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Republic P-47D/M/N Thunderbolt
More Republic P-47 Thunbderbolts were built than any other US fighter. The 'Jug', named for its bulky shape, was a monster of a machine, yet it was fast and manoeuvrable. The pilot had enormous power at his fingertips and knew that if his aircraft was hit by gunfire, he had an excellent chance of getting home safely. From the early XP-47B to the final P-47N, the 'T-bolt' was a real winner.
Never beautiful like the Spitfire, not as agile as the Bf 109, nor as long-legged as the P-51 Mustang, the big Republic P-47 Thunderbolt nevertheless was one of the most successful and best-loved fighters of all time. With its huge R-2800 engine driving a colossal 3.71 m (12 ft) propeller, the Thunderbolt was well suited to long-distance escort operations. With its ability to haul bombs and absorb punishment, it was equally well suited to ground attack.
The P-47 is remembered for ranging over European skies, where aces like those of Colonel Hubert 'Hub' Zemke's 56th Fighter Group valiantly fought the Luftwaffe. But the 'Jug' was widely used elsewhere. Among Allied forces during World War II, Thunderbolts were flown by the Brazilian, British, French, Mexican and Russian pilots. The long-range P-47N fought in the Pacific, where it was a potent weapon against the Japanese. Another service variant was the 'hot-rod' P-47M, which was quickly produced in the summer of 1944 to counter the V-1 flying bombs.
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While the P-47 will always be remembered as an escort fighter, the beefy warplane was perhaps even more effective as a fighter-bomber. |
The P-47N was the ultimate Thunderbolt. It had an immensely powerful engine which made it the fastest piston-engined fighter in the world and had increased fuel capacity to enable it to accompany B-29 bombers over the Pacific. |
The P-47 was an excellent fighter, but gained its legendary reputation flying hard-hitting ground-attack missions. |
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Republic P-47D/M/N Thunderbolt (Technical Specification) |
Role |
Single-seat fighter and fighter bomber |
Manufacturer |
Republic |
Maximum Speed |
697 kmh (430 mph) |
Maximum Range |
3000 km (1,860 miles) |
Ceiling |
13,000 meters (42,000 feet) |
Weight Empty Maximum Takeoff |
4,853 kg (10,660 lbs) 7,938 kg (17,500 lbs) |
Dimensions Wingspan Length Height Wing Area |
12.42 meters (40 ft 9 in) 11.02 meters (36 ft 2 in) 4.30 meters (14 ft 2 in) 27.87 square meters (300 sq ft) |
Engines |
One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial engine which provides 1715-kW (2,535 hp) |
Armament |
Eight 12.77 mm (0.50 cal) Browning M2 machine-guns with 267 to 500 rounds
Maximum external load of 1134 kg (2,500 lbs) including bombs, napalm or eight rockets
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