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According to the manual endurance = minutes in the air. So the P-47D-6 has a base endurance of 95 + 40 with the 75 gallon drop tank giving it a total of 135. Fair enough. Then I read this:

On 30 July (1943) the first mission was flown with proper 75 gallon drop tanks. This gave the P-47 an endurance of nearly three hours, allowing it to meet up with returning American bombers inside the German border. This was the ideal role for the P-47. The returning bombers were flying at 24,000ft, a high enough altitude for the P-47 to perform to its best. Taking advantage of the aircraft’s speed in the dive the P-47s flew another 4000 feet above the bombers, waiting for the Germans to attack. In the resulting melee the P-47s scored a series of victories, taking the pressure off the bombers.

If that is true then the base range of the D-6 needs to be increased to 140, the D-15 from 115 to 160, the D-20 from 130 to 175 and the D-25 from 145 to 190. This would be a very easy fix with the DB editor, but I would like to hear what everybody thinks of that. Do we need to examine the rest of the aircraft?

For the record it is 529 miles from Boxted to Berlin, 373 miles to Hannover, 256 miles to Dusseldorf and 172 miles to Amsterdam.

From the book P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force by Jerry Scutts:

"At Duxford on the 30th (July 1943) there was an unusual air of expectancy at the 78th's FG briefing,for the P-47's flying that day's mission would be carrying 75-gal drop tanks for the first time. Extra fuel carried in these more reliable pressurized, but smaller, tanks meant that now the group could now stay up in the air for up to two hours and fifty minutes."

So I have gone back and changed things again and this is now what I have:

The D-6 (1x75 gallon tank) escort range is now 221 miles, FB 168, base endurance 130

D-15 (2x75 gallon tanks) escort range 374, FB 195, base endurance 150

D-20 (3x 110 gallon tanks) escort range 435, FB 215, base endurance 165

D-25 (1x150 gallon tank + 2 110 gallon tanks) escort range 489, FB 200, base endurance 180

As I understand it fuel endurence is calculated with a 30 min. (5 min at WEP) reserve. The in game factors look right to me.

I did some further research and found out that the target for that day was Kassel. The 78thFG out of Duxford crossed the German border at Kleve, which is just east of Nijmegen. They met the bombers over Haltern. I planned it out in the game and compared it to a map of Germany. It is a match made in heaven. I think I will keep the changes.

Do not give them to much endurance, see the image. Drop tank is most likely the 105-110 gallon tank, a bit too much for the 75 gal tank.

Another photo of P-47 ranges. I think the problem may be that the values given to the assorted drop tanks in the DB are off. This picture shows the max range with two drop tanks is 475 miles. I have read in a couple of places the range for a D-25 with THREE drop tanks was 475 miles. Mind you it didn't say what the capacities of the three tanks were. According to the editor it is 2x110 and 1x150. It looks like I have to tweak my numbers again.

I think I am over-thinking this.

http://rapidshare.com/share/55E510F81F3 ... 7E35006B4D

P-47 range chart

I tweaked the D-20 and D-25 so their ranges are about 425 and 475 miles respectively. My original changes for the D-6 and D-15 stand. Now on to the next change.

According to the editor the D-6 is in production and the game I assume, from 5/43 to 11/43
D-15 11/43 to 3/44
D-20 3/44 to 6/44
D-25 5/44 to 12/45

I propose the following changes to reflect the above noted range changes, which reflect my post of 1/28.

D-6 5/43 to 9/43
D-15 9/43 to 2/44
D-20 2/44 to 6/44
D-25 3/44 to 12/45

So fellow players, what is your opinion of those changes?