Actual performance was mostly the same. Pilots themselves commented you didn't notice much. Top speeds were only 2 to 4 mph off, which is well within factory quality variation for planes off the same factory floor. The 2 guns 200 rpg loadout was often turned back to the standard loadout. This again was tried in the P-40N's first model, but pilots wanted/needed that extra firepower, so most carried 6 guns.
If we had this in AH, you might be surprised how little it changes from what we have. It would look like this (looking at WEP speed only):
http://www.gonzoville.com/ahcharts/index.php?p1=p40e&p2=a6m5Only the top alt peak for the second curve would only be 18k or so. It would be about 3k above the p-40E but with a dogleg drop in between the supercharger peaks.
You'd be looking at no real practical difference except say above 20k.
I'd like to see a lineup that includes:
P-40B
P-40E
P-40F (long tail, merlin engine)
P-40N (full guns, bomb racks under belly and wings, most common export model, a real ground pounder)
Of that setup, the P-40N is actually the slowest, interstingly enough. I mostly ask for F for splitting up the appropriate skins, but the merlin engine is a good excuse. Otherwise it's not needed and I'd stop at B/E/N.
