Curtiss P-40B Warhawk - Vanguard of the Pacific

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Curtiss P-40B Warhawk

   Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Curtiss P-40B Warhawk for USA Aviation, and this is one of my suggestions for the P-40 variants in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force services. The P-40B is the second variant and first combat-ready variant with additional wing machine guns and armor. This aircraft was originally featured on the Future of the American Aviation Tree in War Thunder back on June 30, 2014; however, there were no plans for it, so I made this suggestion to ensure it would get a place in War Thunder one day.

TL;DR:

A second P-40 variant (Model 81A-2) with a 1,040-hp Allison V-1710-33 and two .30-cal. machine guns in each wing w/ partial protections.

History

The P-40B was the second variant developed to address the shortcomings of P-40-CUs, which was criticized for its lack of heavier armament and protection. The first important change was increasing armament by adding two more .30 cal machine guns in the wings to bring the total to four. The second important change was armor added to protect the pilot with a bulletproof windscreen and armored seat. The fuel system was partially protected, which remained a vulnerability problem. The P-40B was designated the Model 81B to differ from the P-40-CU of Model 81A.

131 P-40Bs were ordered and built in September 1940 for the US Army Air Corps to replace the non-combat P-40-CU fleet. Only the deliveries had begun in January 1941 and concluded by April 1941, putting the replacement phase in full effect. All P-40Bs were applied in full prewar camouflage; in contrast to the P-40-CU, the tail stripes and upper right and lower port wing stars were no longer present, but a star appeared on each side of the fuselage.

The first P-40B was built and flew on March 13, 1941. It retained the same dimensions as the P-40-CU, but the weight increased to 5,590 pounds empty and 7,325 pounds gross. Consequently, the P-40B was slightly slower than the P-40-CU due to the additional weight. The P-40B’s maximum speed was 352 mph at 15,000 feet.

Additional 110 P-40Bs were built as Tomahawk Mk. IIs and Mk. IIAs for the Royal Air Force. These aircraft would see their combat action in North Africa.

Most P-40Bs were deployed to the Philippines, while others were deployed to Iceland. A small number of P-40Bs also garrisoned in the Aleutian Islands.

When Japan launched a surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it destroyed a substantial number of P-40Bs and P-40Cs on the ground. Two P-40Bs managed to take off into the air from the airstrip at Haleiwa on that Sunday morning, and Lt. George Welch and Lt. Kenneth Taylor were the pilots in the P-40Bs. These P-40Bs and four P-36As were the only aircraft to take off and defend Pearl Harbor during the attack. Lt. Welch was credited with shooting down four Japanese aircraft during the attack, while Lt. Taylor was also credited with shooting down two Japanese aircraft. The other P-40Bs were attempting to take off from Bellows Field but got shot down by the strafing Japanese aircraft.

Simultaneously, the P-40Bs and P-40Cs belonging to four American squadrons in the Philippines were under attack and destroyed on the ground and in the air by the Japanese fighters. The attack was so severe that within four days, the P-40B/Cs were withdrawn from fighter duties and rather used for urgent reconnaissance only.

The remnants of American pilots, evacuated from the Philippines, formed the 17th Pursuit Squadron in the Dutch East Indies, where they would claim 49 Japanese aircraft destroyed for the loss of 17 P-40B/Cs against the Japanese invasion force. The last serviceable P-40B/Cs were lost on March 2, 1942, and all P-40s in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

The notable 1st American Volunteer Group in China, also known as the Flying Tigers, began their air combat operations against the Japanese forces, starting on December 20, 1941, 12 days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. They used the Tomahawk II As and Bs shipped from the RAF in North Africa as the starting primary fighters before the AVG was disbanded and replaced by the 23rd Fighter Group of the US Army Air Forces on July 4, 1942. The AVG was credited with destroying about 295 enemy aircraft. Its success was more remarkable and superior to Allied air groups in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies in the Pacific theater since the AVG fighters were outnumbered by Japanese fighters in almost all their engagements. Their success was attributed to greater morale and experienced and skilled volunteer pilots eager for combat actions.

P-40B/Tomahawk Mk.II series in British service

As with my P-40B suggestion, @lxtav has already suggested this P-40 variant for the Great Britain section. I highly encourage you to read his suggestions for more information on Curtiss Tomahawk Mk. II series in the British service. Please give your support to his suggestions! 😃

Specifications

Curtiss P-40B Warhawk

General Characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 31 ft 9 in (9.68 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m)
  • Span: 37 ft 3.5 in (11.37 m)
  • Wing Area: 236 sq ft (21.93 sq m)
  • Propeller Type: 3-bladed constant speed propeller
  • Propeller Diameter: 11 ft (3.35 m)
  • Powerplant: Allison V-1710-33 piston engine
    → 1,040 hp (765 kW)
  • Internal Fuel: 160 US gal. (606 L)
  • Empty Weight: 5,590 lb (2,536 kg)
  • Gross Weight: 7,325 lb (3,323 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff Weight: 7,645 lb (3,468 kg)

Engine ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 1,040 bhp @ 2,800 rpm @ S.L.

  • Military:

    → 1,040 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ S.L. - 13,600 ft

  • Normal:

    → 930 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ S.L. - 12,000 ft

Performance

  • Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.14 hp/lb (0.23 kW/kg)
  • Cruising Speed: 273 mph (439 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 352 mph @ 15,000 ft (566 km/h @ 4,572 m)
  • Wing Loading: 31.03 lb/sq ft (151.5 kg/sq m)
  • Rate of Climb: 2,900 fpm (14.7 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude: 5 minutes to 14,750 ft (4,496 m)
  • Service Ceiling: 32,400 feet (9,876 m)
  • Combat Range: 620 miles (998 km)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 2 x .50-cal M2 Browning machine guns (235 rpg; 470 rounds)
    • 4 x .30-cal M1919 Browning machine gun (490 rpg; 1,960 rounds)
Supplemental Data

1172×899 118 KB

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-40B was the most important early Warhawk variant with historical significance, as they were among the first American aircraft to resist German and Japanese air operations in Africa and the Pacific in early 1942. Performance-wise, the P-40B would fly a little faster and lighter than the P-40C because the P-40C has overall heavier armor. Since we have the P-40C as the event premium aircraft, it is logical to add the P-40B as the tech tree aircraft. It would make a certainly welcoming addition to the P-40 Warhawk family for US aviation in War Thunder.

See Also – P-40 Family

Sources

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

2 Likes
2

I love these suggestions youre making. gib me more warbirds

1 Like
3

An absolute +1 from me. The fact we still don’t have a P-40B is just a travesty I mean it is literally one of the most iconic P-40 variants

2 Likes
4

its criminal the lack of P-40 variants in game currently, and even worse that there are no tech tree versions of the H-81 Model in any tree

+1 as a tech tree vehicle for the US and UK trees, its not like im biased at all or anything :P.

1 Like
5

This one is easy, just take the one from the Chinese line and do CTRL+V.
+1