这 P-47D 雷电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)
作用
Fighter / Fighter-Bomber
船员
1 (Pilot)
First Flight (P-47)
May 6, 1941
动力装置
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp radial
Horsepower
2,535 hp (with water injection)
最高速度
433 mph (697 km/h) at 30,000 ft
装备
8 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
有效载荷
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后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.
