Curtiss P-40D-1 Warhawk - An Evolution

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Curtiss P-40D-1 Warhawk

   Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Curtiss P-40D-1 Warhawk for USA Aviation, and this is one of my series of suggestions for the P-40 variants in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force services. The P-40D-1 variant started with a substantially different design, such as a new engine, a new nose design, and a new set of armament. Due to the lowest produced quantity of this variant, I believe this aircraft is worthy as a candidate to become an event, premium, or squadron aircraft in the future.

TL;DR:

A P-40 variant (Model 87A-1) with a 1,150-hp Allison V-1710-39 akin to the P-40E-1 but with four .50 cal machine guns.

History

In May 1941, the V-1710-39 was installed in a new P-40D, and it became the first US variant of the Warhawk to be fitted with one of Allison’s new “F-series” powerplants. The previous “C-series” engines from the earlier P-40s had the drive shaft at the centerline of the block, and the long bullet-shaped housing at the front contained epicyclic gears. The new “F-series” engines had the drive shaft moved upward several inches, and the crankcase at the front of the engine was shortened, making the engine higher from top to bottom.

The installation of the “F-series” engine meant the entire cowling and fuselage forward of the leading edge of the wing had to be redesigned, such as eliminating the two cowl-mounted machine guns. The carburetor scoop on top of the nose was changed from one with a circular cross-section to a broader scoop with an oval cross-section. The chin scoop was enlarged and moved forward. It contained two radiators for the engine coolant. The oil cooler radiator size was increased and mounted below and between them. Inside the chin scoop was a redesigned airflow divider to smooth and channel the air into the three radiators. The overall length of the P-40D was reduced by six inches, including shortening the undercarriage and cross-section of the fuselage.

This engine had originally been proposed for the experimental XP-46 fighter; however, the US Army Air Corps decided to not interrupt the P-40 production lines for a new type. Instead, the P-40 production lines could adapt the new engine to the existing P-40. Since the P-40D was sufficiently different from the previous variants, the P-40D was assigned a new company designation Model 87A.

The P-40D was installed with two .50 cal machine guns with new hydraulic chargers in each wing. Shackles were added under the belly to accommodate a 52-gal drop tank or a 500-lb bomb. It had a redesigned cabin enclosure with a different windscreen and enlarged side windows to improve visibility to the rear. 175 pounds of armor were added around the engine and the cockpit, which enabled it to withstand considerable damage. Consequently, the gross weight was increased to 8,700-8,900 pounds.

After being ordered by the Army on September 13, 1940, the deliveries of P-40Ds were initiated and concluded in late 1941. The first P-40D made its first flight on May 22, 1941. The performance remained poor, with only a maximum speed of 350 mph at 15,000 feet.

A total of 23 P-40Ds were delivered to the Army, and all were applied in full prewar camouflage. The two P-40Ds without block numbers were built for testing purposes without armament, and 21 P-40D-1s with armament were built for service with the Army. This was the lowest quantity of any Warhawk variant built for the US Army.

Additional 560 P-40Ds were built for the Royal Air Force as Kittyhawk Mk.Is. The first 20 of these aircraft were built with the standard four guns, and then the rest were built with six, making them almost identical to the later P-40E and Mk. IA. They would later see their combat action in North Africa.

18 P-40D aircraft flew with the 79th Pursuit Squadron of the 20th Pursuit Group at Hamilton Field, California, with the rest of all the P-40E aircraft, and they participated in large-scale wargames exercises in November 1941. The aircraft on both sides had temporary markings on the fuselages and wings. I found no information regarding the P-40Ds in their further service beyond the fall of 1941. It appeared a handful of P-40Ds survived the war and ended up at the museum.

P-40D-1/Kittyhawk Mk. I in British service

As with my P-40D-1 suggestion, @lxtav has already suggested this P-40 variant for the Great Britain section. I suggest you read his suggestion for more information on Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. I in the British service. Please give your support to his suggestion! 😃

Specifications

Curtiss P-40D-1 Warhawk

General Characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 31 ft 2 in (9.5 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 7.34 in (3.23 m)
  • Span: 37 ft 3.5 in (11.37 m)
  • Wing Area: 236 sq ft (21.9 m)
  • Propeller Type: 3-bladed constant speed propeller
  • Powerplant: Allison V-1710-39 piston engine
    → 1,150 hp (846 kW)
  • Internal Fuel: 148 US gal. (560 L)
  • Empty Weight: 6,208 lb (2,816 kg)
  • Gross Weight: 7,740 lb (3,511 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff Weight: 8,890 lb (4,032 kg)

Engine ratings

  • Takeoff:

    → 1,150 bhp @ 2,800 rpm @ S.L.

  • Military:

    → 1,150 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 15,000 ft

  • Normal:

    → 1,000 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 15,000 ft

Performance

  • Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.15 hp/lb (0.24 kW/kg)
  • Sea Level Speed: 326 mph (525 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude Speed: 354 mph @ 15,175 ft (570 km/h @ 4,625 m)
  • Wing Loading: 32.8 lb/sq ft (160.3 kg/sq m)
  • Rate of Climb: 2,580 fpm (13.1 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude: 6.36 minutes to 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
  • Service Ceiling: 30,600 ft (9,327 m)
  • Combat Range: 800 miles (1,287 m)
  • Max. Range: 1,150 miles (1,851 km)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (610 rpg; 2,460 rounds)
  • Bombs:
    • 1 x 500-lb bomb
  • Drop Tank:
    • 1 x 52-gal drop tank
Supplemental Data

1236×939 173 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. The P-40D was a big step in changing the fundamentals of the model to accommodate the new engine and other changes, and only so few P-40D-1s were built for the Army. The P-40D-1 and the P-40E-1 are very similar; only the P-40D-1 is armed with four .50 machine guns, enough to be unique. Thus, this P-40D-1 would be an excellent choice as a premium aircraft, and it would make a 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! 😃

1 Like
2

+1, we really need for P-40 variants in game, and this could be a good stepping stone from the earlier H-81 models to the later H-87s

1 Like
3

A +1 from me, more early P-40s are always appreciated!

1 Like
4

All P-40 models please!
Plus +1