Author Topic: Situation: Critical (Read 443 times)

Montezuma · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:21:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler

I thought it was dated at the time WW2 started for the US and the only planes it shoot down were the first Japs with fixed landing gear...

P40s shot down plenty of German aircraft in the Mediterranean theater and on the eastern front in Russian service.

popeye · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:38:05 PM »

P-40s shot down plenty of German aircraft in WB too.

Dowding · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:46:46 PM »

P-40 was outlcassed by the 109 in the Desert war, if I remember rightly. Although against Italian biplanes it faired better.

Sikboy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:51:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Widewing

Fair question.

Several years ago, I was researching an article on the 49th Fighter Group in the SWPA during 1943-44. During most of that period, the 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons flew the P-40, while the 9th FS (with whom Bong flew) went from P-40s to P-38s to P-47s and finally back to P-38s again.

Anyway, the 7th and 8th had many encounters with the Ki-61 and most of the pilots I interviewed agreed that it was an even match for their P-40s. The difference being better training and better tactics. Bob DeHaven would tell you that the two aircraft were a very close in combat capability, with the pilots being the deciding factor. Mr. DeHaven fought some epic battles against the Tony and barely survived some of them.

Peformance can be compared.

P-40K-1: Weight was roughly 6400 pounds empty, 8400 pounds gross, and 10,000 pounds max. Maximum speed of the P-40K was 320 mph at 5000 feet and 362 mph at 15,000 feet. Cruise speed was typically 280 mph. A climb to 15,000 feet took 7.5 minutes at Military power, 7.2 minutes with Combat power.

P-40N-1: 6000 pounds empty, 7400 pounds gross, and 8850 pounds maximum, the N-1 was the fastest P-40 variant and was engineered for for combat at higher altitudes than previous models. Maximum speed was 378 mph at 10,500 feet and service ceiling was 38,000 feet. An altitude of 15,000 feet could be attained in 6.6 minutes at Military power, 5.8 minutes using Combat power.

Ki-61-1b: 4872 pounds empty, 6504 pounds loaded, 7165 pounds maximum. Maximum speed 368 mph at 15,945 feet. Cruising speed 249 mph at 13,125 feet. An altitude of 16,400 feet could be reached in 5 minutes 31 seconds. Service ceiling 37,730 feet.

There exists a TEAC test of the Ki-61, but I don't have a copy handy. Perhaps someone has it on hand and can provide details.
I do, however, have a report by 5th AF technical personel, which states that their impression of the Tony is that it at least the equal of the P-40, being inferior in some areas, as well as having some minor advantages as well. I have better sources in my collection at home, but I'm in the office today.

My regards,

Widewing

In case anyone was wondering.

-Sikboy

hblair · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:57:49 PM »

Guys, the thing with the P40 isn't performance. A couple of reasons the P40 is cool:

1. The teeth
2. The John Wayne movie, was it Flying Leathernecks? (who cares about the special effects, the Duke was in it for crying out loud)
3. It's the Flying Tiger's plane!
4. It was the first plane the US really kicked the crap outa the Japanese in.
5. AVG

Sabre · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2002, 02:59:29 PM »

P-40 was a very stable gun-platform was rock-steady in a dive. This combined with its respectable fire power led to its extensive use as a fighter-bomber in the Med and on the Eastern front. It wasn't until well after Operation Huskie that Jugs began to replace the P-40s as F-B's. The first Axis aircraft that could keep up with it in a dive was the Bf109F. The P-40 had very good high-speed handling, including a repectable role-rate. In WB, I more than once out-scissored Oscars and Zekes in it.

While not competative with the late war planeset, it deserves it's day in the virtual sun. Through a good part of the war, when folks back home (in the USA) thought about American air power, the Warhawk is what they saw in their mind's eye. It played a role in every theater, and served right through from beginning to end. Personally, I'd like to see a -B model in AVG garb, and an -E or -N in ANZAC livery.

Superfly · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:37:48 PM »

Maybe you should check the New section

Beefcake · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:37:49 PM »

check news

god that thing looks beautiful!!

hblair · « **Reply #23 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:42:16 PM »

Very cool looking Superfly.

What's the history of that particular plane?

popeye · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:53:29 PM »

I'm saved!!!!!!!!

Thank you, HTC.

(Think I'll go buy a lottery ticket...this is my lucky day.)

Superfly · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:57:01 PM »

Major Sidney S. Woods, 9th FS circa 1943

Sabre · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:58:54 PM »

I'm sooooo Happy!!!

Sabre
P.S. New they'd add this all along:) Never doubted it, no sir. "Ouch! Yep, I'm awake."

Dead Man Flying · « **Reply #27 on:** April 30, 2002, 04:19:44 PM »

Situation: Normal

-- Todd/Leviathn

pbirmingham · « **Reply #28 on:** April 30, 2002, 04:54:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Montezuma

P40s shot down plenty of German aircraft in the Mediterranean theater and on the eastern front in Russian service.

If I remember correctly, the Tuskeegee Airmen flew P40s at first, right?

Aub · « **Reply #29 on:** April 30, 2002, 05:01:35 PM »

The Tuskegee flew P-47s first

Aub