P47N Rocket Loadout

[Mystery]

While flipping through Republic's "Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-47N Series Airplane" (AN 01-65BD-1, Republic Press, G. Hamilton 7/25/45) I found an interesting reference to a SIXTEEN 5" HVAR loadout - 10 on the wing zero-length rails and 6 more on brackets which attach to the external tank adapters.  

See below from the reference listed above, p30.

It would appear that the -47N's modeled in AH are at least the -5 variants, as the -5's were the first of the N's to be equipped with zero-length rails.

Now before people ask:
1) Yes, I searched for this topic in the forums and did not find a similar thread
2) No, I do not know if this loadout was used in combat
3) If used in combat, I do not know what fraction of -47N launches carried the 10 HVAR loadout and which fraction carried the 16 HVAR loadout
4) I have not found pictures - yet.

Comments from the AH community?

[B-17]

Wow... thats impressive. Do you think it'll be changed for the next patch that the P-40 will come with?

[Karnak]

Which was the more common version used and by how much?  I can show you photos of Mossie VIs equipped with better rocket systems than the draggy rails we have in AH, but they were a later version that didn't see as much use.  Sometimes the best version isn't the one we should have.

[SmokinLoon]

Which was the more common version used and by how much?  I can show you photos of Mossie VIs equipped with better rocket systems than the draggy rails we have in AH, but they were a later version that didn't see as much use.  Sometimes the best version isn't the one we should have.

Quite true. 

With that being said, if the P47N was in fact loaded with SIXTEEN of those 5in HVAR rockets on a regular basis, I would hope HTC would consider adding it in to AH.  That goes for the 190-F-8 and the 4/50kg bomb shackle in addition to the single 250 or 500 kg shackle underneath the fuselage.  The 8/50kg 190F-8 would be fun to have AND historically accurate.

[LThunderpocket]

we could go with armament upgrades to alot of planes that dont have their full load/max cap of ords/ammo/rockets

[Mystery]

Which was the more common version used and by how much?  I can show you photos of Mossie VIs equipped with better rocket systems than the draggy rails we have in AH, but they were a later version that didn't see as much use.  Sometimes the best version isn't the one we should have.

Karnak,

I have no clue on relative use but am still looking although not optimistic.
Are you sure the VI's with non-MkIV launchers are not postwar? I know the Typhoon was stuck with MkIV rails until the end of hostilities. Zero-length rails were designed but not fitted before VE day. I don't have similar information re Mosquitoes, so I could be all wet. 

[Karnak]

Unless they were striking German shipping in Norway after the war ended, it was before the war ended.  They weren't zero length though, just a better design that allowed the rockets and drop tanks to be carried instead of rockets or drop tanks.

[Guppy35]

I've seen photos of the wartime Mossies Karnak is talking about. 

I guess I'd like to see actual combat use of the 47N rocket load out.  I'll dig through the 47 stuff downstairs when I get a chance.  I guess for me it comes down to whether it actually used the load out vs could it use the load out.

Then again it;s not up to me

[Stoney]

I brought this up a couple of years ago.  Apparently it was something that the aircraft was capable of, yet didn't see much, if any, use during the war.