United States' Republic P-47D, P-47G Thunderbolt fighter

Photos

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter:

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter:

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter "Miss Carriage":

Design

The wings had hardpoints to allow for ordnance and drop tanks to be carried.⁴

Internal fuel carrying capacity was increased.⁴

Prototype

Production

P-47D deliveries started in early 1943.⁴

80% of the P-47s produced were the D model.⁴

The P-47Ds were produced in Farmingdale, New York and Evansville, Indiana plants.⁴ The P-47G was identical to the P-47D but was constructed by Curtiss-Wright.⁴

• Republic P-47D:
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Corporation⁵

Variants

• Republic P-47D:
• Republic P-47D-25: Rear deck reduced and bubble canopy installed.^4,5
• Republic P-47K: First test flown in July 1943 using a Hawker Typhoon canopy.⁴

Usage

The P-47D was used by:

• Britain^4,5
  • Thunderbolt I ("Razorbacks"): 240⁴
  • Thunderbolt II (late models): 490⁴
  • Used primarily in South-East Asia starting in September 1944.⁴
• Brazil (50)⁴
  • Units operated in Italy and the Philippines.⁴
• France (446)⁴
• Mexico^4,5
  • Units operated in Italy and the Philippines.⁴
• Soviet Union⁵ (203)⁴
• United States^4,5

The P-47Ds used in Europe were more and more used as fighter bomber than escort fighters.⁴

Specifications

	Republic P-47D Thunderbolt1,4,5	Republic P-47D-252,3, Thunderbolt Mk II2,3
Type	Fighter1,5, Fighter bomber1,4	Fighter2,3
Crew	11,4,5	12,3
Engine (Type)	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp1,5, Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59/63 Double Wasp4	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 piston2,3
Cylinders	59: Radial 181,5 59/63: Radial 184	Radial2,3
Cooling	Air5
HP	59: 2,0005, 2,5351 59/63: 2,3004	2,3002,3
War emergency HP	59/63: 2,5354
Propeller blades	41,4
Dimensions
Span	40' 9"1,5, 40' 9.25"4 12.42 m1, 12.43 m4	40' 9.5"2,3 12.43 m2
Length	36' 1"5, 36' 1.75"4, 36' 2"1 11.02 m1,4	36' 1.75"2,3 11.01 m2,3
Height	14' 2"1,4,5 4.3 m1, 4.32 m4	14' 2"2,3 4.32 m2,3
Wing area	300 ft2 1 27.87 m2 1	300 ft2 2,3 27.87 m2 2,3
Weight
Empty	10,000 lb4, 10,660 lb1 4,536 kg4, 4,853 kg1	10,000 lb2,3 4,536 kg2,3
Loaded	17,500 lb1, 19,400 lb5 7,938 kg1	19,400 lb2,3 8,800 kg2,3
Loaded - later versions	20,700 lb1 9,300 kg1
Maximum load	17,500 - 19,400 lb4 7,938 - 8,800 kg4
Performance
Speed	430 mph1 697 kph1
Speed @ 5,000' / 1,524 m	363 mph4 584 kph4
Speed @ 30,000' / 9,144 m	428 mph4,5 688 kph4
Speed @ 30,000' / 9,145 m		428 mph2,3 689 kph2,3
Cruising speed	195 mph4 314 kph4
Climb	3,120'/minute4 950 m/minute4
Climb to 20,000' / 6,095 m		9 minutes2,3
Climb to 20,000' / 6,096 m	9 minutes4
Service ceiling	42,000'1,4,5 12,800 m4, 13,000 m1	42,000'2,3 12,800 m2,3
Range	475 miles4,5 764 km4	1,260 miles2,3 2,028 km2,3
Range - with drop tanks	1,800 miles4, 1,860 miles1 2,897 km4, 3,000 km1
Armament	8: MG5
Wings	8: 0.5" MG4 8: 12.7 mm Browning MG1 267 to 500 rounds each1	8: 12.7 mm MG2,3
External load - bombs, napalm, rockets (8)	2,500 lb1 1,134 kg1
Bombs	2,000 lb5, 2,500 lb4 1,134 kg4	2: 1,000 lb2,3 2: 454 kg2,3
OR
Rockets	10: 5"4 10: 12.7 cm4