Originally posted by Larry
Bronk, was the same version used in all of the theaters?
I agree the addition of the Airacobra would be welcome, but as the Russians got half the P-39's, and nearly all the P63's, if added, it should be a Lend Lease version and placed in the Russian plane set: P-39D-1, P-39D-2, and P-39Q Airacobra and probably a number of P-39N's all saw action in Russia.
The second-highest scoring Allied ace, Aleksandr Pokryshkin, flew the P-39 from late 1942 until the end of the war; his unofficial score in the Airacobra stands at about 43 planes shot down of the 59 Luftwaffe aircraft total he was credited for, and the unofficial believed to be near 80 planes altogether. His wingman, Grigori Rechkalov, scored 57 victories including most with the P-39. Sasha also flew the Yak-1, Mig-3, La-5, and La-7 (and possible the P-63 against the Lend Lease agreements), but most of his victories were in the P-39.I think, if the P39 were added, it should be default skin of 16 GIAP of the VVS and placed the the Russian plane set as a nod to Sasha and Lend Lease.
Bell P-39C Airacobra First production version. Powered by 1 × Alison V-1710-35, rated at 1,150 hp (857 kW). These aircraft were used for the serviceability of the P-39, not as front-line aircraft. This version was armed with 1 × 37 mm cannon, 15 rounds, 2 × 0.50 in (12,7 mm) guns, 200 rounds each, and 1 × 0.3 in (7.62 mm) gun, 500 rounds, for help with sighting of the cannon.Number built: 20
Bell P-39D Airacobra The first operational variant differed from it's predecessor in a number of ways:
* armament was changed to 1 × 37 mm and 2 × 0.50 in (12 mm) guns in the nose, plus 4 × 0.3 in (7.62 mm) in the wings (no "aiming" 0.3 in gun anymore)
* armor to protect the pilot
* self-sealing fuel tanks
* Changes to the vertical tail (dorsal fin fillet added)
* Hardpoint for a single 250-lb, 325-lb, or 500-lb bomb, or a drop tank under the fuselage.
Two different sub variants were built:
* P-39D-1: Built for the RAF, and fitted with a 20 mm Hispano cannon (60 rounds) in stead of the 37 mm one. (519 built)
* P-39D-2: Powered with 1 × Alison V-1710-63 , rated at 1,325 hp (988 kW); restored the 37 mm cannon; provisions for a single 145 US gallon drop tank under the fuselage.
The British aircraft were declared unfit for the Western European theater, and shipped to Russia to aid them. A couple of the originals were held back by the USAAF, and the were refitted and redesigned to trainers..
Number built: 923
Bell P-39F Airacobra To be ahead of a possible lack in Curtiss Electric propellers, the P-39F received a Aeroproducts propeller. Some of these aircraft were later refitted:
* P-39F-2: Additional armor protection under the fuselage for ground attack, and reconnaissance cameras
There were 27 aircraft adapted to this subvariant
Number built: 229
Bell P-39J Airacobra The last 25 P-39F's were fitted with 1 × Alison V-1710-59 engine, and were re-designated accordingly
Number built: 25
Bell P-39K Airacobra Similar to the P-39J, the P-39K was powered by 1 × Alison V-1710-63, rated at 1,325 hp (988 kW). Also the propeller was an Aeroproducts metal propeller of the constant speed type. About six were converted to:
* P-39K-2: Additional armor protection under the fuselage for ground attack, and reconnaissance cameras
Number built: 210
Bell P-39L Airacobra Identical to the P-39K, except for the Curtiss Electric propeller. 11 Aircraft were converted to:
* P-39L-2: Additional armor protection under the fuselage for ground attack, and reconnaissance cameras
Number built: 250
Bell P-39M Airacobra Identical to the P-39L, except for the Aeroproducts propeller and the engine: 1 × Alison V-1710-83, rated at 1,200 hp (895 kW). Because of the changes the P-39M was 10 Mph (16 km/h) faster than the P-39L At a top level speed of 370 Mph (595 km/h). 8 Aircraft were converted to:
* P-39M-2: Additional armor protection under the fuselage for ground attack, and reconnaissance cameras
Number built: 240
Bell P-39N Airacobra First large-scale production model.
* 2 × 0.50 in fixed forward-firing in the upper side of the nose, 200 rounds each
* 4 × 0.3 in fixed forward-firing in the wings, 1000 rounds each
* Cannons 1 × 37 mm M4 fixed; 30 rounds
During the production some improvements were incorporated, like a bigger propeller, more fuel capacity, better radio equipment, a revised oxygen system , lighter armor and bullet proof glass behind the pilot. A number of aircraft were converted to the following sub-variants:
* P-39N-2: Modified for ground attack and reconnaissance (128 converted)
* P-39N-3: Modified for ground attack and reconnaissance (35 converted)
* P-39N-6: Modified for ground attack and reconnaissance (84 converted)
Number built: 2095
Bell P-39Q Airacobra Final production version. This version differed mainly in it's armament from it's predecessors: 1 × 37 mm cannon, 2 × 0.50 in (12 mm) guns in the nose, and 2 × 0.50 in (12 mm) in underwing fairings under the outer wing. Other changes during the production mainly concerned it's propeller, which switched from an Aeroproducts 3-bladed model to a 4-bladed model, and back to a 3-bladed (but larger) model again. The P-39Q-30 reverted to a three-bladed propeller because the four-bladed unit worsened directional stability..
Number built: 4905
P-400 Airacobra I - P-39D for Royal Air Force, briefly called Caribou; Hispano 20 mm cannon (60 rounds) instead of the 37 mm cannon. A total of 200 were requisitioned by USAAF after Pearl Harbor; most were used for training, but some saw service in the Southwest Pacific. A number of aircraft were ordered by France or Britain, but were never delivered due to capitulation or unsatisfactory evaluation (respectively). The remainder that was used by the USAAF was re-designated to P-400, mainly because it had a different armament.
Number built: about 400
Of these, I'd go with the P-39D-1, P-39D-2, (both EW IIRC) or the P-39Q (MW?) configuration.
