Grumman F6F-3 “Hellcat”. Leyte 1944 - the American deck fighter

On October 17, 1944 US Army units landed on the small island of Sulaunos in the Leyte Gulf. Since this islet was of no strategic importance, and nothing more happened, than the next and the next day, the Japanese did not take these actions seriously and did nothing to strengthen the defenses. On October 20 the main forces of the 6th Army were landed on the island of Leyte in the Paolo - Tanauano and San - Jose - Dulag regions: the 10th Army Corps, consisting of the 1st and 24th Infantry Divisions, and the 24th Army Corps, consisting of the 7th and 96th Infantry Divisions. They were opposed only by the Japanese 16th Division, which, of course, could not hold back the attacking US units. Realizing that it was here that the main blow was directed, the Japanese commanders urgently began to transfer the 1st, 23rd and 26th divisions of the 41st Army from Luzon Island. At the end of November, the Americans occupied almost the entire eastern and southeastern part of the island, their divisions reached Karigar Bay in the north, Ormoc Bay in the south. The Japanese units, transferred from Luzon, entered the battle directly from the transport ships, without even having time to properly entrench themselves and build any defensive fortifications. They were quickly crushed. In mid-December the US additionally landed the 11th, 32nd and 77th Infantry Divisions at the Leyte Salon. Opposing them, the 16th Division was unable to stop them, despite being supported by units of the 1st and 26th Divisions, and continued to retreat. On December 21 the Americans captured Ormoc, so the Japanese lost the opportunity to land reinforcements on the island of Leyte. At the end of December the island was completely occupied by the Americans. Grumman F6F “Hellcat” - US WW2 deck fighter. It was a deep modernization of the Grumman F4F “Wildcat” fighter. In June 1941 the US Navy signed a contract with “Grumman” for the fundamental modernization of this fighter. But on the basis of the contract, an almost completely new fighter was created with a completely new fuselage, undercarriage structure and a new, more powerful engine. The F6F began production in January 1943. The first combat flight was made in August 1943. Controlling the “Hellcat” was very easy and the fighter itself was forgiving of even gross piloting mistakes. According to US figures, “Hellcat” pilots shot down 5,156 enemy aircraft during the two years of the war - more than “Corsaire”, “Lightning” and “Wildcat” pilots combined. “Hellcats” were flown by 306 US pilots - aces, including such celebrities as David McCampbell - the US's most successful fighter pilot. A total of 12,275 fighters were produced, of which 1,263 were transferred to the British RAF.

A moderately complex, but well designed and richly detailed model for modelers of all experience. The model of the engine, cabin interior, chassis niches and the chassis itself, hanging weapons are perfectly restored. The model recreates the fighter of the US aircraft carrier USS “Princeton”, which participated in the 1944 Battle of Leyte Island (liberation of the Philippines). But for modelers with little experience and beginners, it is also possible to glue this model together without much trouble, but You should work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague and make a simplified model of the engine, make the cockpit cover opaque, do not make the interior of the cockpit, make the chassis in the flight configuration - included - and do not make the hanging weapons