在F7F之前,格鲁曼曾研发过两款“护航战斗机”,XP-50(英语:Grumman XP-50)以及后继的XP-65。不过在1943年,因为F7F的原型机更受青睐,XP-65项目最终下马[1]。F7F原型机的设计合约于1941年6月30日签定,格鲁曼志在将这种战斗机设计成比当时所有战斗机表现更优秀、火力更强的型号。同时,格鲁曼也预备让这种战斗机具有一定的对地攻击能力[2]。F7F的武装由四门20毫米机炮以及四挺12.7毫米机枪组成,同时在机身以及翼下设置了航空炸弹和鱼雷的挂载点。该机机动性的表现同样符合设计方的预期,是当时机动性最好的活塞战斗机之一。在海平面,虎猫的最高时速比F6F地狱猫快大约71英里每小时(114千米每小时)[3]美国海军首席试飞员弗雷德里克·M·特拉普内尔(英语:Frederick M. Trapnell)曾评论道:“这(指F7F虎猫)是我飞过最棒的战斗机。”[4]。F7F最初计划命名为“雄猫”(Tomcat),但被美国海军航空署(英语:Bureau of Aeronautics)以该名暗示性过强为由驳回,改用现名。25年后,“雄猫”被格鲁曼公司用在了新型F-14战斗机上。[5]
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