P-39Q-20mm option

[angelsandair]

well, the 20mm does better than the 37mm. I can hit a plane broadside and after a short burst in the -D model, it is easily dead.

[Widewing]

The only P-39 variant that had the 20mm option was the P-400 export model.  The only reason those had the 20mm was they were intended for the UK but Pearl Harbor interrupted those plans and instead we kept the P-400s and used them as trainers and some saw operational service in the SWPTO.  However, the only difference between the D and the P-400 is the 20mm, otherwise they are the exact same aircraft.  Which is probably why the P-39D in here as the 20mm cannon package as an option.

ack-ack

Actually, a significant number of Ds were delivered with the Hispano installed. Both Gerald Johnson (later commanded the 49th FG) and George Welch (of the 8th FG) flew P-39D-1s that were equipped with the 20mm. All P-39Fs also had the Hispano. This came to be due to orders of P-39D-1 and F models being ordered for Lend Lease. Before the first ones were delivered, the US entered the war. These contracts were transferred to the USAAF. Thus, 336 P-39D-1s and 204 P-39Fs were built and delivered with the M1 20mm cannon. This is in addition to the 179 P-400s taken by the USAAF, and another 266 shipped to the Soviets (54 lost at sea in route when transports were sunk) and the 80 accepted by the Brits.

My regards,

Widewing

[Squire]

They also took 37mm P-39Ds and simply refitted them with 20mms they scrounged. No idea on the #s though. In those days there was a lot of "rough and ready" work done to the jungle based P-39s.

...Nice pic Ack-Ack, thats a beaut. Looks like a depiction of the first P-39/A6M2 scrap over Lae, New Guinea?

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

P-400 export model had a 20mm cannon instead of the crappy 37mm Oldsmobile cannon.  Quite a few pilots preferred the P-400 variant over the D model because of the lighter, more reliable 20mm Hispano. 

*OFF TOPIC*

This is a sweet picture.
(Image removed from quote.)


ack-ack

Thats P-39D-1-BE 41-38350 35 FS/8 FG P flown by Lt. I.A. Erickson, Milne Bay, New Guinea, 1942

I would LOVE that skin.

[angelsandair]

Well, I just wish the 20mm had a bit more ammo, but I'm not complaining. A 2 sec burst goes through liek 15 20mms on that thing though.It shoots fast.

[storch]

the P400 was lighter due to a lack of self sealing tanks and armor IIRC.  I haven't researched that but I do remember reading it many years ago.

[angelsandair]

huh really? Well, I like the D model, just wish it had wep 

[Widewing]

the P400 was lighter due to a lack of self sealing tanks and armor IIRC.  I haven't researched that but I do remember reading it many years ago.

P-400s had self-sealing tanks and armor. They didn't have O₂ systems installed. The weight difference was simply due to the lighter installation of the M1 20mm cannon. Also, the P-400s had a revised version of the V-1710-35 (the -35E). This engine had a slightly higher critical altitude (15,000 feet) than the typical P-39D-1.

My regards,

Widewing

[RRAM]

The only P-39 variant that had the 20mm option was the P-400 export model.  The only reason those had the 20mm was they were intended for the UK but Pearl Harbor interrupted those plans and instead we kept the P-400s and used them as trainers and some saw operational service in the SWPTO.  However, the only difference between the D and the P-400 is the 20mm, otherwise they are the exact same aircraft.  Which is probably why the P-39D in here as the 20mm cannon package as an option.

ack-ack

Actually there were quite some P-400s sent to the UK and they were extensively tested by the RAF. They even got to see some combat action over the Channel.

The RAF simply turned the model down, as the fighter's performances didn't meet the expectations (RAF was led to believe they were getting a wonder-fighter and what they got was at best an acceptable one -and at low altitudes only) and there were a lot of troubles found within the plane itself (compass losing calibration when weapons were fired, cannon fumes entering the cockpit when it was fired, etc). The lack of a suitable supercharger was the last nail for the RAF. The plane was a huge dissapointment for them, and they cancelled the rest of the P-400 order they had placed. I think most of the already delivered planes were later sent to the USSR via Murmansk.

The P-400s the USAAF used over SW Pac were planes built to fullfit the british order but which were undelivered after the british turned the order down.

[storch]

P-400s had self-sealing tanks and armor. They didn't have O₂ systems installed. The weight difference was simply due to the lighter installation of the M1 20mm cannon. Also, the P-400s had a revised version of the V-1710-35 (the -35E). This engine had a slightly higher critical altitude (15,000 feet) than the typical P-39D-1.

My regards,

Widewing

thank you for the clarification.  I recall reading that the designation P-400 was because the fighter could travel at 400mph at 8000 feet asl.  was that true?

[MiloMorai]

No it is because it is a P-40 with a Zero behind it.

[angelsandair]

 

Well the first reason seems reasonable though

[Squire]

No, the USAAF needed a designation for the British Airacobra in US service, and since some of the equipment was different than the P-39, they just came up with P-400.

"P-400" is the export model (RAF Airacobra I) in service with the USAAF, as opposed to a regular P-39.

[Guppy35]

Thats P-39D-1-BE 41-38350 35 FS/8 FG P flown by Lt. I.A. Erickson, Milne Bay, New Guinea, 1942

I would LOVE that skin.

Yep P39D-1.  Good photos of both the birds in the painting in the 8th Fighter Group history
"Attack & Conquer" by John Stanaway and Lawrence Hickey.

All kinds of photos of 20mm D-1s in there as well as 400s

interesting to note in Norb Ruff's Biography, he being an 80th HH pilot, his first 76 missions were in Cobras with 53 of them being in a P400, 4 in a 39D-1 and 19 in 39D-2.

He flew 106 combat missions with the 80th with his 77th mission on being flown in 38Gs

[angelsandair]

Just a question, which type of p-39d do we have?