Grumman F2F

The Grumman F2F was a single‑engine, carrier‑based fighter that entered service with the United States Navy in 1935. Developed from the earlier G‑23 prototype, the F2F was Grumman’s first aircraft to employ the company’s signature “Sto‑Wing” folding‑wing mechanism, allowing eight aircraft to be stored on a single deck‑space and giving the Navy a compact, high‑density air group. Powered by a 700 hp Wright R‑1820 radial engine, the aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 242 mph, a service ceiling of 24,500 ft and a range of 650 mi. Its all‑metal construction, enclosed cockpit, and provision for four .30‑in machine guns marked a substantial advance over the biplanes it replaced.

Only 149 F2Fs were built, but the type proved decisive in the interwar years, forming the backbone of fighter squadrons aboard carriers such as USS Lexington and USS Ranger. The aircraft’s robust handling and reliable performance gave Navy pilots confidence in carrier operations, paving the way for the more powerful monoplane fighters that followed, like the F4F Wildcat. The F2F therefore represents a critical transitional step, illustrating Grumman’s rapid maturation as a premier naval aircraft manufacturer and influencing carrier‑fighter design for the next decade.

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