Historical Note

The F9F Panther was the first Grumman jet fighter to enter service with the U.S. Navy. It grew out of a carrier-based night fighter project that lost its competition, ultimately evolving into a light single-seat fighter with a straight wing. The F9F-5 was the most-produced variant of the “Panther”, powered by the more potent Pratt & Whitney J48 engine. More than six hundred were built before production ended in 1952.

During the Korean War, the Panther family formed the core of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ jet strike force, flying approximately 78,000 sorties in total. The F9F-5 is tied to one of the most dramatic episodes of that conflict: on November 18, 1952, Lieutenant Royce Williams of USS Oriskany fought a half-hour engagement against seven Soviet MiG-15s and, by some accounts, shot down three of them – landing his badly damaged aircraft back on the carrier deck regardless. Future astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn also flew the F9F-5 during that war. Afterward, the type served with the Blue Angels flight demonstration team, before the last “Panthers” ended their careers as radio-controlled target drones, yielding the skies to the F9F Cougar.

F9F-5 (Rank IX)

Brief Analysis

• Strengths: High speed at low altitude, powerful forward-firing armament, excellent maneuverability for a jet, and an extensive suspended ordnance arsenal.
• Weaknesses: Climb rate and acceleration fall short of later jet fighters.
• Role in battle: A versatile strike fighter – formidable in turn fights and equally effective against ground targets.

In battle

The upcoming update brings American aviation enthusiasts the most advanced and most numerous variant of the legendary carrier-based fighter – the F9F-5 “Panther”. Its engine is noticeably more powerful than that of the F9F-2 already familiar to experienced pilots, delivering far brisker acceleration and genuine confidence at low altitude, where the aircraft builds speed to nearly 1,000 km/h – a more than respectable figure for a straight-wing jet.

As on earlier variants, the F9F-5 features a strong wing with extensive high-lift devices, granting it excellent maneuverability for a jet. At low and medium altitudes, the “Panther” can force a turning engagement on almost any early jet fighter. Keep in mind, however, that every sharp turn bleeds precious speed – so it pays not to over-maneuver.

Forward-firing armament is another of the aircraft’s strengths: four 20 mm M3 cannons with an impressive combined total of 760 rounds, grouped in a battery in the forward fuselage. The F9F-5’s salvo is dense enough to engage targets at ranges that push the limits of many other aircraft. A pair of accurate bursts will tear apart an enemy aircraft just as readily as light ground vehicles.

An American carrier-based aircraft always brings an extensive suspended arsenal as well. Beneath the wings of the F9F-5 you can mount HVAR unguided rockets and bombs ranging from 100 lb lightweights to hefty 1,000 lb heavyweights – up to one and a half tonnes of payload in total. Under a full load, the aircraft loses some agility: acceleration becomes more sluggish and top speed drops. Once the bombs are away, however, the “Panther” reverts to a full-fledged fighter, ready to re-enter the air combat.

The F9F-5 is as versatile as a carrier-based strike fighter should be – though there is little point in contesting the fastest machines at Rank IX on their own terms of speed and acceleration. The “Panther;s” natural domain is the maneuver, the precise burst, and the surprise attack. Dive to attack, fire in short bursts, and confidently accept turning engagements while your suspended ordnance reloads. Good luck in the skies!

Premium ♠F9F-5♠︎ (Rank IX)

The Premium variant is an extra aircraft for your roster! The premium warplane maintains the same performance as the standard variant, though it comes in a unique camouflage. With this premium warplane you’ll be able to enjoy faster Silver Lion and Research Point gains, and earn some Golden Eagles in your battles.

If you’re lucky enough to unlock both the premium and the standard variants, you will be able to use them both in the same battle!

* Vehicle specifications and camouflages are still a work in progress and may change upon release.

The F9F-5 (Rank IX) arrives in War Thunder Mobile (WTM) in the “Battle Allies” seasonal update.