Author Topic: P-39... Any news? (Read 3708 times)

gnubee · « **on:** September 07, 2005, 09:48:28 PM »

Hey all,
Well I for one would like to see the P-39 enter service here with us in AH. But I'm guessing with the push being on ToD and european theater planes we wont see it all to soon.

Or will we? It did afterall serve extensivley in the eastern front with our Soviet Allies... So is there a chance we'll see it before the end of the calendar year? What's the word around the campfire on this one?

Thanks!

- Dynamite

parin · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2005, 05:23:16 PM »

Which One? P-39Q or P-39D. Or better yet BOTH!! The Q was produced in the largest numbers by far, but most went to USSR I bellieve.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2005, 05:43:06 PM »

P-400, the export version.

Krusty · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2005, 09:26:47 PM »

News on the P39? News is it's still in WB. Nobody used it much then and nobody would in AH, either

Leave it in the past, we need more pressing gap fillers first, THEN get to the less important planes of the war

($0.02 USD)

Magoo · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2005, 01:24:22 PM »

Quote

News on the P39? News is it's still in WB. Nobody used it much then and nobody would in AH, either

Krusty - You will be the first one I shoot down when we get the AirCobra

Anyway, since this is a wishlist forum, I wish for the P39. I expect that if we do get it they will do a few variants:

P39Q in Russian markings - with the optional field modification of removing the wing guns (Like the Ruskies were known to do)

Early war P39 - (whatever variant that was) for scenarios - other than the few P38s we had at the start of the war, the P39 was the only US fighter faster than the Zeke. The P40 and F4F were both slower than the Zeke. It could be a P400 or US P39 or both.

Next up the Oscar. That was what the Flying Tigers went up against for the most part (it was a Japanese army plane). The US pilots had a habit of calling all Jap planes Zeros. I can imagine that getting saddled up by an Oscar in say a P40B and getting shot down would be like getting pecked to death by ducks with those 2 light MGs that thing had...anyway the Oscar was one of the most numerous and important planes the Japanese had in that war - it just ain't sexy.

Magoo

Octavius · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2005, 01:48:00 PM »

37mm goodness!

Tails · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2005, 02:01:10 PM »

It's a 37mm gun, sure, but it's also a low-velocity 37mm. Not anything at all like the NS-37 the Russians have.

The M4's ballistics are more comperable to a German Mk-108 or MG-FF.

Now if you can actually hit something with it, it'd still hurt.

tikky · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2005, 02:06:37 PM »

i heard that the Russians overboosted their P-39s to get more power. is that true?

Magoo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2005, 02:20:48 PM »

Quote

It's a 37mm gun, sure, but it's also a low-velocity 37mm. Not anything at all like the NS-37 the Russians have.

Very true Tails - which is where the P400 would come in. It had the single 20mm Hispano in place of the 37mm. Personally I'd set my convergence out a little and take my chances with the spud gun.

What was the armament on the P39N? 37mm cannon in the nose, 2 x 50 caliber mg in the cowl, 4 x 30 caliber mg in the wings? I know the Q had 50s in the wing...

Magoo

Magoo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2005, 02:28:48 PM »

Quote

i heard that the Russians overboosted their P-39s to get more power. is that true?

Tikky, I read an article by a russian pilot where they trashed quite a few engines by running the Allisons at just full power as rated by the manufacturrer so I don't know about that one...Allisons were famous for the metal in the oil pan.

I'll see if I can find the article.

Magoo

Panzzer · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2005, 03:11:18 PM »

Yes, I've posted this one before... But here it is again.

That's a Q15 from the FiAF museum at Tikkakoski (... yes, in Finland).

edited for adding the second pic:

Magoo · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2005, 03:21:27 PM »

Looks like her wing guns have been removed Panzzer - nice pic

Magoo

wasq · « **Reply #12 on:** November 16, 2005, 03:32:05 PM »

I believe the plane has been restored to the exact condition it was found in, so if the wing guns have been removed, they were removed already in Russia.

The gun example below the plane comes from a different P-39, but it is the same model.

I would like to see this plane in AH, since it would add tremendous possibilty for Eastern Front scenarios as it was one of the most numerous Soviet fighters in use.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:12:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Magoo
Tikky, I read an article by a russian pilot where they trashed quite a few engines by running the Allisons at just full power as rated by the manufacturrer so I don't know about that one...Allisons were famous for the metal in the oil pan.

I'll see if I can find the article.

Magoo

The Allison V-1710 is actually one of the most reliable liquid cooled inline V aircraft engines built.

The bad reputation came from poor fuel and poor maintenance. With good fuel and proper maintenance, they are as reliable as any engine of the type. They are tougher than the Merlin ever dreamed of being. A Merlin never won an unlimited title at Reno until a guy figured out how to put an Allison connecting rod in it.

In all fairness, the Allison V-1710 was not easy to build, nor was it easy to maintain. It was very complex, it was cutting edge for its time, much of the basic design is still used today. Further, it wasn't perfect, even in the final versions.

Also, the installation designs were often troubled, at best, the Lockheed installation in the P-38 being among the most difficult to deal with. An Allison in a lightning can be a nightmare to work on. I know how to work on an Allison, and having been up close and personal with "Glacier Girl" and a couple of others, I can say that PITA is not an adequate term for the maintenance routine.

But honestly, the vast majority of Allison failures in the field were due to horrific maintenance and a lack of training of the pilots for proper operation.

On the other hand, I know several P-38 pilots who pushed the Allison -30 engines in a P-38L to over 70" of MAP and over 3200 RPM, which is more than even Lockheed and Allison rated it for, nevermind the lowered ratings the USAAF specified (they were commonly ignored).

Having built a few Allisons I can say the lower end is tough and well designed. About 95% of all failures are human error induced. Half of the rest were caused by the design of the installation. The overhead cam rollerized valvetrain with 4 valves per cylinder is excellent. We often pushed stock Allison valvetrain to over 4000 RPM, fully 1/3 higher than it was rated for.

Mr No Name · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2005, 01:44:41 AM »

I'd love to see the P-39 added... but no red star crap for me