The first Tempest Mk V's first saw service in April 1944, first two units to be equiped with the Mk V were Nos 3 and 486 Squadrons.
The first 600 a/c were ordered in 2/42 the first of these a/c flew in 6/43.
The Mk V was actually very successfull against the V-1's shooting down 638 of 1,771 of them between middle of June and early 9/44. However, one of the major problems of the Mk V was overspeeding of the propeller resulting in a failure of the engine lubrication system, this problem was quickly resolved by the indroduction of modified propellers.
In terms of performance the Mk V was comparable to the D-9 in which it was 9 mph faster and had a considerable lower wing loading per sq/ft, 38 compared to the D-9's 48 (woah), just imagine a Ta-152! The Hawker had a superior climb at 4,700 ft/min, D-9, 4,200ft/min. However the Hawker's main forte was at low to medium altitudes while leaving high alt fighting to the spit XIV which was superior to the FW 190A and 109G.
805 Mk V's were built.
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"Then I played the trump. The Spitfire was clawing wildly through the air, trying to follow me in a roll, when I dropped the nose. The Thunderbolt howled and ran for earth. Barely had the Spitfire started to follow--and I was a long way ahead of him by now--when I jerked back on the stick and threw the Jug into a zoom climb. In a straight or turning climn, the British ship had the advantage. But coming out of a dive, there's not a British or a German fighter that can come close to a Thunderbolt rushing upward in a zoom. Before the Spit pilot knew what had happened, I was high above him, the Thunderbolt hammering around. And that was it--for in the next few moments the Spitfire flier was amazed to see a less maneuverable, slow-climbing Thunderbolt rushing straight at him, eight guns pointed ominously at his cockpit."
