Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Curtiss XP-46 as a potential addition to U.S. aviation in War Thunder. The XP-46 was Curtiss’s prototype fighter, developed in the early 1940s to integrate advanced features observed in European fighters from 1939, just before World War II began. Designed as a potential successor to the P-40 Warhawk, the XP-46 marked Curtiss’s first attempt at moving beyond its prewar designs. Although the aircraft showed promise, the program was ultimately canceled in 1941 due to limited flight performance that offered little or no advantage over the P-40.
Key Characteristics
Army fighter, smaller than the P-40 Warhawk
Inward-retracting landing gear
A 1,150-hp Allison V-1710-39 V-12 engine
Two 0.50-cal. synchronized machine guns in the nose with eight 0.30-cal. guns in the wings
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
Although its performance wasn’t an improvement over the P-40D, I believe the XP-46 would be a fascinating addition to US aviation in War Thunder as a unique, low-tier aircraft. The XP-46 was more than just an attempt to replace the Warhawk since it embodied Curtiss’s vision of one of the first modern fighters for the US Army Air Forces in the early 1940s, drawing lessons learned from advanced European fighter designs. Its impressive firepower, with up to 10 machine guns, would make it an intriguing aircraft to fly. Personally, I’d love to see this compact and elegant aircraft added to the game, as it’s one of the best-looking fighters of its era, in my opinion.
Sources
Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (1979)
The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present (1987)
US Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects - Fighters 1939-1945 (2008)
