SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The FM-2 (Grumman version?) shows up sooner?Interesting to get reminded of the woes of such planes as SB2C, F4U, the Brewsters etc. One can draw a parallel between the SB2C and the D4Y, both flew in late 1940, both experienced serious issues (aiui D4Y had flutter problems as well as engine issues typical of the japanese DB copies), and both only entered fleet service in late 1943. Though the D4Y was used as a fast scout as early as mid-1942.
The americans must be thaking their lucky stars for Grumman, if things went as bad with the TBF and F6F, they would have had to still fly F4F-4s (though possibly they would fly the F4U regardless of the poor carrier handling characteristics at the time) and TBDs (if there were any left, OR having to restart production) off the Essexes in 1943!