Why the US Navy’s F7F Tigercat Became WWII’s Forgotten Fighter

A Bold New Design

During the Second World War, the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company created some of the United States Navy’s most successful carrier fighters. Planes like the F4F Wildcat and the F6F Hellcat became well known for their service in the Pacific. Yet in the middle of the conflict, Grumman began work on a different kind of aircraft—a twin-engine fighter with the speed and firepower to replace every other carrier plane in service. This ambitious project became the F7F Tigercat.

The concept began in 1941, the same year the United States entered the war. Engineers wanted a fighter that could operate from carriers but perform well enough to handle almost any mission. By 1943 the prototype was flying, and early tests were promising. The Tigercat reached a top speed of about 435 miles per hour, or roughly 700 kilometers per hour, making it one of the fastest piston-engine fighters of the war. Naval test pilot Captain Fred Trapnell called it the best aircraft he had ever flown. Its twin engines gave it both speed and power, while its design allowed for sharp maneuvers unusual for such a large plane.

Built for Heavy Firepower

The Navy expected more than just speed. Lessons from Europe showed that fighters needed stronger weapons to stop well-armored opponents. German aircraft carrying heavy cannons had torn through Allied planes, so the Tigercat was planned with impressive armament. Engineers fitted four 20-millimeter cannons in the nose and added four .50-caliber machine guns in the wings. It could also carry bombs or even torpedoes, giving it a role in both air combat and ground attack.

This strength created problems. All those weapons and the twin engines made the aircraft heavy. Landing on a moving carrier deck required low speed and steady control, but the Tigercat’s high landing speed and tricky handling on one engine made carrier tests difficult. Trials showed poor directional stability when only one engine was running. Despite modifications, it failed to meet the strict standards for safe carrier operations.

From Carrier Dream to Land Base

Because of these challenges, the Navy shifted the aircraft to land-based squadrons. Production continued, but the Tigercat missed the Second World War. When Japan surrendered in 1945, two squadrons were still in training and never saw combat. The timing meant that the plane, designed as a wartime replacement for the Hellcat, entered service too late to prove itself in its original role.

Even so, the Tigercat did not disappear. When the Korean War began in 1950, the aircraft found a new purpose. It flew night fighter missions, attacked enemy supply convoys, and provided close support for ground troops. Pilots praised its speed and heavy guns, which made it effective in low-light operations. It also carried out reconnaissance flights, gathering information over contested areas.

Overshadowed by the Jet Age

The arrival of jet fighters soon limited the Tigercat’s career. Jets could climb faster and fly higher, making piston-engine designs less valuable. Although a later version of the Tigercat finally met carrier standards, the Navy had already moved on to jet aircraft for its decks.

For the pilots who flew it, the Tigercat remained a favorite. They admired its power and the confidence it inspired, even if it never fulfilled the grand plan of replacing all carrier fighters. Today, it stands as a reminder of a daring design that came too late for the war it was built to fight.