In October 1942, just six months after the first flight of the experimental XF6F-3, the first serial F6F-3 took to the air. The main external differences of the F6F-3 from the prototype was the optimization of bulky fairings of the retractable landing gear, propeller replacement and a larger propeller spinner, among the smaller differences were changes in the fairing and exhaust holes. A few small, characteristic of the early versions of the deficiencies have been removed and 16 January 1943 Grumman has provided the U.S. Navy the first "Hellcat". By the end of 1943 provided more than 2,500 aircraft. The early F6F-3s used the R2800-10, while the later versions were equipped with the more powerful R2800-10W with water injection. As with the prototype, the armament was 6 12.7 mm machine guns. Production stopped in April 1944, after the production of 4,402 aircraft. Under the lend-lease program, the US provided the UK Navy with 252 F6F-3.
