Republiek P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt

P-47D Blikseminslag

BetaaltUsa
RoleJachtbommenwerper
Eerste vluchtvan 6 mei 1941 tot 6 mei 1941
Gebouwd15636

De Republiek P-47 Thunderbolt Was een gevechtsvliegtuig uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog geproduceerd door de Verenigde Staten van 1941 tot 1945. Zijn primaire bewapening was acht .50-kaliber machinegeweren en in de vechter-bommenwerper grond-aanvalsrol kon het vijf-duimraketten of een bomlading van 2.500 pond (1.103 kg) dragen. Wanneer volledig geladen, woog de P-47 tot acht ton, waardoor het een van de zwaarste strijders van de oorlog was. De P-47 werd ontworpen rond de krachtige Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp motor, die ook werd gebruikt door twee U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps fighters, de Grumman F6F Hellcat en de Vought F4U Corsair. De Thunderbolt was effectief als escortejager op korte tot middellange afstand in lucht-luchtgevechten op grote hoogte en grondaanvallen in zowel de Europese als de Pacifische theaters.

Bron: P-47D Thunderbolt op Wikipedia

P-47D Thunderbolt
FotograafOnbewust
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's22
Wacht, P-47D Thunderbolt foto's voor u zoeken...
P-47D Thunderbolt
FotograafCees Hendriks
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's98
Republic YP-47M Thunderbolt Walk Around
FotograafCees Hendriks
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's31
Republic P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt Walk Around
FotograafVladimir Yakubov
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's98

Zie ook:

Tweede Wereldoorlog: de definitieve visuele geschiedenis van Blitzkrieg tot de atoombom (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Kaart voor kaart van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (DK History Map by Map) - Amazon

P-47D Block 35 Walk Around
FotograafDavid Aungst
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's49
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Walk Around
FotograafBill Maloney
LokalisatieHet Museum van de Lucht van New England
Foto 's27
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Walk Around
FotograafVladimir Yakubov
LokalisatieHet Museum van de Lucht van Palm Springs
Foto 's143

A Heavyweight Legend

De P-47D Blikseminslag was the most-produced version of the largest and heaviest single-engine fighter of World War II. Affectionately nicknamed “The Jug” (short for Juggernaut), it was built around the massive Double Wasp engine and a complex turbo-supercharging system. While it lacked the graceful lines of the Mustang, the P-47D was a monster of durability and firepower. It could survive incredible battle damage that would disintegrate other aircraft, making it the premier ground-attack platform and high-altitude escort of the European Theater.

Attribute Technical Specification (P-47D-25)
Role Fighter / Fighter-Bomber
Bemanning 1 (Pilot)
First Flight (P-47) May 6, 1941
Krachtbron 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp radial
Horsepower 2,535 hp (with water injection)
Maximum Speed 433 mph (697 km/h) at 30,000 ft
Bewapening 8 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
Nettolading Up to 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) of bombs or 10 rockets

Design Highlights: The Turbine and the Bubble

  • Turbo-Supercharger System: The secret to the P-47’s high-altitude performance was the massive turbocharger located in the achterste of the fuselage. Exhaust gases were piped all the way back to the tail to spin a turbine, which then sent compressed air back to the engine.
  • The “Bubble” Canopy: Early “Razorback” P-47Ds had a high fairing behind the pilot. Starting with the D-25 variant, Republic introduced a teardrop-shaped bubble canopy, giving pilots 360-degree visibility—a vital advantage in dogfights.
  • Eight Machine Guns: Unlike the Mustang or Spitfire, the P-47 carried a staggering eight .50 caliber machine guns. This massive volume of fire was capable of shredding locomotives, tiger tanks, and enemy aircraft alike.
  • Paddle-Blade Propeller: To translate the engine’s massive torque into thrust, late D-models used wide “paddle-blade” propellers, which significantly improved the aircraft’s rate of climb.

“The Jug” in Action

  • Unrivaled Ruggedness: The P-47 was legendary for its ability to take hits. Stories abound of pilots returning with entire cylinders blown off their engines or large sections of wings missing, yet the “Jug” kept flying.
  • The Diving Specialist: Weighing nearly 15,000 lbs fully loaded, the P-47 could out-dive any aircraft in the world. Pilots used this weight to engage in “boom and zoom” tactics, diving through enemy formations and using their momentum to climb back to safety.
  • Zemke’s Wolfpack: The 56th Fighter Group, led by Hubert “Hub” Zemke, became one of the highest-scoring units of the war exclusively flying the P-47. They proved that in the hands of a skilled pilot, the heavy Jug could outmaneuver the Bf 109 and Fw 190.
  • Ground Attack Terror: In the months following D-Day, P-47s became the “flying artillery” of the Allied advance. They destroyed thousands of German tanks, trucks, and trains, effectively paralyzing the Wehrmacht’s movement during daylight hours.

Views : 17948

Reactie achterlaten

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong> 

verplicht

Deze site maakt gebruik van Akismet om spam te verminderen. Meer informatie over hoe uw reactiegegevens worden verwerkt.