Tempest vs. F4U-4 vs. La-7

[SgtPappy]

Hey all...  I've had a question in my mind that has bothered me for a while. I've only been able to make enough perk points to take out a Tempest one time, but how would you - if flying a Temp - fair against the likes of the 4-Hog or the La-7?

It'd be great if someone could set up a combat trial chart like in the RAF record books; i.e.

- Max. Speeds - From 0 - 5000' and 15,000' - 20,000' the Mk.XIV is only 20 mph faster etc....

I've checked out Dr.Gonz' awesome site, but im his site doesn't tell me about dive speed, E-retention etc.

Thanks for the input!

[the_rains]

hi everybody!

[humble]

that any fight is probably 80% pilot. Below 15k the tempest and D9 are pretty similiar in most respects. The -4 hog is probably a bit better overall but lacks the hitting power. The la-7 is competative at lower alts but loses performance over 7k. A pony can give a tempest a good run based on relative pilot skill. A spit14 is also a worthy adversary if well flown......

[Bruv119]

I fly the tempest quite a bit to fend off swarming hordes.

Its a beast of a plane you need to keep her on a tight leash.

In answer to your question  LA7's may catch you in the vertical but everything else you will beat it at.

the f4u4 is pretty much down to pilot skill it would catch you in a dive and outturn you.

The Tempest is very much a hard hitting BnZ plane if you fly it like this with good SA you shouldnt find yourself in any trouble.

[SgtPappy]

ah i see.. thanks .. but i always those 2,180 horses strapped on to laminar flow wings would outdive the 4-Hog. O well, back to SpitV's for me.. at least until i find something with more ammo.. too bac the Spit8 and 16 are completely otclassed by the Hogs in everything but climb and E-retention...

[Widewing]

Originally posted by SgtPappy
ah i see.. thanks .. but i always those 2,180 horses strapped on to laminar flow wings would outdive the 4-Hog. O well, back to SpitV's for me.. at least until i find something with more ammo.. too bac the Spit8 and 16 are completely otclassed by the Hogs in everything but climb and E-retention...

A few thoughts...

While the Tempest is the fastest, best accelerating fighter at sea level, at 10,000 feet it ranks 8th in speed and far worse in acceleration. At 16k, the Tempest can make 424 mph, which is faster than the P-51D, but slower than the P-51B and 109K-4. At 20k the Tempest makes good speed, but climb rate and acceleration are poor. The high alt fighters, such as the P-38s, P-47s and P-51s are clearly superior.

If you are flying a Tempest and encounter a Co-E, Co-alt F4U-4 or SpitXIV... My advice is simple. Run like hell. The last time the Tempest pilot will see either in front of him will be on the merge.

As a general rule, Tempests should avoid maneuver fights with the likes of the F4U-4, La-7 and SpitXIV. Given equal pilots, the Tempest is the likely loser in those match-ups. Indeed, if the Tempest were armed like the F4U-4, I doubt that it would be perked more than 15 points.

My regards,

Widewing

[SgtPappy]

Ha. i pretty much thought so. Too bad the RAF didnt need a complicated dual-stage supercharged Napier Sabre... that would probably have made the Tempest utterly superior. Anyhow, I would like to try to fly the F4U-1C, since it's not too expensive. Which now raises the question: how would a C-hog do against the 4-Hog...

hmm and the D-Hog with a P&W R-2800-8W should have mor hp than the C-hog and therefore perform slightly better... and who would've thought a big, torque-soaking plane like the 4-hog would outturn a C-hog..?

wow.. brain's beginning to hurt a little.

[moneyguy]

Originally posted by the_rains
hi everybody!

HI DR. NICK!!

[humble]

The -4 hog is "significantly" better then the C hog in regard to top speed, climb and aceleration....it will accelerate from 200 mph to 300 roughly 9.5 sec faster then the C for example. It is also a bit better turner. Assuming anywhere near equal pilot skill the -4 will own the C hog...

[Zazen13]

The Tempest vs. F4-u4 or La7 is superior in most respects except for roll rate. If either of those planes start doing any kind of scissoring manuever the Tempest is going to have problems staying with them. In the vertical it's about even money, in a turn at all but the the slowest speeds vs. F4-U4 w/ it's flaps the Tempest gets the nod.

Zazen

[SgtPappy]

Ah yes i see... so i guess trying to dive in the Tempest isnt a very good maneuver. However, climb seems blisteringly good compared to the other planes, but the Spit14 kinda schools the Temp in that respect. Which NOW brings up the question:

How would a Spitfire do against these planes? More specifically the Mk.XIV (not the smelly 16 everyone likes lol).

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Zazen13
The Tempest vs. F4-u4 or La7 is superior in most respects except for roll rate. If either of those planes start doing any kind of scissoring manuever the Tempest is going to have problems staying with them. In the vertical it's about even money, in a turn at all but the the slowest speeds vs. F4-U4 w/ it's flaps the Tempest gets the nod.

Zazen

Do I understand that you believe the Tempest would win?

Co-e, Co-alt merge; as they pass, that is the last time the Tempest pilot would see the F4U-4 in front of him. In short, the Tempest should run while runnin' is an option. Any attempt to maneuver with the F4U-4 would result in lots of lost perk points.

My regards,

Widewing

[Warspawn]

The win in this case would go to the plane able to dictate the terms of the fight, and make gun solutions count for a kill and not ineffective hits.

That would be the Tempest, in almost every case.  It decides when it wants to engage, and the hits from it are lethal, in most instances.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Warspawn
The win in this case would go to the plane able to dictate the terms of the fight, and make gun solutions count for a kill and not ineffective hits.

That would be the Tempest, in almost every case.  It decides when it wants to engage, and the hits from it are lethal, in most instances.

This assume many things. If the F4U-4 is Co-alt or higher, the Tempest is at an immediate disadvantage. Above 6,000 feet, the F4U-4 is the better climber. Once above 9,000 feet, the Tempest has no advantage in speed or acceleration. At 20,000 feet, the Tempest's acceleration drops significantly, below just about every one of its contemporaries. Climb follows suit. It has decent speed up there, but again, it's not exceptional.

What that means is that at the altitudes these planes are most likely to encounter each other, the F4U-4 is the better performer. Being a heavily perked fighter, most Tempest pilots are terrified that they will be bounced by a higher fighter. Hence, most fly well above the altitude where the Tempest has any performance advantage.

I find the Spitfire Mk. XIV to be more of a threat than the Tempest.

My regards,

Widewing

[Zazen13]

Originally posted by Widewing
Do I understand that you believe the Tempest would win?

Co-e, Co-alt merge; as they pass, that is the last time the Tempest pilot would see the F4U-4 in front of him. In short, the Tempest should run while runnin' is an option. Any attempt to maneuver with the F4U-4 would result in lots of lost perk points.

My regards,

Widewing

Mmmm, no. I said if it was a turnfight that got slow or a scissors fight the F4U would win, in a vertical fight it'd be about even. I made no mention of alt because 99% of MA fights occur 8k or below. Usually close to or on the deck.

Zazen