Hawker Tempest V vs. P-47D-27

[Jabberwocky]

They were running Sabre IIcs up past 3850 rpm and 3500 hp and got Sabre IVs with ADI up to 4000 hp with a little difficulty before wars end. Maybe not as reliable as the R-2800 but the sheer brute force of the Sabre shouldn't be underestimated.

My favourite Tempest was always the Centarus powered Mk II, which was apparently much nice to fly; much quieter (the Sabre SCREAMED along at 3700 rpm) a little faster and more nimble. Its something of a pity the RR tended to get most of the development money, as Bristol and Napier could of had their engines sorted a lot earlier with some judicious financing.

[Sal Monella]

The reason I said Sabre IIb is because that is that engine that is being claimed to have been overboosted from maximum 2,420hp @ 11bs to 3,040hp @ God only knows what. That was the engine that went into the last wartime variant of the Tempest.

What aircraft were using the Sabre IIc's and IV's before the war's end?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

1. Closterman was known to lie and exagerate on just about everything he did. I would not take his word for anything, especially when more reliable sources say otherwise.

2. Id take the P-47 any day. In my opinion it is a much more rugged and better design.

[Jank]

Amazing test. The XP-72, which was ordered into production later in 1944 but then cancelled, was to be produced with a very powerful engine that gave it a maximum speed of 490mph at combat loaded weight. The XP-72 was the first fighter to be designed around the huge 28-cylinger Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major, the most powerful piston engine produced during World War 2.

Pratt and Whitney R-4360 Engine

[red admiral]

Well there is the Rolls-Royce Crecy giving up to 5000hp from 26litres and weighing 820kg.

[Jank]

Concerning the Rolls-Royce Crecy:

Only six complete examples were built when the research was terminated in December 1945. An additional eight vee twins were built. Serial numbers were even, Rolls-Royce practice being to have even numbers for clock-wise rotating engines when viewed from the front. Crecy number 10 achieved 2500 hp on 21 December 1944. Subsequently single cylinder tests achieved the equivalent of 5000 bhp for the complete engine.

[red admiral]

True, jets were the way forward.

Its not just the power of the Crecy which is impressive, the 2-stroke exhaust also gives considerable thrust - especially at high altitudes. Can't get that with a turbocharger. The exhaust thrust from the Merlin contributed about 30mph to the top speed iirc, with the addition of individual ejector stubs increasing this. You can also deafen your opponents, the Crecy is one of the loudest engines ever produced.

[Erich]

I'll take Clostermanns views with a grain of salt just like his kill totals.

the Tempest under his butt and his squadron was a great machine, though against the Dora 9 from II./Jg 301 flown by Rudi Würff he just about got killed, Clostis wingman was vapourized and Clostis Tempest was dug into the ground like a wet sieve. another occassion he attributes his wingmans demise, the Tempest literally was blown into nothing as well as Clostis Tempest was torn to shreds in May of 45, the Frenchman consdered it to be ground 2cm fla, in reality it was 2 Me 262A-1a's of NJG 11 ............. it will be covered in our book.

sorry a bit off topic of sorts