The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in World War II until 1954.

This F7F Tigercat History and Guide discusses all you need to know about the specific features and differences of its prototypes. Find the complete list here!

Less than 100 Tigercats were built after the war as night-fighters (F7F-3N and F7F-4N), electronic reconnaissance (F7F-3E) and photo-reconnaissance (F7F-3P) platforms, but higher-performance jet-powered airplanes soon replaced the Tigercat in the US Marine Corps.

Apr 2, 2019 · The F7F's design earned some historical distinction in becoming the world's first purpose-designed twin-engine, carrier-based fighter produced in quantity with a tricycle landing gear arrangement.

The Marine Corps preferred the firepower of the F7F for close air support: four 20 mm cannons and four .50 cal. machine guns, as well as underwing and under fuselage hard points for bombs and torpedoes.

F7F-3 Tigercat: Single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radial piston engines and featuring an enlarged tailfin for improved stability at high altitudes, 189 built.

The F7F-1 proved to have an impressive climb rate -- at low altitudes, it could outclimb an F6F Hellcat or F4U Corsair -- and was surprisingly agile for a machine of its size, one pilot claiming that he had entirely outflown a P-51D Mustang and a …

The specifications called for the engines to give the craft over 4,000 horsepower. It had to have twice the weight of fire of the F4F. The F4F-4 had six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns. The F7F made its first flight on November 2, 1943. Grumman built 500 F7F Tigercats. [i]

History of the Grumman F7F Tigercat The F7F Tigercat is another carrier-based development in Grumman's long series of fighter jets, called the Cat. The system was originally designed as a twin-engine fighter jet for off-deck use on the U.S. Navy's Midway-class aircraft carriers.

The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy, designed for the Midway class aircraft carriers.