Author Topic: Question on P38s drop tanks (Read 899 times)

Hazard69 · « **on:** November 29, 2006, 12:11:09 PM »

Just looking around in the hangar I noted something:
P40E can carry 75gal DT.
P47, P51 have options for 75gal DT or 150gal DT
F4F FM2 get even smaller DTs (58gal i think?)
But why is it that the P38s, the F4Us and the F6F can only carry the 150gal DTs. Didnt they have the ability to carry smaller DTs also?

Not very knowledgeable about history.......and im curious as to why some could get both 75 n 150gals bt some only 150.

Treize69 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2006, 12:34:12 PM »

P-38s could actually carry much bigger DTs than we have to, up to 300 gallons. Occasionally would see a 300 gallon tank and a 1,000 or 2,000 pound bomb for long range strikes.

I think they could carry either the small 75 gallon, 150, or 300 gallon tanks, but I'm not positive.

Incidentally the P-47s used in the Pacific frequently carried the lockheed-designed droptanks with the tapered tail, they were a near perfect fit.

Ball · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2006, 04:35:51 PM »

it could be worse, the Spitfires get a slipper tank the size of a shot glass

Squire · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2006, 04:59:12 PM »

More of case of what they were issued with, not that they "couldnt" carry them. In the Pacific and in the ETO range was important, its not likely the 75 gallon tanks were viewed as that usefull for the P-38s and F4U/F6Fs.

The P-40E was never used as long range escort, or a CV a/c. Early P-47s did use the smaller tanks for awhile before going to larger tanks, as escorting bombers into Germany became the norm.

The Spitfire IX and XIVs actually had a 108 gallon "torpedo" style tank used 44-45 as well as a 45 gallon "slipper" tank. They just arent included in AH.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2006, 01:18:59 AM »

From the 38 POH, the P-38 carried 165 gallon drops vice the 150 we have in the game. And the bigger tanks were 330 gallon.

P-47's in PTO had a 110 gallon centerline available that was flattened to keep from hitting the ground. The P-47N could carry 300 gallon wing tanks as well, giving them over 700 gallons of external fuel capacity! For normal long range missions, the 110 center, and 2X 165 gallon wing tanks were carried.

The Jugs used a mish-mash of drop tanks early on as there were field engineered attempts to increase their range. Later in the war, there were tanks factory made for the P-47.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2006, 11:42:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Squire
More of case of what they were issued with, not that they "couldnt" carry them. In the Pacific and in the ETO range was important, its not likely the 75 gallon tanks were viewed as that usefull for the P-38s and F4U/F6Fs.

The P-40E was never used as long range escort, or a CV a/c. Early P-47s did use the smaller tanks for awhile before going to larger tanks, as escorting bombers into Germany became the norm.

The Spitfire IX and XIVs actually had a 108 gallon "torpedo" style tank used 44-45 as well as a 45 gallon "slipper" tank. They just arent included in AH.

Gonna have to show me a photo of a Spit with a 108 gallon tank

The Torpedo tank was 50 gallons if memory serves. They did use a 90 gallon slipper tank on escort missions on occasion, mainly when the RAF started flying daylight raids with Lancs and Halifaxes in the late summer of 44.

Squire · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:12:33 AM »

I think your right the torp tank was a 50 (imp). The ones we get in AH are nevertheless the smallest DTs they had at 30, but better than none at all.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:27:37 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Squire
I think your right the torp tank was a 50 (imp). The ones we get in AH are nevertheless the smallest DTs they had at 30, but better than none at all.

30s were pretty much standard issue from 43 on. I know the XIIs went with em everytime just to compensate for the increased gas guzzling of the Griffon III/IV.

Angus · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:07:10 AM »

A pair of Spitfires were flown, I belive, - to the US from GB via Iceland and perhaps back.
They had wingtanks, as well as a drop tank, just don't know what kind it was.
There were lots of ferry flights over Iceland, including P38's.
Glacier queen was en route for instance.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:51:38 AM »

I take it you refer to "Glacier Girl". And Operation Bolero.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2006, 12:05:42 PM »

Dan, 90 Imp gal is 108 US gal.

EN314 was tested with a 200gal 'torpedo' tank.

Squire · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:52:48 PM »

Just so we are all on the same page, thats a model of it:

http://www.modellbau-universe.de/uploadfiles/original/gr_48001.jpg

Benny Moore · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2006, 09:08:38 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Stoney74
From the 38 POH, the P-38 carried 165 gallon drops vice the 150 we have in the game. And the bigger tanks were 330 gallon.

The 165 and the 155 tanks were the same thing. It just depends on whether or not you fill it to the brim. The same is true of the 300 and 330. The exact amount of each is unknown, even by the guys who filled them.

Wolfala · « **Reply #13 on:** December 02, 2006, 10:57:54 AM »

Widewing can correct me if i'm wrong on this, but I believe the 300 gal tanks were reserved for ferry flights only with some pretty significant speed restrictions built in.

Benny Moore · « **Reply #14 on:** December 02, 2006, 08:20:16 PM »

That's common misconception. Though the Pilots Manual instructs pilots not to drop empty 300 gallon tanks over 160 M.P.H., many P-38s had field modifications which allowed the 300 gallon tanks to be dropped at any speed, even when empty. While I can't recall an instance of two 300 gallon tanks being used in combat, I can think of a few where one 300 gallon tank and one 2,000 pound bomb was carried. The P-38 could ccarry two 2,000 pounders, unlike the two 1,000 pounders it's given in simulators.