Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

"The biggest, heaviest fighter of the war, the Thunderbolt was also the most successful American fighter-bomber of WWII. Nicknamed the “Jug” either because it resembled a squat milk jug or as an abbreviation of “Juggernaut,” it was ruggedly built and powered by a massive and durable air-cooled radial engine. The Thunderbolt could absorb damage that would knock other fighters down and still keep flying. It was also easy to fly with light stick forces, and very forgiving. 

"Commencing with the P47D-25 production block, the ungainly “Jug” became more sleek and provided better visibility with its bubble canopy and slimmed-down aft fuselage. U.S. Ninth Air Force Thunderbolts joined British Typhoons and Tempests as a devastating tactical air support weapon. It combined high performance with heavy firepower and a big ordnance load to become the American aircraft of choice in the ground attack role."

-In game description of the P-47 Thunderbolt

The P-47 is the United State's most effective ground attack fighter, famous for delivering heavy loads of rocket and bombs, along with it's eight 0.5 inch machine guns that provided extreme firepower, and heavy armor that could allow it to absorb lots of abuse and could dive straight down unlike other fighter-bombers. The "Jug" also had an air-cooled engine instead of a liquid cooled one, so that harm inflicted to the nose would not cripple it right away. Handling is well balanced despite average agility unlike lighter fighters the Mustang. A true tank killer, when the Thunderbolt is soaring, no German armor or even a Tiger is safe from it's wrath.

Specifications
 P-47D SPECIFICATIONS (Early models) 

WEIGHT: 9,900/14,925 lb. (4,500/6,784 kg)

SPAN: 40' 9.25" (12.4 m) LENGTH: 36' 1.25" (11.03 m)

ENGINE: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21 Double Wasp 18-cyl. air-cooled radial with 2,000 hp

ARMAMENT: Eight 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with 267 or 425 r.p.g., plus two 1000-lb. or three 500-lb. bombs or ten 5-in. rockets

MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 30,000 ft (9,150 m)

CEILING: 42,000 ft (12,810 m)

INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,120 ft/min (950 m/min)

RANGE: 1,000 mi (1,610 km); 1,900 mi (3,057 km) with drop tanks

P-47D-25 SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT: 10,300/19,400 lb. (4,545/8.818 kg)

SPAN: 40' 9.25" (12.4 m) LENGTH: 36' 1.25" (11.03 m)

ENGINE: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp 18-cyl. air-cooled radial with 2,000 hp (2,300 hp with water injection for war emergency power)

ARMAMENT: Eight 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with 267 or 425 r.p.g., plus two 1000-lb. or three 500-lb. bombs or ten 5-in. rockets

MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 30,000 ft (9,150 m)

CEILING: 42,000 ft (12,810 m)

INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,120 ft/min (950 m/min)

RANGE: 1,000 mi (1,610 km); 1,900 mi (3,057 km) with drop tanks

Strengths and Weaknesses
STRENGTHS (ALL P-47 VARIANTS)

- Fast, stable, easy to fly, forgiving; a confidence-builder for novice pilots.

- Impressive roll rate.

- Nothing outdives a Jug.

- Extremely rugged construction.

- Massive firepower from eight 0.5-in. guns.

- Heavy ordnance load.

- Bubble canopy provides excellent visibility. (P-47D-25)

- Air-cooled radial engine shields pilot and can sustain major damage yet keep running.

WEAKNESSES (ALL P-47 VARIANTS)

- Tends to “mush” in a dive, losing altitude rapidly; pull out in time or dig a big hole.

- Not as maneuverable as smaller, lighter fighters.

- Mediocre turn radius and rate.

- Poor zoom climb; loses energy rapidly.

Weapons (P-47D)
8x 0.5 inch Browning machine guns (default), 4 on each wing

2x 1,000lb bombs

2x 500lb bombs

2x 500lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

2x 250lb bombs

2x 250lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

2x 1,000lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

6x Bazooka + 1x 500lb bomb + 2x 250lb bombs

1x 108 gal drop tank

Weapons (P-47D-25)
8x 0.5 inch Browning machine guns (default), 4 on each wing

2x 1,000lb bombs

2x 500lb bombs

2x 500lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

2x 250lb bombs

2x 1,000lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

x10 HVAR Rockets

10x HVAR Rockets + 2x 500lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

10x HVAR Rockets + 1x 500lb bomb + 2x 250lb bombs

10x HVAR + 32x 30lb bombs + 1x 108 gal drop tank

6x Bazooka + 1x 500lb

6x Bazooka + 1x 500lb bomb + 2x 250lb bombs

1x 108 drop tanks

2x 150 gal drop tank

Trivia

 * The P-47D is given to the player by default at the start of the American Campaign as a fighter pilot, while the P-47D-25 is unlocked in 05/01/1944.


 * The best P-47 ace of the war was Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Johnson (1920-1998) of the 56th Fighter Group with 27 victories, just one behind Gregory “Pappy” Boyington (Leader of VFM-214 Black Sheep).He flew the P-47C-2, P-47D-5, P-47D, and P-47D-21. He also was awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Command Pilot.


 * The P-47D-25 is flown by Red One and Red Two in the games' opening trailer.
 * The P-47D-25 wields the biggest layout configuration in the game than other planes - over 13 different weaponry options plus two drop tank accessories. It also is the only plane that carries the tiniest bombs- A huge rack of 30 lb bombs.
 * The last country to use operational Thunderbolts was the Peruvian Air force in which they retired in 1966.
 * A modern day equivalent named after the Thunderbolt is the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II of the USAF and USMC; alias the Warthog. Like its grandfather the Warthog carries a huge arsenal of weapons including a massive 30mm Gatling cannon, as well as laser guided/air missiles, bombs, and rockets.  The Warthog remain in service until the 2040s'.

See Also Similar Planes

 * Focke-Wulf Fw 190
 * Hawker Typhoon IB
 * Hawker Tempest V