in warren bodies book "the lockheed P-38 lightning" he does make mention several times about the 1,725hp rating in the P-38L. unless I have read the book wrong and or fogotten what I have read he specifically states that the P-38L-1-LO used the same rating as the 38J ie 1,600hp@60"MAP of which 1,290 a/c were manufactured, he states that the P-38L-5-LO had the 1,725hp rating and did 440mph and that 2,200 of these a/c were manufactured from october 1944 thru june 1945. thats what bodie says.
I can only ask questions just like anybody else here. what never made any sense to me is if you look in the pilots manual and other common publications for the P-38 these inconsitancies jump out at you. consider this if you will, all books agree on these figures. P-38F 395mph on 1,325hp x 2. P-38H 402mph but at altitude the engines were restricted somewhere around the same power as the P-38F due to inner cooler limitations. if I am not mistaken the 38H only made 1,600hp up to 10,000ft and could not use 60" above that altitude. and at 25k it would be using power at or near military as maximum power, ie 1,350 to 1,425. now you look at the 38J which could make 1,600hp up to 26,400 ft. the books say it could do 414mph. it just doesnt add up to me.
395mph on 1,325hp
402mph on just a little more power
414mph on 1,600hp. I understand the J/L had a bit more drag than the H and earlier models, but it was not that excessive. what is 60 to 80lbs of drag when you have 3000+lbs of drag to begin with? it doesnt add up when you consider you have just added 400-600 more hp and you only gain 10-20mph. I am sorry, but just like usual I cannot provide any answers to the problems.