Not to be outdone in the armaments department, the lengthy and strong wingspan of the Tigercat came into value when considering the multi-role possibilities of this large fighter. The span stemming from each wing root to each engine nacelle provided just enough of an area for mounting external munitions. This would come in the form of 2 x 1,000lbs conventional drop bombs. Additionally, these munitions could be substituted for a single torpedo running along the centerline of the fuselage for anti-ship sorties. At any rate, the Tigercat was a system that could be valued for its inherent adaptability to what the operator and mission required.
Despite these obvious strengths, the World War 2-era fighter design appeared when there was no more war to fight. As such, the Tigercat was designed in only a handful of major variants, with total production of all types numbering just 365 examples. Thirty-four of the F7F-1 initial production fighter-bombers were constructed, these being fitted with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W series radial piston engines. This fighter-bomber form was then spawned into a specialized single-seat nightfighter equipped with the APS-6 series radar system.
The series then evolved by way of the XF7F-2N nightfighter prototype, of which only one was constructed, becoming the F7F-2N two-seat nightfighter production aircraft built in 65 examples. These aircraft essentially stemmed from the original batch of F7F-1 production models but the changes to dual-cockpits (the rear housed the radar operator) occurring on the 35th aircraft and onwards. These were similar to the F7F-1 models but were easily differentiated by their loss of a fuel tank for the applicable radar equipment and a rear radar operator cockpit position.
The F7F-3 enjoyed the farthest reach of all Tigercat models beginning with the "improved" F7F-3 single-seat fighter-bomber produced to the tune of 189 aircraft. The F7F-3 was essentially an attempt on Grumman's part to rectify the issues that forced the Tigercat to fail its initial carrier acceptance trials. This new Tigercat saw its engines updated to the improved Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radials. These new engines allowed for better higher-altitude performance while the addition of fuel tanks improved range. The vertical tail fin was enlarged as well while armament was limited to 4 x 20mm cannons (the 12.7mm machine gun armament was dropped). Despite these changes, the F7F-3 flunked her carrier acceptance trials as well, this time due to a wing failure. Life went on for the production F7F-3's, however, as these Tigercats were spawned into at least 60 production F7F-3N two-seat night-fighters (with noses containing radar, sans machine gun armament) and 4 x 20mm cannons. The F7F-3 also appeared in small batches of F7F-3E electronic warfare aircraft and F7F-3P photo-reconnaissance platforms. The F7F-3's, as a whole, enjoyed top speeds of 435 miles per hour. Range was listed at 1,200 miles with a service ceiling of 40,700 feet. Fully-loaded, the Tigercat F7F-3 series weighed in at 25,775lbs.
The only Tigercat eventually cleared for carrier operations was the final production F7F-4N nightfighter model series. These aircraft were highly revised and afforded other "carrier-friendly" equipment and design elements while keeping the nose assemblies of the F7F-3 series intact. Airframe reinforcement were also given attention to prepare the bird for the rigors of carrier operations. However, only 12 (some sources state 13) of this type were produced and used by the United States Navy. The F7F-4 series offered up top speeds of 460 miles per hour with ranges approximately 1,200 miles. A reported service ceiling of 40,400 feet was complimented by a 4,530 feet-per-minute rate-of-climb.
As stated above, the Tigercat missed out on combat in World War 2, but the upcoming crisis on the Korean Peninsula made sure the new USMC aircraft would play a role. In fact, USMC elements of the VMF(N)-513 were already stationed in Japan when fighting broke out between the North and South Koreas. These Tigercat night-fighters were pressed into service, conducting night-intruder operations as needed. Beyond this type of action, the Tigercat lineage had reached its end by 1954, to which the aircraft was retired from USMC service. A renewed (albeit limited) lease on life occurred over the next two decades, however, as Tigercats were utilized to combat forest fires in the western United States for a time. Very few preserved Tigercats exist today with even fewer in flyable condition.
As an aside, the F7F Tigercat was originally named "Tomcat" but this naming convention - and its negative connotations - was eventually dropped in favor of "Tigercat". The Tomcat name was resurrected (and forever related) in the future turbofan-powered Grumman F-14 Tomcat swing-wing, carrier-based interceptor some decades later.
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