F6F-3 with HVAR's

[Hoggardhigh]

According to page 92 of Barrett Tillman's Hellcat: The F6F in World War II, the first combat use of HVAR rockets by F6F's was by the F6F-5s of VF-13 aboard USS Franklin in July 1944 (which was also the combat debut of the "dash five" Hellcat).

And yet, page 21 of the same book indicates that the last 953 F6F-3s (beginning with BuNo. 42185) also featured HVAR capability.

Any explanation for this would be appreciated.

 

[MIflyer]

And yet, page 21 of the same book indicates that the last 953 F6F-3s (beginning with BuNo. 42185) also featured HVAR capability.

Only limited numbers of HVAR were available at first. In fact, the USAAF managed to get the USN to provide some HVAR for installation on P-47's that were used for ground attack missions shortly after the 6 Jun 1944 invasion of Normandy. The P-47 units ran out of the HVAR, which has caused some people to conclude they were not successful, because they obviously were "phased out" when in fact they simply ran out. So, in mid-1944 there were not that many HVAR to be had and the fact that the first deployed F6F-5 used HVAR makes sense, because they would have been sent out with the first F6F-5 unit. And it appears that the USAAF P-47 in the ETO may have used HVAR a few weeks before the USN.

 

[Hoggardhigh]

Only limited numbers of HVAR were available at first. In fact, the USAAF managed to get the USN to provide some HVAR for installation on P-47's that were used for ground attack missions shortly after the 6 Jun 1944 invasion of Normandy. The P-47 units ran out of the HVAR, which has caused some people to conclude they were not successful, because they obviously were "phased out" when in fact they simply ran out. So, in mid-1944 there were not that many HVAR to be had and the fact that the first deployed F6F-5 used HVAR makes sense, because they would have been sent out with the first F6F-5 unit. And it appears that the USAAF P-47 in the ETO may have used HVAR a few weeks before the USN.

That's not to say you disagree with Tillman's claim about the last 953 F6F-3's, is it?

 

[EwenS]

VF-13 on the Franklin swapped the F6F-3 that it had brought from the Atlantic, for new F6F-5 aircraft when it arrived at San Diego at the end of May 1944. This was the first Pacific carrier squadron to trade up to the new model. The next was VF-22 on the Independence when she completed her repairs and returned to action at the beginning of July.

There was a policy change in the USN in late 1943 as a result of which the number of spare airgroups and aircraft held in reserve across the supply chain needed to be increased. That was combined with a decision, for logistical reasons, that the Pacific Fleet carrier fighter squadrons would call be F6F equipped (other than a few F4U-2 night fighters). Then figure in all the aircraft needed for new carriers due to complete.

So for example, on 4 July 1944 in the Pacific Fleet there were 7 spare CV airgroups and 3 spare CVL airgroups all with F6F-3 while in the Atlantic there were another 7 CV (including 2 on newly completed carriers and 4 allocated to new carriers due to complete in the foreseeable future) and 4 CVL air groups in various stages of work up. Only the air group working up on Ticonderoga and a spare had the F6F-5.

So plenty of units to absorb those last 963 F6F-3 Hellcats.

Edit:- There were also a number of other air groups in the process of formation that had still to receive their first aircraft.

Priority for the new F6F-5 models was clearly being given to units joining or rejoining the Pacific Fleet or about to transfer to the Pacific.

 

[MIflyer]

That's not to say you disagree with Tillman's claim about the last 953 F6F-3's, is it?

No, I don't. The Zero Length launchers used with the 5 in HVAR were simple devices, so much so that they could be installed in P-47's in the field. Incorporating them in F6F-3 either on the production line or at a mod center/depot would be simple to do even before there were sufficient stocks of the rockets available to deploy them.

Attached photo shows a 5 inch HVAR installation on a F6F. As you can see it is pretty simple. By the way, the USN had 3 inch HVAR before the 5 inch.