Author Topic: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L  (Read 1175 times)

Offline Mongoose

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Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« on: January 30, 2016, 04:14:51 PM »
   I was looking at the specs for the P-38L (my favorite plane), and I noticed a few discrepancies.

On page 41 of this document:
http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/historical/p-38%2051-127-1.pdf

Internal fuel capacity is listed as 416 gallons.
In AH it is 410 gallons.

The drops tanks have a capacity of 165 gallons.
In AH it is 150 gallons per tank.

Now the 6 gallons of internal fuel isn't going to make much difference, but it would be nice to be accurate.

For the drop tanks, however, that extra 30 gallons could make a difference.
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Offline FLS

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2016, 02:44:36 PM »
For some unspecified reason Wiki refers to the two US metal drop tanks as 75 gallon and 150-165 gallon.

Offline 49Dallas

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2016, 03:04:35 PM »
300 gallon tanks too please.

Offline Mongoose

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2016, 06:58:06 AM »
For some unspecified reason Wiki refers to the two US metal drop tanks as 75 gallon and 150-165 gallon.

Yes, but the manual that I referenced, which is not Wikipedia, but the official training manual for the P-38L, says the drop tanks are 165. 

I want my extra thirty gallons!   :x
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Offline Mongoose

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2016, 07:00:05 AM »
300 gallon tanks too please.

  Agreed.  But only if the speed restrictions were enforced.
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Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2016, 01:36:10 PM »
  Agreed.  But only if the speed restrictions were enforced.

I think the P-38s we have in game are equipped with the sway bracers that allowed the P-38 to drop their tanks at any speed, empty or full.
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Offline Randy1

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2016, 01:43:51 PM »
From a purely game stand point, I would like twin 75 gallon drop tanks.  These may have been used in the early part of the war for P-38s.  Not sure about that.

The lack of symmetry of a single drop tank bothers me for no good reason.

Offline FLS

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2016, 02:25:12 PM »
The pilot manual for the P-38D-G models, 01-75F-1, lists 75, 150, and 300 gallon drop tanks on the weight and balance tables.

Offline morfiend

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2016, 01:40:33 PM »
I wonder if the difference is between Imperial and US gallons?

  150 Imperial gals would be close to 165 Us gals....




    :salute

Offline FLS

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2016, 02:35:57 PM »
I wonder if the difference is between Imperial and US gallons?

  150 Imperial gals would be close to 165 Us gals....




    :salute

I think they made different sizes. The manual specified US gallons.   

Offline JVboob

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2016, 09:33:05 PM »
they had the big 300 gal tanks too and could carry 2,000lbers
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2016, 09:34:35 PM »
Please show me some proof of 300 gallon tank use on combat missions.  I thought they were purely for ferrying.  The 38 rarely carried 2000 pounders.  The risk outweighed the reward according to a 38 driver I talked to who did carry 2000 pounders in the ground attack role in the ETO.  The damage difference from a 2000 pounder and 1000 pounder for the job they did wasn't that much.
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Offline Mongoose

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2016, 10:02:36 PM »
Please show me some proof of 300 gallon tank use on combat missions.

I don't have the documentation where I can get it, but I do remember reading that they used 300 gallon tanks on the mission to get Yamamato.  You might start there.
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Offline FLS

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2016, 10:17:33 PM »
I don't have the documentation where I can get it, but I do remember reading that they used 300 gallon tanks on the mission to get Yamamato.  You might start there.

You might as well ask for B-25 bombers on CV's because of the Doolittle raid. Neither one was a typical combat mission.

Offline JVboob

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Re: Correct Fuel Tanks For P-38L
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2016, 05:38:26 AM »
Guppy research the droop snoot missions. This wasnt done very often due to several reasons but it did happen and they were used. It would be too OP for the game though If they ever do perkie load outs it should be one as well as 1,000lbrs on fighter A/C
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