Japanese Curtiss P-40N-5

Suggestions Aircraft
1
Would you like to see this in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters

IMG_20250308_132746_143
IMG_20250308_132746_1431920×1440 148 KB

Japanese Curtiss P-40N-5
In June 1944, the 44th Army Air Squadron captured one Chinese Curtiss P-40N-5 fighter, whose pilot deserted to Japan. This P-40N-5 was sent to Japan for testing and remained there until the end of the war. In October 1944, this aircraft was sent to the Air Force Academy (formerly the Akeno Army Aviation School), where it was used for training. It is not known whether the plane survived until the end of the war.
History
In June 1944, during Operation Xianggui, the 44th Army Air Squadron (Military Reconnaissance Unit) was stationed at Bairaya Airport in central China. On the evening of one of the quiet days, Lieutenant Ohori Mamoru walked through the airport towards his barracks. Suddenly, the airfield’s air defense began firing at the enemy aircraft, which under normal conditions was camouflaged to avoid destruction. Air defense fired at a single Chinese fighter, which was immediately recognized as a Curtiss P-40. The plane made a signal that it was surrendering (it pulled out the landing gear and tilted the wings). The anti-aircraft defenses, seeing this signal, immediately stopped firing, allowing the intruder to land. The plane landed safely and was quickly surrounded by the gendarmerie. The pilot of the P-40 fighter turned out to be American (the plane had Chinese markings) and informed that he was surrendering. The pilot explained that he was in conflict with his superiors and decided to surrender to the Japanese. To this end, he stole a new P-40N-5 fighter, which was sent to China via India. The Japanese gendarmerie arrested the American pilot, and his plane, which was extremely valuable, was hidden in a camouflaged bunker, guarded by anti-aircraft defenses. The pilots of the 44th Air Squadron, who flew Ki-46 fighters, were not happy with the ineffectiveness of the anti-aircraft defense, but when they learned that a modern enemy fighter had been captured thanks to this, they were very happy. The aircraft was tested by the personnel of the 44th Squadron to see if everything in it worked. Then, probably in June 1944, the aircraft was sent by air to the Japanese islands, where it was sent to the Japanese Koku Gijutsu Kenkyujo (Aviation Technical Research Laboratory or Gi Ken) test center in Tachikawa. The aircraft was then thoroughly tested and examined. In October or September, the P-40N aircraft was delivered to the Air Force Academy (formerly the Akeno Army Aviation School). The plane there, as very modern and often found in China, was to help train pilots. The plane was painted all black, only the number on the tail was yellow. The plane probably retired until the end of the war, or was destroyed earlier. There are also reports of one more P-40N-5 fighter captured, which ditched forcibly on the Yangtze, but there is no detailed information about it.

Photos of the Japanese Curtiss P-40N-5

IMG_20250308_132753_048
IMG_20250308_132753_0481920×1066 100 KB

The appearance of the aircraft immediately after capture ^
IMG_20250308_132746_143
IMG_20250308_132746_1431920×1440 148 KB

Photo of the personnel of the 44th Air Squadron with an intercepted Curtiss P-40N-5 ^
IMG_20250308_132726_389
IMG_20250308_132726_3891920×1440 119 KB

Curtiss P-40N-5 in Japan, October 1944 ^

Construction description
The Curtiss P-40N-5 is similar to the Curtiss P-40E, but there are some important differences between them, which I will describe here.

  1. The 1240 hp (920 kW) Allison V-1710-39 engine was changed to the 1,200 hp (895 kW) Allison V-1710-81 engine
  2. Redesigned cockpit canopy and headrest to increase visibility
  3. The entire aircraft was modified to be lighter by about 100 kg
  4. Oil coolers and coolers have been changed to aluminum
  5. Smaller diameter chassis wheels installed
  6. The aircraft has the same tail as the P-40F-10
Technical sketches

p40n-1
p40n-11200×1748 430 KB

image
image

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 10,16 m
  • Wingspan: 11,37 m
  • Height: 3,76 m
  • Wing area: 21,93 m2
  • Empty weight: 3,039 kg
  • Gross weight: 3,810 kg
  • Maximum Take-off Weight: 5,216 kg
  • Powerplant: 1 × Allison V-1710-81 liquid-cooled V12 engine with 1,200 hp (896 kW) takeoff power
  • Propellers: Three-bladed fixed-speed propeller with a diameter of 3,360 mm

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 563 km/h
  • Cruise speed: ?
  • Range: 1,207 km
  • Maximum Range: ?
  • Service ceiling: 9,449 m
  • Climb Rate: 9.45 m/s
  • Time to altitude: 7.32 minutes to 4,267 m

