ORIGINAL: darock
Before the P-47 got it's 4-blade, almost everything with guns in the wings could outclimb that hulk. After it got the 4, it could even outclimb the Spitfire.
The P-47D Jug could outclimb a Spit Mk IX, but it couldn't even get close to a Spit Mk XII, XIV, or XVIII. Nor could it fly as fast in level flight, nor dive as fast, nor climb as high. You can only do so much with 10 tons & 2,300 HP, regardless of prop.