The weights I quoted are from the USN SAC data = 7556lb and 7975lb. I don't doubt that an F4F-3 without armour, SS tanks, and maybe a partial fuel and ammo load could be pared down considerably but this is hardly a fair comparison.
Even the Aug 1941 spec for the F4F-3 states 7432lb (but these weights increased) for the overload fighter while the March 1942 production inspection of F4F-4 #4058 states 7921lb for the overload fighter and by Oct 1942 these weights had increased to 7975lb.
The Aug 1941 spec for the F4F-3 at 7432lb states 336mph (which, in fact seems like a typo and should probably read 326) while the March 1942 production inspection of the F4F-4 #4508 at 7370lb states 319mph based on flight testing.
While the Vmax speeds show the F4F-4 as 17mph slower at a lighter weight than the F4F-3, the difference in climb rates is far more dramatic:
Time to 20K ft:
F4F-3 at 7432lb = 8.4min
F4F-4 at 7370lb = 11min
F4F-4 at 7426lb = 12.7min ( from the The Oct 1942 Spec for the F4F-4)
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