Grumman F2F

The Grumman F2F was a single-engine, biplane fighter aircraft with retractable undercarriage, serving as the standard fighter for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940. It was designed for both carrier- and land-based operations.

Design and development
Grumman's success with the two-seat FF-1, which was significantly faster than even the single-seat fighters of its time, resulted in a contract for the single-seat XF2F-1. Armed with two 0.30 in machine guns above the cowl, the new design also incorporated watertight compartments to reduce weight and improve survivability in the event of a water landing. The prototype first flew on 18 October 1933, equipped with the experimental 625 hp XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, and reached a top speed of 229 mph at 8400 ft – 22 mph faster than the FF-1 at the same altitude. Maneuverability also proved superior to the earlier two-seat aircraft.

Operational history
The Navy ordered 54 F2F-1 fighters on 17 May 1934, with the first aircraft delivered 19 January 1935. One additional aircraft (BuNo 9997) was ordered to replace one which crashed on 16 March 1935, bringing the total to 55, with the final F2F-1 delivered on 2 August 1935. The F2F-1 had a relatively long service life for the time, serving in front-line squadrons from 1935 to late 1939, when squadrons began to receive the F3F-3 as a replacement. By September 1940, the F2F had been completely replaced in fighter squadrons and was relegated to training and utility duties. The last F2F-1s were stricken from the list of naval aircraft in early 1943.

Variants

 * XF2F-1
 * United States Navy designation for the Grumman Model G-8 prototype with a 625 hp XR-1534-44 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, one built


 * F2F-1
 * Production variant with a 700 hp R-1535-72 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, 55 built

Operators

 * United States Navy
 * VF-2B
 * VF-3B
 * VF-5B
 * VB-5B
 * VF-2
 * VF-5
 * VF-7
 * NAS Seattle
 * NAS Coco Solo
 * NAS Alameda
 * NAS Pearl Harbor
 * United States Marine Corps
 * VF-4M
 * VMF-2
 * VMF-2