SEAC P-47 armament options?

[PaulR]

Hi all,

am joining the P-47 groupbuild with a SEAC P-47. I was wondering what armament and drop tank combinations these typically carried. I seem to have bombs, tube rocket launchers (which I'd like to use if historically accurate) and either cylindrical or 'flattened' drop tanks to choose from; any guidance in this regard would be great.

Cheers, Paul

[Julien]

They did also fill the tanks with napalm.

The pilots used to hate flying with these, as unlike bombs which armed when they left the rack and the wire came out, the tanks had strikers on them so were live all the time.

The pilot I spoke to lost at least one friend crashing on take off when his napalm went up.

Julien

[tango98]

Paul,

For something a little different why not show it loaded with the drop tanks that were converted to dispense DDT in an effort to decrease the mosquito population?

I think I may have a drawing here somewhere showing the changes to P-47 tanks.

Cheers

Dave

[Seahawk]

The 3-tube rocket launchers were not used by the RAF. Certain RAF Thunderbolt units (not sure which - away from my references) used the large underwing tanks while on escort missions. SEAC Thunderbolts certainly used British 500lb bombs but I think US ones as well. British 500lb bombs can be found in the Tamiya Mosquito kit. Not sure about the flattened belly tank on SEAC aircraft: would need to check my references Which We Have Not Got.

Geoff Thomas produced a book about 15-20 years ago called "RAF Thunderbolts": excellent one-stop reference if you can find it cheaply.

HTH.

[Wez]

The 3-tube rocket launchers were not used by the RAF. Certain RAF Thunderbolt units (not sure which - away from my references) used the large underwing tanks while on escort missions. SEAC Thunderbolts certainly used British 500lb bombs but I think US ones as well. British 500lb bombs can be found in the Tamiya Mosquito kit. Not sure about the flattened belly tank on SEAC aircraft: would need to check my references Which We Have Not Got.

Geoff Thomas produced a book about 15-20 years ago called "RAF Thunderbolts": excellent one-stop reference if you can find it cheaply.

HTH.

Seahawk,

Funny you should mention the Geoff Thomas book, I've just picked it up as I gather my stuff together for the forthcoming P-47 STGB!

I can confirm that in his book there are no pictures of RAF P-47's using the bazooka tube rocket launchers or the flattened tank. There are plenty with the P-38 teardrop stylee 137 Gal tanks and also with what he calls the 90 Gal tanks - these are the pressed paper tanks often seen on P-51's too. In the Tamiya kit these are referred to as the 108 Gal tanks - the difference being Imperial vs US gallons (Imperial gallon being bigger). The big tanks only appear on the wing pylons whilst the smaller tanks can appear on the wing and belly positions.

500lb bombs are carried on the wing pylons only - there's no pictures showing them on the belly point, the clearest pictures distinctly show them being British bombs I'd guess that US ones could be used but I can't tell. Another thing to note is that there are no pictures showing aircraft mixing tanks and bombs - it's one or the other but not both.

HTH

Regards

Wez

[PaulR]

Cheers all for the responses guys. I now feel a little more clued up . . . although I'd love to have used the bazooka tubes!

Paul

[greatgonzo]

Certain RAF Thunderbolt units (not sure which - away from my references) used the large underwing tanks while on escort missions.

The use of 165 gallon tank for P-47 was quite typical in SEA. The pictures of 30 and 135 sq Thunderbolts come offhand with no deeper search. And American ACG Jugs too.

[diamant]

Paul,

For something a little different why not show it loaded with the drop tanks that were converted to dispense DDT in an effort to decrease the mosquito population?

I think I may have a drawing here somewhere showing the changes to P-47 tanks.

Cheers

Dave

Hi Paul

I am really interesting in seeing any material about the drop tanks that were converted to dispense DDT?.

Does someone have information or photos about this convertion?.

Many thanks in advance

Kind regards

Santiago

The P47 will be the next project after the Lysander series.

[Ian]

Confirm that the bazooka tubes were not used by SEAC P-47's (not certain that they were used operationally by any RAF type, but someone else here is probably more clued-up than I) - Years ago, I politely pointed this out to a guy who had posted an otherwise superb SEAC P-47 build over on Hyperscale - you wouldn't believe the abusive response I got back !! - Steve Eisenman was the only one who concurred... Humans, eh ?

Ian

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

The flat underfuselage tanks weren't used by RAF SEAC jugs. I have the Thomas book and IIRC its pretty clear on that.

Just one thing on your wing tanks - the jugs wing pylons had springloaded rods at the rear which helped flip the tanks off when they were dropped - so if you load your model with wind tanks you'll need ot mod the racks to show these in the "in use" position.

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/20616/academy_b17_045.jpg

might explain more

cheers

Jonners

[kitnut617]

Confirm that the bazooka tubes were not used by SEAC P-47's (not certain that they were used operationally by any RAF type, but someone else here is probably more clued-up than I) - Years ago, I politely pointed this out to a guy who had posted an otherwise superb SEAC P-47 build over on Hyperscale - you wouldn't believe the abusive response I got back !! - Steve Eisenman was the only one who concurred... Humans, eh ?

Ian

Sometime ago I was after info on what rp's were used by P-47 in India/Burma by the RAF because in the Squadron P-47 in Action book it sort of infers that the regular RAF rp and rail was used. Having not ever seen any photos that would have the author come up with that, I wrote to the National Archives (Kew I think) and I ended up buying a report about rp trials that RAE or the other outfit I can't quite remember it's name is, had done. It turned out to be a report saying that the 3-tube rp set-up was tested in the UK, and had some photos of it etc included.

Anyway I built my Thunderbolt like this, more than like it's not historically accurate.

[Julien]

Not a weapons load but the same pilot who told me about the napalm also said they did re-supply for small groups deep in the jungle, flying in pairs with canisters under the wings.

Not sure what type but he said they were large and played havoc with the fuel use, only just making it back to a friendly base one time.

Incidently when asked about wear & tear etc he did mention that he flew with heavy boots in case he had to bail out and these did badly scuff the areas getting in and out of the cockpit.

julien