Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
According to The First Team, the F4F-3 pilots at Coral Sea didn't think they gave up anything in climb or speed and had better protection and firepower (I was surprised by this but that's what the book said). The F4F-4 gained several hundred pounds, couldn't climb, was slower etc. If I had been a Wildcat pilot at Guadalcanal and they told me "if a Zero gets on your tail just jink up and down until he runs out of bullets or someone shoots him off your tail" I would have asked for a transfer!!!The other problem with the advantages/disadvantages listings is that it doesn't specify a timeframe. In late 41/early 42 the Wildcat didn't have armour or self-sealing tanks (at least not at front-line units). Similarly, the A6M was eventually fitted with armour and self-sealing tanks.
Which version of the Wildcat is being compared with which variant of Zero, and when?
It shows that but this is a lot lower than the almost 6:1 believed to be the victory ratio against the Zero.Counting only Zeroes, that's a 14:10 ratio (or 1.3:1, which is a figure I came across and cited earlier). Meaning that in terms of simple effectiveness, the Wildcat was at least as good as the Zero.
The 6:1 figure is claimed to be the ratio by the end of the Guadalcanal campaign. Without an explicit statement to the contrary, I assume that means the ratio during those later days, meaning maybe a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio overall. But my assumption may be mistaken.It shows that but this is a lot lower than the almost 6:1 believed to be the victory ratio against the Zero.
But I still think that's against ALL aircraft, not just Zeros.The 6:1 figure is claimed to be the ratio by the end of the Guadalcanal campaign. Without an explicit statement to the contrary, I assume that means the ratio during those later days, meaning maybe a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio overall. But my assumption may be mistaken.
the difference was several years.The other problem with the advantages/disadvantages listings is that it doesn't specify a timeframe. In late 41/early 42 the Wildcat didn't have armour or self-sealing tanks (at least not at front-line units). Similarly, the A6M was eventually fitted with armour and self-sealing tanks.
Which version of the Wildcat is being compared with which variant of Zero, and when?
the overall ratio in the Guadalcanal campaign, and i've already posted it, it's 1.1:1 in the Zero:WildcatThe 6:1 figure is claimed to be the ratio by the end of the Guadalcanal campaign. Without an explicit statement to the contrary, I assume that means the ratio during those later days, meaning maybe a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio overall. But my assumption may be mistaken.
The A6M2 used a single speed supercharger with best power just under 15,000ft.
I personally don't think you are going to get much, if any, over boost at higher altitudes than that although it may work at lower altitudes.
The 2 speed supercharger offers more scope for overboosting.
With over 150 more HP it didn't seem to offer much improved performance but that may be due to the test pilots not using the over boost
None of these engines used water injection like later Zeros got and none of them used much in the way of exhaust thrust.
Every aircraft will have a DO NOT EXCEED speed, to include an F4F. It is shown in flight manuals as VNE and is usually indicted as a red line on airspeed indicators. It is the speed at which structural damage to the airframe can occur if abrupt maneuvers are attempted or if flown in turbulent air. Even though we know the F4F was built like a tank, given the right circumstances, you can bend or break the airframe.I have become more aware of the DO NOT EXCEED speed. I probably first heard of it when reading about the P-38. Greg, of Greg's Planes, Trains and Automobiles or Something, brought up that the F4F didn't have a "do not exceed" speed. I assume that's because so much of the Wildcat's structure was of railway bridge components.
All I can do is quote a source that appears to be reliable. If it isn't reliable, or if he said "Zero" but meant "all Japanese planes," that's a different story. But here it is again:But I still think that's against ALL aircraft, not just Zeros.
A distinguished career, but I'd prefer to see the actual combat reports bounced against data from the Japanese. I think a source like "The First Team" is more reliable.All I can do is quote a source that appears to be reliable. If it isn't reliable, or if he said "Zero" but meant "all Japanese planes," that's a different story. But here it is again:
"By the end of the Battle for Guadalcanal on February 3rd, 1943, records show that Navy and Marine Corps aviators shot down 5.9 Zeros for every Wildcat lost. When the Japanese surrendered in September 1945, the Wildcat to Zero exchange ratio had increased to 6.9 to one."
He very specifically says "Wildcat" and "Zeroes." But he does not say whether the ratios are supposed to be for that specific time period, or cumulative up to that point (which would make the "time period" ratios even higher to balance out the lower ratios early in the war). As I stated earlier, I am assuming he means for that particular time period.
Wildcat vs. Zero – Resetting the Record
Conventional wisdom says that the performance of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen (Zero) was far superior to the Grumman F4F Wildcat. However, if that is truly the cmarcliebman.com
Oh, I would love to see actual numbers from somewhere; I have a calculator and know how to use it!A distinguished career, but I'd prefer to see the actual combat reports bounced against data from the Japanese. I think a source like "The First Team" is more reliable.
This just in:I doubt that even Jimmy Thach could have figured out a way to beat Zeroes with Buffaloes. (I could be wrong, but that's my guess.)
I have become more aware of the DO NOT EXCEED speed. I probably first heard of it when reading about the P-38. Greg, of Greg's Planes, Trains and Automobiles or Something, brought up that the F4F didn't have a "do not exceed" speed. I assume that's because so much of the Wildcat's structure was of railway bridge components.
Now that I believe is trueThis just in:
It turns out (according to a Quora source that I kinda think probably is reliable) that the aircraft with the highest kill ratio of any WW2 plane is. . .the Buffalo! I did not know or even suspect that.
Of course that was against various Soviet planes, but still. . .the Buffalo?? Wow!
Oh, one caveat: the Buffalo is technically #2, because the actual #1 is the P-61 Black Widow, which shot down 127 aircraft to ZERO losses. But of course the radar-guided night fighter had a bit of an unfair advantage, giving the Buffalo the highest "real" ("fair") ratio.