Initially Grumman were developing a new Bi-plane, the G16 (XF4F-1). However, the U.S. Navy favoured a monoplane design and ordered the Brewster F2A-1 in early 1936.
Grumman realised that to compete with the Brewster F2A-1 they would have to design their own monoplane, so the G16 was abandoned and a new monoplane fighter was designed, the XF4F-3.
The XF4F-3 monoplane was tested and after the disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn, it led to an order being placed which was completed in February 1940.
PRODUCTION
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was produced from 1940 to 1945, with 7,885 manufactured.
ARMAMENT
6 x Browning 0.5” machine guns
200 lb (91 kg) bomb load.
The Wildcat began service with the U.S. Navy in 1940.
The Wildcat continued to be built throughout the remainder of the war to serve on escort carriers, where larger and heavier fighters could not be used.
The Wildcat was slower than the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, however its ruggedness and use of altitude advantage gave a combat kill ration of around 7:1 during WWII.
