[SNIP]
The La-7s short service record was clearly due to its unreliable engine and other general unservicability. Yet, it is one of the most powerful planes in the game.
[SNIP]
Plane Name Kills Deaths Kill/Death Ratio
F4U-4 521 183 2.83
Tempest 454 74 6.05
Keeping in mind the units above made a more substantial contibution to winning the war for the allies, which the La-7 did not. How is the Spitfire XIV doing this month;
[SNIP]
I'd not say that the Spitifre XIV, Tempest or F4U-4 made a greater contribution to the war effort. In fact, quite the reverse.
Combat debuts;
Spitfire XIV: January 1944
Tempest V: April 1944
La-7: September 1944
F4U-4: March 1945
Aerial kill claims for the Tempest V were around 250-260 aircraft (not including V1s). I've not had time to tot up all the Mk XIV claims, but as there were never more than 150 in service before 1944 and the RAF only claimed about 750 fighter kills in 1945, I'd not be too surprised if it was similarly low. I've not got F4U-4 kills specifically, but total USN F4U claims (-1 and -4) for 1945 were 1008 aircraft.
La-7 kill claims are a little harder to track down, but claims against the Japanese alone were around 280 aircraft, which would make it a more prolific fighter than the Tempest Mk V, at the very least.