M*U*L*E Killers

摘要

While the Korean conflict heralded the dominance of jets, piston-engined types still had an important role to play. World War Two veterans such as the P-51 Mustang and the B-29 Superfortress found new life, while other aircraft -such as the Tigercat - went into action for the first time. Grumman's sleek twin was a contender in two of the most improbable clashes of the Korean war. The Tigercat's four 20mm cannon, two 2,100hp (l,566kW) 14-cylinder radials providing a top speed of 460mph (740km/h) were pitted against a biplane packing a hand-held machine gun and a 100hp five-cylinder radial producing just shy of 100mph. When the F7F Tigercat was conceived in 1941, intercepting ancient biplanes was not a requirement. It was intended as a long-range bomber escort with ground-attack capabilities. The prototype first flew in December 1943, but the big twin didn't see active service during World War Two. Examples were being shipped to the Japanese island of Okinawa when hostilities ended. Tigercats were destined to return to Japan five years later.