- Yes
- No
Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Curtiss P-40L-15 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-40L variant was a lightweight development of the P-40F and retained the Merlin engine as an attempt to improve the overall flight performance.
History
The P-40L was a lightweight development of the P-40F with the Merlin engine to improve the performance and roll rate in short-range combat by reducing weight. The armament was reduced to four machine guns, and the amount of armor was reduced. The internal fuel capacity was downsized from 157 to 120 gallons. Another minor change was that a panel was added on the left side of the widescreen that could be opened for ventilation. This change only distinguished and differentiated the P-40Ls from the P-40Fs and became standard on the P-40M and P-40N. Although 250 to 450 pounds were removed, the performance did not improve as much as hoped, and the P-40L was only 4 mph faster than the P-40F at a certain altitude.
The production of 700 P-40Ls was initiated in around fall 1942 and divided into five blocks; the 50 P-40L-1s had the short fuselage and no major changes; 220 P-40L-5s had longer fuselage with two wing guns removed and reduced fuel capacity; 148 P-40L-10s had armor deleted from around the cooling tank and had electrical aileron trim tabs and engine control changes; 112 P-40L-15s had a revised carburetor air filter and different signal lights of two identification light added under the aft fuselage; and 170 P-40L-20s had improved radio and electrical systems, but they were about the same as the previous P-40L-15s.
The deliveries of P-40Ls to the US Army Air Forces began in 1943, and the majority of the P-40Ls were heavily used as fighter-bombers in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. 100 P-40Ls were delivered to the Royal Air Force as Kittyhawk Mk.IIs.
Specifications
Curtiss P-40L-15 WarhawkGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 33 ft 3.72 in (10.15 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 Packard/Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-1 liquid-cooled piston engine
→ 1,300 hp (956 kW)- Internal Fuel: 120 US gal. (454 L)
- Empty Weight: 6,480 lb (2,939 kg)
- Gross Weight: 8,080 lb (3,665 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 8,900 lb (4,037 kg)
Engine ratings
Takeoff:
→ 1,300 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ S.L.
War Emergency:
→ 1,300 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 4,600 - 12,000 ft (1,402 - 3,658 m)
Military:
→ 1,240 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 11,500 ft (3,505 m)
→ 1,120 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 18,500 ft (5,639 m)Maximum Continuous:
→ 1,080 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 9,500 ft (2,896 m)
→ 1,010 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 16,000 ft (4,877 m)Performance
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.16 hp/lb (0.26 kW/kg)
- Cruising Speed: 250 mph (402 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed: 370 mph @ 20,000 ft (595 km/h @ 6,096 m)
- Wing Loading: 34.24 lb/sq ft (167.17 kg/sq m)
- Rate of Climb: 2,580 fpm (13.1 m/s)
- Service Ceiling: 36,600 ft (11,156 m)
- Combat Range: 650 miles (1,046 km)
- Max. Range: 1,375 miles (2,213 km) w/ 170-gal external ferrying tanks
Armament
- Guns:
- 4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (235 rpg, 940 rounds)
- Bombs:
- 1 x 1000-lb bomb
- 1 x 500-lb bomb
- Drop Tank:
- 1 x 52-gal drop tank
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 lightweight P-40L variant was pretty unique as an attempt to improve its overall performance, and not only that, it also had a significant history with its service in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where the American units would commonly use this P-40 Warhawk as their primary frontline fighter. Performance-wise, the P-40L-15 was lighter and a little faster than their P-40 counterparts, but the firepower was limited. Thus, this P-40L-15 would make a welcoming addition to the P-40 Warhawk family for US Aviation in War Thunder.
See Also – P-40 Family
- Curtiss P-40 in Action (1984)
- P-40 Warhawk In Detail & Scale 63 Part 2 (2002)
- Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for P-40F and P-40.pdf
- Curtiss P-40L Warhawk
- P-40 Warhawk Variants
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk variants - Wikipedia
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - Wikipedia
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk development history
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Performance Figures
- Curtiss P-40 - Introduction
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