ammunition storage rather quickly. However, the massive 826 round storage should be plenty for quite a lot of battling in the skies!

The F8F-1B can also be used as an effective fighter-bomber. It can carry a large payload of Tiny Tims, bombs, and assorted rockets, making it an effective attacker.

Turning is not recommended in RB due to the 1B's mediocre turn rate.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		DGP-1	Offensive 12 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	FRC mk.2	New 12 mm MGs
III	Wings Repair	Engine		LFRC mk.12	Offensive 20 mm
IV	G-Suit	Engine Injection	Cover	FLBC mk.1	New 20 mm Cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent dive speed
• Good maneuverability in moderate to high speeds
• Fast acceleration
• Can support high G's in sharp turns and has a G-suit upgrade available
• Powerful armament, high ammo count
• Great roll rate compared to planes such as the BF-109
• Respectable climb rate up to 5 km
• Excellent bomb capacity

Cons:

• Engine overheats when not using MEC
• Lackluster engine performance above 5 km
• AN/M3 cannons jam in barely three seconds unless it's modified
• Ground loops if landing with full brakes
• Sluggish controls at speeds less than 300 km/h
• Dumps velocity in high-G turns

History

The Bearcat was the direct descendant of the famous Hellcat. Indeed, in the summer of 1943 a team of engineers from Grumman began, at the request of the American authorities, the study of the replacement of the Hellcat. It was the project called G58 which would use the same engine as its predecessor, the very good Pratt & Whitney R-2800 double Wasp. The aircraft was very light and its armament was reduced compared to its predecessor. Indeed for it to be more efficient it had a lighter cell to gain maneuverability and ascent speed.

Its intended function was a light interceptor on board an escort light aircraft carrier

Grumman engineers therefore studied the lightest possible cell capable of accepting the heavy weight of the double Wasp R-2800 W engine. The Americans always had in mind the performance of the Japanese Zero, which were light and well-motorized and which were the surprise at the start of the Pacific War. It was therefore important that the new aircraft beat the Japanese on their own terrain : maneuverability ; even sacrificing the usual strengths of the Hellcat: armament and protection.

Two prototypes were ordered on November 27, 1943 called XF8F-1. The first flight took place on August 31, 1944 only nine months after the order. The tests went perfectly even if it was necessary to modify the drift to resolve a certain instability in flight, especially in yaw.

The F8-F1 "Bearcat" arrived too late to participate in the battles of the Second World War, but they were however embarked on the US aircraft carriers.

These planes, which are particularly well studied, are considered to be the best piston engine fighters of all time, even if they have never been in combat on the American side.

File:French F8f.jpg

329x329px

The first Bearcat (44 ex.) Arrived in Saigon on 07/02/1951 aboard the aircraft carrier "Windham Bay". The second delivery (46 ex.) Took place on 03/25/1951 by the aircraft carrier "Sitkoh Bay". The whole joined Parc 482 de Bien Hoa for destocking. Other deliveries to the Air Force were made in 1952 and 1953 bringing the total to 209 copies, it was F8F1 / F8F1B. The aircraft were either equipped with machine guns or cannons, which explains the two names, version "B" corresponding to the cannon version. These weapons were easily recognizable because if the machine guns were completely embedded in the wings, the guns protruded from the leading edge.

The main criticism of the Bearcat was their relatively low autonomy, for this the devices intended for France were modified so that the arming pylons could also receive additional releasable tanks, the versions delivered had a designation US F8-F1D and F8- F1BD.

File:Bearcat of GC 3-6 crashed to Haiphong in 1951..jpg

200x200px

During the battles in Indochina the Bearcat were used as support plane and they gave full satisfaction for this use. Many accidents were deplored, many on takeoff or landing, often without too much seriousness for the pilot, which was not the case for combat accidents where many pilots died ...

The last Bearcat were returned to the United States either delivered to Vietnam or Thailand in late July 1956.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
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