Bell P-39M-1 Airacobra - A Groundbreaking Change (3rd Interim Variant)

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Bell P-39M-1 Airacobra

   Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Bell P-39M-1 Airacobra for the US aviation tech tree, and this is the final suggestion for the mid-series of P-39 variants in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force services. The P-39M-1 is based on Model 26D with a newer engine.

TL;DR:

A P-39 variant (Model 26D) akin to the P-39L-1 but with a different Allison V-1710-83 (1,200 hp), gaining ten mph faster at 15,000 feet.

History

The P-39M-1 was the third and final 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-39M-1 started with a company designation of Model 26D, and the new-built P-39M-1s were equipped with a new 11-foot 1-inch diameter Aeroproducts propeller and powered with a new engine, the 1,200 hp V-1710-83 engine with retrofitting capability. The powerplant provided the P-39M-1 improved high-altitude performance, gaining ten mph faster than the P-39L at 15,000 feet. At this altitude, the P-39M attained 370 mph (592 kph) compared with 360 mph (576 kph).

240 P-39M-1s were ordered in August 1941. 157 of 240 were delivered to the Soviet Union under the lend-lease program.

Sources indicated that almost all remaining P-39M-1s in US Army Air Force service were deployed to North Africa & Italy and participated in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in 1943-1944. They served as the low-altitude ground-attack aircraft performing maritime patrol and close air support missions.

Specifications

Bell P-39M-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 constant-speed propeller
  • Powerplant: Allison V-1710-83 liquid-cooled piston engine with single-stage, single-speed supercharger
    → 1,200 hp (883 kW)
  • Internal Fuel: 120 US gal. (454 L)
  • Oil Tankage: 11.7 US gal. (44.3 L)
  • Empty Weight: 6,892 lb (3,126 kg)
  • Gross Weight: 7,755 lb (3,518 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff Weight: 8,550 lb (3,878 kg)

Engine Ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 1,200 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.

  • Military:

    → 990 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ S.L.

    → 1,125 BHP @ 3,000 RPM @ 14,600 ft(4,450 m)

  • Normal:

    → 870 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ S.L.

Performance

  • Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.15 (0.25 kW/kg)
  • Sea Level Speed: 298 mph (480 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 372 mph @ 14,600 ft (4,450 m @ 599 km/h)
  • Wing Loading: 36.4 lb/sq ft (177.7 kg/sq m)
  • Rate of Climb: 2,910 fpm (14.8 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 1.1 minutes to 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
    • 3.3 minutes to 9,850 ft (3,000 m)
    • 4.5 minutes to Critical Altitude
  • Service Ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,119 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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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-39M-1 had a historic significance in its role in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations despite limited service as a ground-attack aircraft in the US Army Air Forces, and it was the last aircraft of the mid-series of the P-39 variants before the P-39Ns and P-39Qs. Performance-wise, the P-39M-1 performs better at higher altitudes than the P-39K-1 and P-39L-1 but worsens at lower altitudes. This variant 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! 😃

2

Gib! and for the USSR aswell

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