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I don't think shedding a couple of machine guns weighing around 90lbs each tops was going to make much difference to its climb rate.
Removing 180 pounds is something, about the weight of another pilot.
I think it was interesting what Curtiss tried to do with the P-40L. Reduce to 4 .50 caliber machine guns, smaller fuel tanks, and remove the starter. I wonder what the pilots thought of that last one. A starter couldn't weigh that much (40 pounds maybe?).
Robert S. Johnson mentions in his book "Thunderbolt" that after he received his P-47D I think with the paddle blade propeller never again did a FW-190 get away by trying to climb.
Depends on what model of spit.He also mentions that when he went head to head with a Spitfire he lost in the climb until he got the paddle blades (with which he had reservations) and was able to eventually out climb the Spit. Hard to believe but it is what he said....