Grumman Martlet Mk.I (export version F4F-3)

At the end of 1939 Grumman received a French order for 81 aircraft of model G-36A, to equip the new carriers Joffre and Painleve. The main reason for ordering the model G-36 was due to the unavailability for export of the two-stage supercharged engine of the F4F-3. The G-36A was powered by the nine-cylinder, single-row Wright Cyclone R-1820-G205A radial engine, of 1200hp. This was combined with a Hamilton Standard constant-speed propeller. The first deliveries featured highly polished, shiny propeller blades. The G-36A also had French instrumentation, radio, and gunsight. The throttle was modified to conform to French prewar practice: the throttle lever was moved towards the pilot to increase engine power. The armament too was French, six 75mm Darne guns being specified. The first G-36A was flown on 11 May 1940. None of the aircraft ever entered French service. After the defeat of France, all contracts were taken over by Britain. The throttle was modified again, four 0.50 inch guns were installed in the wings, and most traces of the original ownership removed. The Martlets were modified for British use by Blackburn, which continued to do this for all later marks. British gunsights, catapult spools, and other items were installed. After initial attempts to fit British radio sets, it was decided to use the much superior American equipment. The British Admiralty chose the name of Martlet Mk.I for this fighter. The first ones entered service in August 1940, with No 804 squadron, then stationed at Hatson in the Orkneys. The Martlet Mk.I did not have a wing folding mechanism, and was therefore only used from land bases.

The small fighter from Grumman was designed for carrier use and for land based operations. This resulted in some problems, especially with the soft, narrow-track undercarriage. There were problems with landing or taking off in a crosswind or when taking corners during fast taxying, because the Martlet Mk.I tended to roll on its undercarriage, enough to make a wing tip touch the ground. A 'Wing Tip Club' was formed at Haston. Of course these problems would not have been felt in carrier operations. RAF test pilots also had some other criticisms, especially related to the cockpit: Carbon monoxide leaked into the cockpit, there was a strong draught when the cockpit was opened, except at low speed, and there was no provision for the jettisoning of the canopy. Another problem was the lack of automatic boost control, which kept the pilot busy with adjustments. The manual retraction of the landing gear was probably disliked by all pilots who ever flew a Wildcat. The first combat of Grumman's little fighter took place on 25 December 1940, when two aircraft from No 804 squadron brought down a Ju 88A near Scapa Flow, the base of the Home Fleet.

GB Planes and Specifications