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Re: P 40F and the Pacific.
Although the Merlin in the P-40F was only fitted with a single-stage supercharger, it did (I believe) have a higher full throttle height than the equivalent Allison. It is my understanding that for this reason the P-40F was preferred for fighter units, whereas the Allison-engined variant was more used as a fighter-bomber. When such differentiation was possible, of course. Although not the best fighter in theatre, the Merlin P-40F did a respectable job.
One reason for using it in the western theatres is that Merlin-trained engine fitters were not common in the USAAF, and it made sense to concentrate their use where expertise and spares were most readily available.
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