F4F-3's

[wpurdom]

F4F-3's were significantly less easy to pack on carriers - the F4F-4 was the plane with the fold-along-the side wings that took up so little space and allowed one to hang planes on top of others. On the other hand the pilots thought the 3 was a significantly better plane. Will there be any reflection of these differences. If one didn't want to handle two plane types, one could increase the capacity of US CV's after the 4's come on line.

[mdiehl]

I've never heard that claim about the preference for the F4F-3 over the F4F-4. Can you provide a source?

[CynicAl]

I'm pretty sure it's in Lundstrom, mdiehl - probably the first First Team. The big problem was that the wing-folding mechanism added weight. So did the additional armor, and the self-sealing tanks. So did the change to six guns (even with the reduced ammo load). As a result the F4F-4 was noticeably heavier than the F4F-3 had been, with reduced performance across the board. US pilots also weren't thrilled with the new armament - they much preferred the 4 X .50" with 450rpg of the F4F-3 to the 6 X .50" with 240rpg of the F4F-4. (And they griped long and loud enough about that one that nearly all the GM-built Wildcats carried the original armament.)

[wpurdom]

I was out of town, but CynicAl answered for me. I get the impression from Lundstrom (though he doesn't state it outright) that after Flatley made out his case for the F4F-4, the pilots became reconciled to the greater weight of the folding wings (given the ability to carry more planes), but they never became reconciled to the greater weight and lower ammo of the 3rd pair of guns.

[showboat1]

If you read Stafford's "The Big E" he points out that many of the Wildcat pilots were not enthusiastic bout wings that folded back. Also I read in the history of VMF-214 during the pre-Black Sheep days (when they were the Swashbucklers) that the pilots weren't excited about the added firepower of two new .50's. I believe it was the fact that it lightened the ammo load carried per gun and didn't allow them to fire long bursts. I guess people hate to be conservative.