Bell P-39L-1 Airacobra - The Desert Cobra (2nd Interim Variant)

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Bell P-39L-1 Airacobra

   Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Bell P-39L-1 Airacobra for the US aviation tech tree, and this is one of my series of suggestions for the mid-series of P-39 variants in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force services. The P-39L-1 started with Model 26B and was the heavier mid-variant.

TL;DR:

A P-39 variant (Model 26B) with an uprated 1,325 hp Allison V-1710-63 akin to the P-39K-1 but reverted to using the Curtiss Electric propeller.

History

The P-39L-1 was the second batch of Airacobra aircraft in development of the initial P-39G, but this P-39G designation was dropped and divided into the batches of the P-39Ks, P-39Ls, and P-39Ms. These variants were commonly known as mid-series Airacobras.

The P-39L-1 started with a company designation of Model 26B and was retrofitted with the Curtiss Electric propeller. Triangular-shaped vents were added on each side of the nose to ventilate gun gasses before they could leak into the cockpit. A nose wheel was redesigned and fitted with a new low-profile tire to reduce drag during the takeoff. The wheel was larger in diameter than the one used on the earlier Airacobras, but the tire had lower walls so that the overall diameter remained the same. Other than these, it was identical to the P-39K-1, which was also powered by the 1,325 hp Allison V-1710-63 engine; however, the gross weight was increased greatly.

250 P-39L-1s were ordered in late 1941. 137 of 250 were delivered to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program.

According to the sources, the P-39L-1s arrived in the South Pacific as another part of attrition replacements in early 1943. Several P-39L-1s were also deployed to North Africa from England during Operation Torch and the Tunisian Campaign under the 81st and the 350th Fighter Groups. They flew and conducted maritime patrol, air combat, and close air support missions.

Specifications

Bell P-39L-1 Airacobra

General Characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 30 ft 2 in (9.19 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
  • Span: 34 ft (10.36 m)
  • Wing Area: 213.22 sq ft (19.81 sq m)
  • Propeller Type: 3-bladed Curtiss Electric propeller
  • Powerplant: Allison V-1710-63 liquid-cooled piston engine with single-stage, single-speed supercharger
    → 1,325 hp (975 kW)
  • Internal Fuel: 120 US gal. (454 L)
  • Oil Tankage: 13.8 US gal. (52.2 L)
  • Empty Weight: 6,738 lb (3,056 kg)
  • Gross Weight: 7,700 lb (3,493 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff Weight: 8,300 lb (3,764 kg)

Engine Ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 1,325 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.

  • Military:

    → 1,050 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.

    → 1,150 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ 12,000 ft (3,658 m)

  • Normal:

    → 910 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ S.L. - 10,800 ft (3,292 m)

Performance

  • Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.17 (0.28 kW/kg)
  • Sea Level Speed: 307 mph (494 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 343 mph @ 11,800 ft (552 km/h @ 3,597 m)
  • Wing Loading: 36.1 lb/sq ft (176.25 kg/sq m)
  • Rate of Climb: 2,940 fpm (14.9 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 1.1 minutes to 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
    • 3.2 minutes to 9,850 ft (3,000 m)
    • 3.4 minutes to Critical Altitude
  • Service Ceiling: 31,300 ft (9,540 m)
  • Range @ Max. Speed: 280 miles (451 km)
  • Max. Long Range Flight: 600 miles (966 km)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 37-mm M4 cannon (30 rounds)
    • 2 x .50-cal. M2 Browning Machine Guns (200 rpg; 400 rounds)
    • 4 x .30-cal. M1919 Browning Machine Guns (400 rpg; 1,200 rounds)
  • Bomb:
    • 1 x 250-lb M57 bomb
    • 1 x 300-lb M31 bomb
    • 1 x 500-lb M43 bomb
    • 1 x 600-lb M32 bomb
  • Rockets:
    • 6 x M8 rocket launchers
  • Drop Tank:
    • 1 x 75-gal drop tank
    • 1 x 175-gal drop tank
Supplemental Data

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Diagrams

Livery Examples - Illustrations

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Images

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Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   I made this suggestion to request more World War II-era vehicles for War Thunder. I feel the P-39L-1 had a historic significance in its role in North Africa and the South Pacific despite limited service in the US Army Air Forces, and it is pretty identical to the P-39K-1. Performance-wise, the P-39L-1 is similar to the P-39K-1 and the P-39D-1 but slightly heavier. This would be a good addition to the P-39 Airacobra family as an opportunity for dedicated completionists.

See Also - P-39 Family

   I made additional suggestions for other P-39 variants. If you’re interested in these suggestions, check them out!

Sources

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

1 Like
2

A +1 from me! More P-39s are always appreciated!