- Yes
- No
Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Curtiss P-40N-5 Warhawk for USA Aviation. This is part of my series of suggestions for P-40 variants used in the US Army Air Corps and US Army Air Force. The P-40N variant was the most produced version of the Warhawk, with over 5,000 units built. It was designed to be lighter and offer improved flight performance compared to earlier models. Starting with the P-40N-5 (Model 87W), this subvariant featured a redesigned canopy to enhance the pilot’s field of vision.
History
The P-40N, beginning with the N-1 production block, was initially an effort to create a lightweight version of the Warhawk following the P-40L and P-40M. It removed wing racks, reduced the number of wing guns to four, and decreased internal fuel capacity to reduce weight. The first units were delivered in March 1943.
By late 1943, the framed canopies that were standard on all US Army Air Forces fighters except the P-38 were poor in combat, as they severely limited the pilot’s visibility, so the P-40N-5 production block introduced a new canopy design, distinct from the bubble canopies of the P-47Ds and P-51Ds. The spine behind the cockpit was redesigned, and the two rear windows were removed. The fuselage skin was replaced with an angled decking over the fuselage tank, covered by a clear glazing with two small frames. A frameless sliding hood was also added. While not a true bubble canopy, this design provided significantly improved visibility. All N variants from N-5 and onward retained this cockpit canopy.
The N-5 restored the six-gun wing configuration and wing racks due to pilot complaints about insufficient firepower. With the addition of new wing racks, its external load capacity increased to 2,500 pounds. Three drop tanks could be carried, extending its ferry range to 3,100 miles.
P-40Ns up to the -15 production block were powered by the Allison V-1710-81 engine, also used in the P-40M, producing 1,200 horsepower. Despite increases in empty and gross weights, the P-40N-5’s top speed was only 2 to 4 mph slower than the P-40N-1 (375 mph vs. 378 mph).
A total of 1,100 P-40N-5s were produced and delivered to the USAAF by August 1943. Exported P-40Ns were designated Kittyhawk IVs in Royal Air Force service. Of the 586 P-40Ns intended for Britain, the first 130 were diverted to the USSR.
In Europe, the P-40N saw limited use as a pure fighter due to its inability to perform high-altitude missions without a two-stage supercharger. However, it excelled as a fighter-bomber in Italy and Far East, providing close air support and ground attack capabilities. In addition, it achieved success as a fighter in the Pacific, India, Burma, and China. Elsewhere, P-40Ns were primarily used for training as newer aircraft like the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt became more widely available.
According to reports, many pilots in the China-Burma-India theater preferred the P-40N over the Mustang and Thunderbolt, citing its reliability. These aircraft played a key role in Operation Ichi-Go, the final major Japanese offensive in China in 1944. P-40Ns and P-40Ms of the 14th Air Force disrupted Japanese operations in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles.
By the autumn of 1944, American air units in China were forced to retreat. That year also saw a sharp increase in P-40 losses. By early 1945, P-40s were withdrawn from frontline service as P-51 Mustangs arrived in large numbers, though some units continued using the aircraft until April 1945.
Specifications
Curtiss P-40N-5 WarhawkGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 33 ft 3.72 in (10.15 m)
- Height: 12 ft 4.5 in (3.77 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
- Powerplant: Allison V-1710-81 piston engine
→ 1,200 hp (895 kW)- Internal Fuel: 157 US gal. (594 L)
- Oil Tankage: 8.75 US gal. (33.1 L)
- Empty Weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)
- Gross Weight: 8,400 lb (3,810 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 11,500 lb (5,216 kg)
Engine ratings
Takeoff:
→ 1,200 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ S.L.
War Emergency:
→ 1,480 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 10,000 ft
Military:
→ 1,125 bhp @ 3,000 rpm @ 17,000 ft
Normal:
→ 1,000 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ S.L. - 14,400 ft
Performance @ Military Power
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.14 hp/lb (0.23 kW/kg)
- Critical Altitude Speed: 350 mph @ 16,400 ft (563 km/h @ 5,000 m)
- Rate of Climb: 1,860 fpm (9.45 m/s)
- Time to Altitude: 7.32 minutes to 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
- Service Ceiling: 31,000 ft (9,449 m)
- Combat Range: 750 miles (1,207 km)
Armament
Guns:
- 6 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (235 rpg; 1,410 rounds)
Bombs:
- Centerline
- 1 x 1,000-lb bomb
- 1 x 500-lb bomb
- Wings
- 2 x 1,000-lb bomb
- 2 x 500-lb bomb
Rockets:
- 6 x M8 rocket launchers
Drop Tank:
- 52-gal drop tank
Diagrams
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
I’m suggesting the P-40N-5 to expand the range of World War II-era vehicles in War Thunder. As the most produced and final variant of the Warhawk, the P-40N-5 represents the culmination of its design evolution and deserves a place in the game. Performance-wise, the P-40N-5 would outperform all earlier Warhawk variants except the P-40N-1, N-20, N-40, and XP-40Q. Its inclusion would be a valuable addition to the P-40 Warhawk family in US Aviation.
See Also – P-40 Family
- Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-40N Series, British Model Kittyhawk IV Airplanes, AN 01-25CN-1 (25 September 1944)
- Memorandum Report on P-40N-5 Airplane, AAF No.42-105241: Performance Tests and Range Survey, Memo Report No. Eng-47-1685-A (14 January 1944)
- Curtiss P-40 in Action (1984)
- P-40 Warhawk In Detail & Scale 63 Part 2 (2002)
- P-40 Performance Tests
- Curtiss P-40N 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! 😃