WW, I think a lot of things in-game react differently because of massive over-use of the flaps and how they are modeled. Still, even if maybe the P-40K is heavier, and maybe that worsens the turning radius, that data set, whatever it is, is based off of some flight test somewhere that HTC has stored away in a file cabinet.
Also, if we had a real E, I think you mentioned (or somebody else) that the -E didn't have any WEP, so it wouldn't have the raw horsepower to haul itself around in turns like some planes can. It might have a tighter radius (as many slower planes do) but a slower turn rate. Or something.
In the game, with both at max fuel, the P-40E has a lower wing loading. As fuel burns off, the ratio of weight to wing area improves more for the P-40 than the 109. Thus, at 25% fuel, the P-40E will be even better.
In the real world, the P-40 could out turn the 109 at and below corner velocity. Granted, it lacked the power to sustain this advantage for very long. However, that wasn't the only flight characteristic where the P-40 held an advantage. It had a faster rate of roll. It didn't stiffen at higher speeds (below critical Mach) and it could deploy flaps at higher speed.
Countering those advantages were the 109's superior acceleration, speed and climb. In the game, we can add the 109's super-uber flaps.
I've seen mention in this thread how the 109s dominated the P-40s in North Africa. Many of these losses were Tomahawk IIB types, which were overweight and could barely manage 340 mph clean. Kittyhawks were another matter. However, while they suffered much less than the old weary Tomahawks, they still suffered lopsided kill to loss ratios against the Luftwaffe's 109s. What wasn't mentioned was why they did. Tactics. The P-40s were assigned sorties largely in close support of ground troops or flying interdiction missions. They flew low most of the time, which gave the Luftwaffe the advantage of altitude. Another issue was the relatively low air to air combat skill levels of the P-40 pilots. The bulk of RAF Tomahawk and Kittyhawk pilots were raw, fresh from training with little to no combat experience. There were, sprinkled in amongst the rookies, some very good Commonwealth fighter pilots. "Killer" Caldwell being one example. Caldwell shot down at least ten 109s in his P-40s (Tomahawks and Kittyhawks).
When USAAF P-40 units began deploying in North Africa, they brought along many experienced pilots. When the Luftwaffe began encountering American P-40s, they noted that this new enemy had vastly better combat discipline, and were generally encountered at higher altitudes. By mid January of 1943, the American P-40s had established a record of two kills for each loss against the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronautica, and those losses included those by all causes (operational, flak, etc). This was not only due to better tactics, discipline and training, it was also due to occasionally having P-38s as high cover on long range missions and Spitfires as high cover for shorter ranging assignments. That said, even without fighter cover, the P-40s were now holding their own and then some.
P-40s were still in combat in Italy into mid 1944. Despite being borderline obsolescent, they proved very effective against the Luftwaffe, who was now suffering from a lack of experienced pilots itself. A study of 12th Air Force P-40 operations in Italy will surprise most people.
Krusty, the P-40K's gross weight was 120 lb greater than the P-40E. Not significant, being well within the variance we will see in fuel states.
My regards,
Widewing
