21.01.2010, 17:40
The P-47M-1RE was never used in the ground attack role and was never equipped with bombs. It was an air superiority fighter all the way. As far as I can tell, there was no actual plan to use 20mm cannons on the P-47M. Even if there was such a plan, it never would have made it. Towards the end of the war, the USAAF wanted escort fighters as opposed to interceptors and air superiority fighters. The USAAF also thought that the jet age was upon them and all jets would be superior to props. That's why the XP-72 died. That's probably why the P-47M never had more than one production block. Sure, it was a great fighter that could be tuned up and run to speeds above 500mph, but the Army perferred jets. Sorry... If you're looking for American 1946 fighters, allow me to make some suggestions...
P-51J-NA
This is typically considered the ultimate Mustang and was the only experimental lightweight type that was seriously considered as a production fighter. The XP-51F and XP-51G were used to make the P-51H, but the XP-51J was a faster version powered by an Allison engine that got the better of it in testing, but was eventually fixed for use on the P-82 series. As a note, the P-51J would have most likely been capable of speeds in excess of 500mph since the XP-51G proved to perform much better than actually expected. It would have also been possible to see for Operation Downfall since all the Twin Mustangs, including those with the fixed Allison engines, had been produced by 1946.
YP-81-CO
This would have been the improved service test variant of the XP-81-CO which was developed as a hybrid powered escort fighter and killed at the end of the war. The YP-81 was promising in that it used upgraded engines.
P-80N-NT
This would have been the North American version of Lockheed's Shooting Star. It was planned to be produced at the Dallas plant, but was killed with VE-Day meaning that it was probably intended for European service. Had this been the case, Misawa type tanks would have probably been developed early as an attempt to extend the range of this jet fighter.
Here's some that would have certainly been around in 1946...
F7F
F8F
FH-1
FR-1
P-47N-RE
P-51H-NA
P-80A-B-LO
P-82B-H-NA
P-84B-RE
P-51J-NA
This is typically considered the ultimate Mustang and was the only experimental lightweight type that was seriously considered as a production fighter. The XP-51F and XP-51G were used to make the P-51H, but the XP-51J was a faster version powered by an Allison engine that got the better of it in testing, but was eventually fixed for use on the P-82 series. As a note, the P-51J would have most likely been capable of speeds in excess of 500mph since the XP-51G proved to perform much better than actually expected. It would have also been possible to see for Operation Downfall since all the Twin Mustangs, including those with the fixed Allison engines, had been produced by 1946.
YP-81-CO
This would have been the improved service test variant of the XP-81-CO which was developed as a hybrid powered escort fighter and killed at the end of the war. The YP-81 was promising in that it used upgraded engines.
P-80N-NT
This would have been the North American version of Lockheed's Shooting Star. It was planned to be produced at the Dallas plant, but was killed with VE-Day meaning that it was probably intended for European service. Had this been the case, Misawa type tanks would have probably been developed early as an attempt to extend the range of this jet fighter.
Here's some that would have certainly been around in 1946...
F7F
F8F
FH-1
FR-1
P-47N-RE
P-51H-NA
P-80A-B-LO
P-82B-H-NA
P-84B-RE