Page 349 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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◀ SUPERMARINE SEAFIRE
Date 1943 Origin UK
Wingspan 36 ⁄4ft (11.23m)
3
Length 31 ⁄2ft (9.62m) CARRIER
1
Top speed 391mph (630kph)
Engine 1,850hp (1,379.5kW)
Rolls-Royce Griffon VI V-12 Three-bladed
constant-pitch
Spitfire’s original elliptical wing was The UK received a large number of carriers propeller
retained for all but the last Seafires and carrier aircraft from the US, but there
▼ MITSUBISHI A6M ZERO was a shortfall in the latter. This led to the
Date 1944 Origin Japan modification of the Spitfire—the Mark V,
to begin with—for shipborne operation.
1
Wingspan 39 ⁄4ft (12m) Glazed canopy gives an
all-round field of view
Length 29 ⁄4ft (9.06m)
3
Top speed 335mph (540kph)
Engine 1,130hp (842.6kW)
Nakajima NK1F Sakae 12 radial AND MARITIME STRIKE
Incontestably the best fighter aircraft
fielded by the imperial Japanese navy,
the A6M proved difficult to beat until
1943. It was given the codename
“Zeke” by the Allies.

20mm cannon

Undercarriage wheels set AIRCRAFT
Folding wingtips far apart for stability

Japanese navy markings

▶ GRUMMAN F6F HELLCAT Pilot sat high in fuselage,
Date 1944 Origin US protected by armor plate
3
Wingspan 42 ⁄4ft (13.06m) and bulletproof windshield
Length 33 ⁄2ft (10.24m)
1
Top speed 379mph (610kph)
Engine 2,200hp (1,640.5kW) Pratt &
Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp radial
The Hellcat looked enough like the Wildcat to
confuse the Japanese pilots it met, which was
unfortunate for them as it was an entirely new
design, with an extra 60mph (96.5kph) on its
top speed and acceleration to match. Each wing housed three
.5in machine-guns
Each wing housed two .5in machine-
guns or two 20mm cannon ◀ GRUMMAN F8F BEARCAT The last of the World War II
Date 1945 Origin US “Cats,” the F8F was 20 percent
lighter than the F6F Hellcat, and
3
Wingspan 35 ⁄4ft (10.92m)
even with the same power plant
Length 28 ⁄4ft (8.61m) (engine) climbed 30 percent
1
Top speed 422mph (680kph) faster and had an extra 40mph
(64.3kph) on its top speed.
Engine 2,400hp (1,789.6kW)
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W
Double Wasp radial
Wide-track undercarriage
to aid stability during Cockpit set well back to
take-off and landing improve pilot’s field of view
US Navy
▶ VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR The Corsair was undoubtedly the most markings
Date 1942 Origin US capable carrier-based fighter aircraft of
World War II, and also gave very good
Wingspan 41ft (12.5m) service as a fighter-bomber. A total
Length 33ft (10.1m) of 12,571 were produced between
Top speed 416mph (670kph) 1942 and 1953.
Engine 2,000hp (1,491.3kW) Pratt
& Whitney R-2800-8 radial