Hellcat

The F6F Grumman Hellcat was developed for the US Navy as a carrier-based fighter after the outbreak of war in the Pacific theater during World War Two. The earlier F4F Wildcat design had several weaknesses that made it less effective against the Japanese Zero. While the Wildcat was tougher and slightly faster on a straight course than the Zero, the Zero had far greater maneuverability, making it extremely difficult for Wildcats to beat Zeroes in a dogfight.

The Hellcat was essentially an improvement on the Wildcat design concept, using a larger engine and sturdier airframe to improve on the Wildcat's strengths. In the process, it also became roughly as maneuverable as the Zero, allowing US Navy and Marine pilots to engage Zeroes on roughly equal terms.