Originally posted by Nath-BDP:
P47M you say?? Its max speed is 470 mph at 30k, it was primarily designed to counter German V-1s, thus performance over 30k wasn't very much required, however, the Ta 152 would still be superior above 35k. Only 130 P47Ms were made.
First, we need to understand that the P-47M was a development of a 1943 aircraft at Republic that was a sister to the XP-47J. This aircraft explored using the same engine installed on the XP-47J in a standard P-47C airframe. Republic logged over 2,000 hours on this airframe, which also pioneered the wing inserts later incorporated on the P-47N. When the Brits began to howl about the V-1s, the AAF asked the major fighter manufacturers if they could offer a solution by producing an aircraft that had the speed to quickly overhaul a V-1. Republic rolled out their high-speed P-47C, dusted it off and said, "what kept ya?" Shortly thereafter, three P-47D aircraft were pulled from the production line and fitted with the R-2800 C series engine and the YP-47M was born. When these aircraft finally began to arrive in the ETO, most of the V-1 launch facilities had already been over-run. The net result was that the aircraft never chased "Doddlebugs". It did, however, set the standard for speed in the theater.
Finally, let's discuss its real maximum speed. Straight from the factory floor, the M could pull 475 mph at 32,000 feet. Once it was in the hands of the 56th FG mechanics, the waste gates received the same treatment as those on the D models. Speeds climbed as high as 490 mph using water injection. This is fairly well documented by a great many of the group's pilots.
With respect to the Ta 152: I give the M the edge for several reasons. First and foremost is that even though the Ta 152 could reach altitudes up to 48K, so what? What can it do up there? If the 152 is going to have a use, it must come down and engage the bombers and the fighter escort. Remember, the air war is fought where the bombers fly. Down at 30K, the M is faster, rolls quicker, climbs better and dives faster. At 30k, the M is still climbing at 2,260 per minute, which is marginally better than the 152. In fact, the M climbs better than the Ta 152 at all altitudes below 39,000 ft.
Where performance counts, and that is where the bombers fly, the P-47M out-performs the Ta 152 in virtually every category. Not by much, I'll grant you, but by enough to make it no more of a factor than the Fw 190D-9 was to the P-51D. Add to this the Thunderbolt's tank like durability, and the choice become clear to me.
My regards,
Widewing
