F4f comparisons

[m10bob]

This narrative states how Jimmy Thatch felt about the change from the F4f3 to the F4f4, and why the FM2 was a better plane (continued in service till the wars' end).: http://rwebs.net/dispatch/output.asp?ArticleID=22

[ChezDaJez]

The main differences between the F4F-3 and the F4F-4 was the addition or armor plate, self-sealing tanks and 6 .50 cal MGs to the -4. The F4F-3 had neither self sealing fuel tanks or armor plating from the factory. Many units did fashion their own "boiler" plate however.

All that extra weight impacted the the -4's performance significantly. The -4's sustained rate of climb was less than 1000 fpm. That's why early warning was so important at Henderson Field. They needed lots of time to get to altitude.

The FM-2 had a more powerful engine that made up for the increased weight.

As a side note, Enterprise's VF-6 started the war flying F4F-3a Wildcats which lacked superchargers, armor plate, self sealing tanks and gunsights. Their performance above 15K was very poor... even worse than the early Allison-equipped P-39s.

Chez