How good a plane was the P-40, really? (1 Viewer)

[tomo pauk]

Attached are the range specifications for a typical P-47C, ranging from the C-1 to C-15 sub-blocks. On internal fuel, the aircraft is loaded with 305 US Gallons at a take-off weight of approximately 13,500-lbs. This provides the following:
P-47C: 305 US Gallons internal, 13,500-lbs take-off weight, 650-miles range at Maximum Cruise power, or 400-miles at Maximum Continuous power (325-miles at low altitude).

Thank you for the tables.
As a side note, the P-47D razorbacks were also with just 305 US gals of fuel in the internal tanks. The P-47D bubbletops received the bigger (taller) main tank, with 270 gals now, for the total of 370 gals per aircraft.

 

[pbehn]

While I understand the push-back on that terminology, I believe a it's fair phrase to apply, though undoubtedly the language is slightly hyperbolic in the case of the Spitfire. Attached are the range specifications for a typical P-47C, ranging from the C-1 to C-15 sub-blocks. On internal fuel, the aircraft is loaded with 305 US Gallons at a take-off weight of approximately 13,500-lbs. This provides the following:
P-47C: 305 US Gallons internal, 13,500-lbs take-off weight, 650-miles range at Maximum Cruise power, or 400-miles at Maximum Continuous power (325-miles at low altitude).
View attachment 806484

If we compare to the contemporary P-40 series (excluding the P-40L and P-40N-1, since both are assuredly inferior in range due to their ~20% reduction in internal fuel capacity). we have the following information:

P-40F: 157 US Gallons internal, 8,850-lbs take-off weight, 600-mile range at Maximum Cruise power, 425-miles at Maximum Continuous power (375-miles at low-altitude).
P-40K: 157 US Gallons internal, 8,800-lbs take-off weight, 600-miles range at Maximum Cruise power, 350-miles at low-altitude Maximum Continuous (no data-point for high-altitude)
P-40M: 157 US Gallons internal, 8,800-lbs take-off weight, 550-miles range at Maximum Cruise power, 475-miles at Maximum Continuous power (325-miles at low-altitude).
View attachment 806486

Yes, there is subject to fine interpretation with each of these individual values, but I believe it does relay my position of "about on-par" adequately. While reasonable minds can disagree on where the line is for "about on-par", or what meets that metric, in my perception of the ranges of both aircraft are within a fairly narrow margin of difference--before later P-47 models are introduced, and become prolific in their carriage of large underwing tanks.

Information comes from the tactical planning charts for each aircraft type, unfortunately no data was present for the later P-40N models, otherwise I would've included them as well.

I have seen this discussion many times before. It is based on the ultimate calling and ue of a single engined allied fighter was to escort bombers into Germany. No escort fighter was ever ordered or designed in the period. The P-47 performed its first missions in Europe in March April 1943. That is three years after the battle of France and Britain. The P-47 was designed as an interceptor but was never charged with intercepting anything in England because that duty was left to a plane that was better at the role, the Spitfire. The first USAAF bombing missions were in 1942 and escorted by the Spitfire because it was there and the others werent. The British had the Spitfire and were developing a longer range fighter in conjunction with a company called North American Aviation, it was found that when a Merlin engine was fitted in this plane called a Mustang that it was exceptional in the role of "escort fighter". The Hurricane was undoubtedly inferior to all other marques, that came later and werent there. Its role was frequently taken over by the Spitfire which served also in roles it wasnt designed for until the later planes that werent there became there. The whole point of the strategic bombing offensive was to weaken Germany and especially its Luftwaffe prior to D-Day but the P-47 couldnt reach deep into Germany until around D-Day, which was also around the start of the jet age.