P-47s

[gaunt1]

I think P-47M is unnecessary. It was a fairly unsuccessful, insignificant variant. We also have the P-47D without block number ingame, which more or less matches its performance.
On the other hand, adding a P-47N is a good idea, a really important aircraft, especially on the pacific.
In my opinion, the P-47C would be also a great to have.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

I think P-47M is unnecessary. It was a fairly unsuccessful, insignificant variant.

It was considered to be the "hotrod" model of the P-47, and was built in very small numbers to equip the 56th Fighter Squadron. It would be fun, but as you said, not necessary.

Originally Posted by gaunt1

On the other hand, adding a P-47N is a good idea, a really important aircraft, especially on the pacific. In my opinion, the P-47C would be also a great to have.

The P-47N didn't see that much action due to overwhelming US air superiority by the time it became operational, but did have the distinction of being the plane piloted by the last U.S. "Ace in a day" - 1LT Oscar Perdomo.

But, in a hypothetical "Japan 46" where the A bombs didn't work or were never used, and the US, UK and USSR invaded Japan, it would have been a major player, so it gets my vote for that reason.

As for the P-47C, remember that early blocks of "C" and "D" production aircraft were virtually indistinguishable from each other and in some cases only referred to production origin (Evansville, IN vs. Farmingdale, NY).

The exact model of the P-47C we should be asking for is either the P-47C-2 or P-47C-5, since these were the first operational long-range U.S. escort fighters, and were extremely important historically for that reason. IIRC, the external model of the P-47C-5 is close enough to the P-47D-10 that it could be created using just FM and loadout changes.

Of course, we don't have the maps to cover most of the terrain the P-47C-2 or -5 pilots fought over, but that's a different issue.