Armament

  1. Guns:
  • 6 x M2 Browning machine guns caliber 12.7mm (235 rpg; 1,410 rounds)
  1. Bombs:
  • 1 x 454 kg (1000lb) bomb (under fuselage)
  • 1 x 227 kg (500lb) bomb (under fuselage)
  • 2 x 454 kg (1000lb) bomb (under the wings)
  • 2 x 227 kg (500lb) bomb (under the wings)
  • 2 x 45 kg (100lb) bomb (under the wings)
  1. Rocket
  • 6 x M8 rocket launchers (under the wings)
  1. Fuel dump tanks
  • 1 x 196 l in additional tanks

Armour

  • front glass resistant 38mm
  • 9 mm armor plate integrated into the dashboard
  • 8mm of armour behind the pilot and the pilot’s headrest
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks

Summary
The Curtiss P-40N-5 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This fighter is characterized by great firepower, and large armament against ground targets. This aircraft has an interesting history behind it and fits perfectly as an event or premium aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.

Internet sources

Curtiss P-40N-5 Warhawk - The Final Warhawk Master Variant - Suggestions / Aircraft - War Thunder — official forum
Curtiss P-40N - China - War Thunder - Official Forum
P-40 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - Wikipedia
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk variants - Wikipedia
U.S. Army Air Force Resource Center - A Warbirds Resource Group Site
samolotypolskie.pl - Curtiss P-40 “Tomahawk”
Curtiss P-40N Warhawk

Book sources

fun
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
gigachad

3 Likes
2

Alright so firstly the fact that the plane wore Chinese markings and was flown by an American indicates that it was likely a member of the Flying Tigers AVG, (unable to confirm due to lack of clear pictures that show the side of the aircraft) and according to official sources no member of the Flying Tigers ever defected to Japan so that statement is completely false, however, there are records that 14 members of the flying tigers were KIA/MIA (MIA does extend to captured individuals) so more than likely the pilot was forced to surrender for some reason or another. (most likely the plane was hit in a critical and the pilot opted to surrender rather than attempt to return to base with a damaged aircraft)

Basically, the pilot surrendered, a major difference from defecting

oh yea btw

this makes no sense as it indicates that the Japanese began to shoot their own airport
it would make more sense to say that the “air defenses across the airport opened fire”

3

First, the pilot was a deserter who stole a Chinese P-40N that had just arrived in China. It is not stated who the pilot was. Second, it was the translator’s fault (English is not my native language)

4

in that case he most likely was not an actual pilot then and probably was a mechanic (yes mechanics can fly an aircraft if they are familiar enough with the aircraft, after all maintenance does involve operating the aircraft systems)

5

It could even have been a B-29 pilot. It was 1944, and there were quite a few Americans in China at that time.

6

Unlikely since a b29 pilot would not know how to operate a p40 it would have been a mechanic or a pilot familiar with another fighter

7

Okay, that doesn’t change the fact that the P-40N-5 pilot who deserted, stole a plane from a Chinese plane and defected to Japanese forces was an American.

8

dude I was just saying that you should… oh wait I forgot to hit enter when I updated it, my bad

I was just saying that you should change it from saying he was a pilot to saying he’s an individual

9

I corrected the text, now it should be better. And I leave the phrase “pilot” so that it is known that it is about an American who flew in a P-40

10

Japanese copy paste

-1

1 Like
11

This statement makes no sense. There is no P-40N in the game. Just XD

1 Like
12

But in the case P-40N gets added, it is indeed complete copy paste.

13

Not entirely true. There are many versions of the P-40N. The US can get the P-40N-1, P-40N-5, P-40N-10, P-40N-15, P-40N-20, P-40N-25, P-40N-30 and P-40N-40. Other countries can also get different versions of the P-40N. Although Gajin is famous for Copy Paste, Japan can get the unique P-40N-5 when others get better versions

14

Honestly don’t see Japan mounting US bombs since they wouldn’t have any.
If anything, the largest would be the 500 kg bombs, 2 and 2 250’s. But that’s only if Gaijin actually adds the P-40N and not just copy and paste the characteristics, stats, etc, from significantly worse the P-40E-1.

15

This is entirely up to Gaijin what ordanance it will get.
If it was technical possible, then they can use it as a balancing option, even when this particular plane didnt came with any ordanace.
wouldnt be the first time they would do this (R27ER on the german Mig 29 for instance)

16

That is true.

17

Still not unique for Japanese, it would be really cool event or premium though where Copy Paste belong to :D

18

Honestly, the Japanese should get a premium P-40E in a folder with a premium P-40N-5. Both of these aircraft models entered Japanese service, so it’s not like the Swedish Tiger

2 Likes
19

Perhaps you could add that you suggest it as a premium vehicle :). Edit: My mistake. It was already suggested as such

20

Already did as mentioned in the summary section:

Furthermore, Grzegames has already suggested the Japanese P-40E and even proposed to add it as the premium aircraft.

1 Like