Entering service with the United States Navy in February 1943, the F6F also equipped a number of Fleet Air Arm squadrons, and 12,272 had been built by the time production ended in November 1945. With the end of the Second World
War the aircraft's time in frontline service started to come to an end.
With the Grumman F4F Wildcat in operational service and feedback being received from pilots flying the type, Grumman set to work on an
improved aircraft, which would become the F6F. While the cosmetic appearance to its predecessor was obvious, a number of changes separated the two aircraft. One of these saw the Wildcat's mid-wing layout replaced with a
low-wing layout. After evaluating the new design, the United States Navy placed an order on the 30th June 1941 for two prototypes.
The XF6F-1 made its maiden flight on the 26th June 1942 and was powered by the 1,600-hp Wright R-2600-10 Cyclone 14 engine, it would then be fitted with a Wright R-2600-16 Cyclone engine and known as the XF6F-2. With the Pratt
& Whitney R-2800-21 engine being installed later on. Neither of these would enter production.
The XF6F-3, which was the second prototype, made its first flight on the 30th July 1942 and was the first of the type to enter production. Named the Hellcat, the F6F-3 was powered by the 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double
Wasp engine, it had a top speed of 376 mph, range of 1,090 miles and a service ceiling of 37,500 ft. Armament was six 0.50-in machine-guns and on the 3rd October 1942 the first production aircraft flew. Two night fighter
variants, the F6F-3E and F6F-3N were also produced. One F6F-3 would be fitted with the 2,100-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp engine, but this went no further than the prototype stage.
February 1943 would see the F6F-3 begin to equip United States Navy Squadron VF-9, stationed aboard USS Essex (CV-9), although it was VF-5 stationed aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10) which used the F6F-3 in combat
against the Japanese for the first time on the 31st August 1943.
The next, and only other variant to enter production, was the F6F-5, which flew for the first time on the 4th April 1944. Powered by the 2,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W engine, its top speed was 388 mph, range
1,530 miles with a service ceiling of 37,300 ft. Armament consisted of six 0.50-in machine-guns and either 2,000lb bombs or rocket projectiles.
The F6F would also serve with the Fleet Air Arm, with the F6F-3, known as the Gannet Mk I, before being renamed the Hellcat Mk I, and the F6F-5 known as the Hellcat Mk II. They would equip at least twelve FAA squadrons,
including No. 800 Naval Air Squadron who would be the first to use the type operationally when they undertook anti-shipping sorties
off Norway in December 1943. Although most of the FAA Hellcats would serve in the Far East with the British Pacific Fleet, two night fighter squadrons, No. 891 Naval Air Squadron and No. 892 Naval Air Squadron were equipped
with the Hellcat Mk NF.II, based on the F6F-5N, though these would not see service during the Second World War (1939 – 1945).
November 1945 saw production of the F6F end, with 12,272 built.
