F6F地獄貓,是二次世界大戰服役於美國海軍的艦載戰鬥機。F6F在外觀上與格魯曼為美國海軍設計的前代主力戰機F4F野貓式高度類似,故此也被戲稱為「野貓的大哥」(Wildcat's big brother)[3],然而F6F實為全新設計[4],較F4F更加先進。地獄貓研製初是與錢斯沃特研製的F4U海盜式戰鬥機爭奪海軍艦載機主角,F6F只是F4U的替代預案,但F4U服役後發現嚴重的艦載機落艦問題,到戰爭末期才完全解決著艦安全性問題,因此作為預案的地獄貓趁機逆勢而起,成為1943年後美軍艦載戰鬥機主力機種。字面的意思是來自地獄的貓,美國俚語則是壞女人(貓性)。
從1938年起,格魯曼就已經開始為F4F研發後續機種。雖然美軍下一代主力艦載機競標由錢斯沃特拿下,但格魯曼仍在1941年6月30日和美國海軍簽下XF6F-1樣機製造合同。XF6F-1為一架配備14汽缸R-2600發動機(輸出功率1,700匹馬力)搭配寇蒂斯製三葉電動螺旋槳、[9]繼承野貓架構的手搖式起落架,改良較為有限的野貓升級型;但日軍偷襲珍珠港後XF6F-1規格也隨之調整,里洛易·格魯曼率領他公司底下主設計工程主任比爾·舒溫德(Bill Schwendler)、杰克·斯沃巴尔(英语:Jake Swirbul)和美國海軍航空署(英语:Bureau of Aeronautics)(BuAer)聯繫,希望能取得更多F4F飛官實戰經驗回饋,[10]讓新飛機能夠符合作戰需求。[11]美國海軍在1942年4月22日安排後來的美軍海航王牌飛行員愛德華·歐海爾到格魯曼工廠和團隊工程師回饋F4F和零戰交火之經驗歸納。實戰情況顯示:縱使F4F結構上比零式戰鬥機更強,能夠承受更多攻擊,俯衝時的加速率亦較之為高(美軍飛行員往往依賴這優勢而俯衝改出,避開零戰的攻擊),但在機動性與操縱性能,以及爬升率上卻未有優勢。
^ Donald, David, ed. American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.
書目
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Barber, S.B. Naval Aviation Combat Statistics: World War II, OPNAV-P-23V No. A129. Washington, DC: Air Branch, Office of Naval Intelligence, 1946.
Bridgman, Leonard, ed. “The Grumman Hellcat.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
Brown, Eric, CBE, DCS, AFC, RN., William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "Grumman Hellcat". Wings of the Navy, Flying Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War Two. London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1980, pp. 167–176. ISBN 0-7106-0002-X.
Dann, Lcdr. Richard S. USNR. F6F Hellcat Walk Around. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1996. ISBN 0-89747-362-0.
Dean, Francis H. America's Hundred Thousand. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-7643-0072-5.
Drendel, Lou. "Grumman F6F Hellcat". U.S. Navy Carrier Fighters of World War II. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1987, pp. 45–68. ISBN 0-89747-194-6.
Green, William. Famous Fighters of the Second World War. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1975. ISBN 0-385-12395-7.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Grumman F6F Hellcat". WW2 Fact Files: US Navy and Marine Corps Fighters. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1976, pp. 47–56. ISBN 0-356-08222-9.
Hill, Richard M. Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat in USN-USMC-FAA-Aeronavale & Uruguayan Service. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publications Ltd., 1971. ISBN 1-85045-023-3.
Jarski, Adam and Waldemar Pajdosz. F6F Hellcat (Monografie Lotnicze 15)(in Polish). Gdańsk, Poland: AJ-Press, 1994. ISBN 83-86208-05-8.
Kinzey, Bert. F6F Hellcat in detail and scale(D&S Vol.26). Shrewsbury, UK: AirLife Publishing Ltd., 1987. ISBN 1-85310-603-8.
Kinzey, Bert. F6F Hellcat in detail and scale(D&S Vol.49). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1996. ISBN 1-888974-00-1.
Kit, Mister and Jean-Pierre De Cock. F6F Hellcat(in French). Paris, France: Éditions Atlas s.a., 1981.
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Mendenhall, Charles A. Wildcats & Hellcats: Gallant Grummans in World War II. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1984. ISBN 0-87938-177-9.
O'Leary, Michael. "Hellcat". United States Naval Fighters of World War II in Action. Poole, Dorset, UK: Blandford Press, 1980, pp. 67–96. ISBN 0-7137-0956-1.
Sullivan, Jim. F6F Hellcat in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1979. ISBN 0-89747-088-5.
Taylor, John W.R. "Grumman F6F Hellcat." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, Fourth Edition. London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
Tillman, Barrett. Hellcat: the F6F in World War II. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1979. ISBN 0-87021-265-6.
Tillman, Barrett. Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Aerospace, 1996. ISBN 1-85532-596-9.
Winchester, Jim, ed. "Grumman F6F Hellcat." Aircraft of World War II. Rochester, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-639-1.
Zbiegniewski, Andre R. Grumman F6F Hellcat(Kagero Monografie No.10)(Bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. ISBN 83-89088-49-5.