Largest bomb load of a WWII fighter?

[IdahoRenegade]

Specifically a front line fighter capable of air superiority missions, as well as functioning as a fighter-bomber? I understand the P-38 carried 4000 bomb loads regularly (or a total of 4000lbs with a mix of drop tanks and bombs). I have seen claims that the Corsair also had a 4000 bomb load-can someone confirm this? And did it do so during WWII, or later in Korea? I have seen references for the '51 limited to 2000 lbs. How about the '47, the Spit or the Hurricane? And the 190 and 190? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kevin J]

Specifically a front line fighter capable of air superiority missions, as well as functioning as a fighter-bomber? I understand the P-38 carried 4000 bomb loads regularly (or a total of 4000lbs with a mix of drop tanks and bombs). I have seen claims that the Corsair also had a 4000 bomb load-can someone confirm this? And did it do so during WWII, or later in Korea? I have seen references for the '51 limited to 2000 lbs. How about the '47, the Spit or the Hurricane? And the 190 and 190? Thanks in advance.

IIRC the standard load for the Spitfire was a 500 lb bomb under the fuselage. Later in the war the Spitfire was modified to carry 2 zero length rocket launchers under each wing. The normal underwing load on the Hurricane was 2 x 250 lb bombs, although 2 x 500 lb bombs could be carried.

 

[PAT303]

How much ordnance that planes could carry also depends on how far you wanted to go, I remember reading about the RAF put 3 1000 lb bombs under their Kittyhawks fighting in Italy but they bombed a target only 30 miles away.

 

[DarrenW]

I have seen claims that the Corsair also had a 4000 bomb load-can someone confirm this?

The Hellcat had a max bomb load of 4,000 lbs, one 2,000 Ib bomb on the fuselage hard point and two 1,000 Ib bombs on wing hard points. Of course this wasn't standard practice but it was definitely something that could be done. Most missions would opt for a centerline drop tank to increase range, with a bomb mounted on the starboard wing. But rockets were also popular by 1945 so they often took the place of the bomb.
I'm sure that the Corsair had the same capabilities.

F6F-5 NAVAER 1335F

F6F-3 NAVAER 1519A

 

[CATCH 22]

I have seen claims that the Corsair also had a 4000 bomb load-can someone confirm this? And did it do so during WWII, or later in Korea?

The latest versions of the Corsair - the AU-1 and F4U-7 could carry even higher bombload on 13 pylons under the outer- resp. inner wings and under the fuselage:

Check this table with theoretical max. loads:

The WWII Corsairs (up to F4U-4) were not designed for such loads.
The attack versions of the Corsair mentioned above have been used during the Indo-China war resp. during the Korean war.

 

[MikeMeech]

Specifically a front line fighter capable of air superiority missions, as well as functioning as a fighter-bomber? I understand the P-38 carried 4000 bomb loads regularly (or a total of 4000lbs with a mix of drop tanks and bombs). I have seen claims that the Corsair also had a 4000 bomb load-can someone confirm this? And did it do so during WWII, or later in Korea? I have seen references for the '51 limited to 2000 lbs. How about the '47, the Spit or the Hurricane? And the 190 and 190? Thanks in advance.

Hi

I believe the F4U-1D (of 1944 production) could carry 2 x 2,000 lb bombs, how often is another matter.

In the RAF's 2nd TAF (according to Shores & Thomas) the Typhoon IB could carry up to 2 x 1,000 lb bombs (or 8 x 60 lb rockets of course), the Mustang III up to 2 x 1,000 lb bombs, and the Spitfire IX, XIV and XVI up to 1,500 lb of bombs in various combinations. The Tempest V could carry a similar weapon load to the Typhoon but only 33 Squadron used the Tempest in a fighter-bomber role during WW2. There was not much need for a heavier bomb than the 1,000 lb ones in the type of tactical missions they were undertaking. The Hurricane IIC could carry either 2 x 250 lb or 2 x 500 lb bombs under the wings.

Mike

 

[vikingBerserker]

Would the Mosquito qualify?

 

[michael rauls]

Have read more than once that a late model p38 could carry as much as an early model B17. Not sure exactly how much that is but it sounds substantial.

 

[MIflyer]

In 1942 Lockheed demonstrated the ability of the P-38 to carry two torpedoes.

 

[Graeme]

Never went into production, or saw action, but....

 

[Shortround6]

How much ordnance that planes could carry also depends on how far you wanted to go, I remember reading about the RAF put 3 1000 lb bombs under their Kittyhawks fighting in Italy but they bombed a target only 30 miles away.

I believe it was a pair of 1000lb bombs or perhaps it was a different operation. the P-40N manual mentions 2500lbs as in a pair of 1000lb bombs under the wing and a 500lb bomb under the fuselage. The US 1000lb bomb was a pretty tubby bomb and the likelihood of fitting one under the fuselage of the P-40 may be slim.

