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United States' Republic P-47D, P-47G Thunderbolt fighter^1,2,3,4

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter:

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter, French 1953:

Republic P-47G Thunderbolt fighter:

Design

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

Internal fuel carrying capacity was increased.⁴

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

Variants

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

Usage

The P-47D was used by:

Britain⁴
- 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
Mexico⁴
- Units operated in Italy and the Philippines.⁴
Soviet Union (203)⁴
United States.⁴

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

	Republic P-47D Thunderbolt^1,4	Republic P-47D-25^2,3 Thunderbolt Mk II^2,3
Type	Fighter¹ Fighter bomber^1,4	Fighter^2,3
Crew	1^1,4	1^2,3
Engine (Type)	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp¹ Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59/63 Double Wasp⁴	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 piston^2,3
Cylinders	59: Radial 18¹ 59/63: Radial 18⁴	Radial^2,3
Cooling
HP	59: 2,535¹ 59/63: 2,300⁴	2,300^2,3
War emergency HP	59/63: 2,535⁴
Propeller blades	4^1,4
Dimensions
Span	40' 9"¹, 40' 9.25"⁴ 12.42 m¹, 12.43 m⁴	40' 9.5"^2,3 12.43 m²
Length	36' 1.75"⁴, 36' 2"¹ 11.02 m^1,4	36' 1.75"^2,3 11.01 m^2,3
Height	14' 2"^1,4 4.3 m¹, 4.32 m⁴	14' 2"^2,3 4.32 m^2,3
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 lb^2,3 4,536 kg^2,3
Loaded	17,500 lb¹ 7,938 kg¹	19,400 lb^2,3 8,800 kg^2,3
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 688 kph⁴
Speed @ 30,000' / 9,145 m		428 mph^2,3 689 kph^2,3
Cruising speed	195 mph⁴ 314 kph⁴
Climb	3,120'/minute⁴ 950 m/minute⁴
Climb to 20,000' / 6,095 m		9 minutes^2,3
Climb to 20,000' / 6,096 m	9 minutes⁴
Service ceiling	42,000'^1,4 12,800 m⁴, 13,000 m¹	42,000'^2,3 12,800 m^2,3
Range	475 miles⁴ 764 km⁴	1,260 miles^2,3 2,028 km^2,3
Range - with drop tanks	1,800 miles⁴, 1,860 miles¹ 2,897 km⁴, 3,000 km¹
Armament
Wings	8: 0.5" MG⁴ 8: 12.7 mm Browning MG¹ 267 to 500 rounds each¹	8: 12.7 mm MG^2,3
External load - bombs, napalm, rockets (8)	2,500 lb¹ 1,134 kg¹
Bombs	2,500 lb⁴ 1,134 kg⁴	2: 1,000 lb^2,3 2: 454 kg^2,3
OR
Rockets	10: 5"⁴ 10: 12.7 cm⁴

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998