 

[Shortround6]

Have read more than once that a late model p38 could carry as much as an early model B17. Not sure exactly how much that is but it sounds substantial.

sounds like a press release

A late model P-38 could carry 4,000lb or more but that might be just two bombs, Some P-38s were rigged to carry 3 bombs under each inner wing

However early B-17s could carry eight 500lbs on a pretty regular basis, even if limited to a pair of 2000lb bombs, due to bombay size (and for the P-38 space between fuselage and engine nacelles) not all bomb sizes could be accomadated to reach the max load.

 

[Admiral Beez]

But which fighter carried the most booze?

As for bombs, the Blackburn Firebrand could carry 2,000 lbs of bombs plus 3" rockets under the wings or a 2,000 lb. torpedo under the centreline. Perhaps both could be carried, to exceed 4,000 lbs?

 

[wuzak]

Do Mistels count?

 

[wuzak]

Would the Mosquito qualify?

Fighter (FB) Mosquitoes were restricted to 2 x 500lb in the fuselage and 2 x 500lb under the wings for a total of 2,000lb.

 

[Shortround6]

As for bombs, the Blackburn Firebrand could carry 2,000 lbs of bombs plus 3" rockets under the wings or a 2,000 lb. torpedo under the centreline. Perhaps both could be carried, to exceed 4,000 lbs?

View attachment 566683

Some debate about the Firebrand being a WW II fighter, at least in the configuration shown.

"The Mk IV first flew on 17 May 1945, and was the first version of the Firebrand to enter mass production,[9] with 170 built, although 50 more aircraft were cancelled."
"The Firebrand did not see action in World War II, as TF 4s were not issued to 813 Naval Air Squadron until 1 September 1945. The squadron was disbanded 30 September 1946 without deploying to sea. It was reformed with TF 5s on 1 May 1947 and flew them from the carrier HMS Implacable, later HMS Indomitable, until it was re-equipped with turboprop Westland Wyvern attack aircraft in February 1953. " Other squadrons did get them.

 

[PAT303]

I believe it was a pair of 1000lb bombs or perhaps it was a different operation. the P-40N manual mentions 2500lbs as in a pair of 1000lb bombs under the wing and a 500lb bomb under the fuselage

You could be right, I was going off memory.

 

[GrauGeist]

However early B-17s could carry eight 500lbs on a pretty regular basis, even if limited to a pair of 2000lb bombs, due to bombay size (and for the P-38 space between fuselage and engine nacelles) not all bomb sizes could be accomadated to reach the max load.

The B-17 also had provisions for external racks for additional stores of up to 4,000 per rack (one port, one starboard).
See posts #51, #59 and #62 in this thread to see the configs:
Fake B-26 photo?

 

[pbehn]

Total bomb or rocket load for the Typhoon was restricted by the total all up weight allowed for take off and landing on metal matting temporary runways, even so bursting tyres on take off or landing wasn't unusual.

 

[Dawncaster]

First need to decide whether it was practical or not.

The 4,000 lbs bomb load is seems not practical for WWII single engined production model recip fighter aircraft. Lindbergh demonstrated the Corsair's 4,000 lbs bomb load(1x1,000 + 2x1,000) in battle of late 1944, but it was a very rare case. for example, for 2000 lbs size bomb, it's only 22 times dropped in 1945 by VF type airplanes. 3,000 lbs bomb load(3x1,000) was more often used but also limited by tactical situations. and carrier based Corsair squadrons did not use these bomb loads. in most cases, payload of over 1,000 lbs was allocated for the drop tank. according to VF/VMF action reports, some carrier based Corsair squadrons often used a combination of 500 lbs bomb, 150 gal drop tank and 8 x HVAR rockets which external payload of about 2,700 lbs over. but as you can see, with a drop tank of 1090 lbs, bomb load is only about 1,600 lbs actually. Corsair's high bomb load - over 2,000 lbs was land based and limited range only.

(F4U-1 with 3 x 1,000 lbs bombs)

But for the 2,000 lbs bomb load, the story is different. it was used by many WWII recip fighter aircrafts. for example, carrying 2000 lbs of bombs and a 175 gal centerline drop tank - total fuel was 412 gal and take-off weight was over 15,200 lbs, the F4U-1D returned home after bombing an enemy airfield 345 miles away. remained fuel was 137 gallons, which was far enough for 5 minutes take-off, climb to 20,000 feet, 15 minutes of combat at 20,000 feet, and 20 minutes of cruise at 2k feet. It seems practical load for fighter-bomber role. with this 2,000 lbs bomb load situation, Hellcat can perform similar mission profile and late type Thunderbolt and merlin Mustang have longer range. Typhoon and Tempest also demonstrated 2,000 lbs bomb load, but with 2,000 lbs bomb load, there is no hardpoint for the drop tank so range was limited.

(F4U-1 with 2 x 1,000 lbs bombs with 175 gal centerline drop tank)

ps. Ignoring all the conditions except single engined recip fighter, I support the Fw 190, which can drop the powerful SC 1800 (1800 kg/3,970 lbs bomb). Because one powerful bomb is more dramatic than many smaller bombs for me!