- Yes
- No
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
The appearance of the aircraft immediately after capture ^
Photo of the personnel of the 44th Air Squadron with an intercepted Curtiss P-40N-5 ^
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.
- The 1240 hp (920 kW) Allison V-1710-39 engine was changed to the 1,200 hp (895 kW) Allison V-1710-81 engine
- Redesigned cockpit canopy and headrest to increase visibility
- The entire aircraft was modified to be lighter by about 100 kg
- Oil coolers and coolers have been changed to aluminum
- Smaller diameter chassis wheels installed
- The aircraft has the same tail as the P-40F-10
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
- Guns:
- 6 x M2 Browning machine guns caliber 12.7mm (235 rpg; 1,410 rounds)
- 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)
- Rocket
- 6 x M8 rocket launchers (under the wings)
- 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
- 日本軍鹵獲機秘録 (Secret records of captured aircraft of the Japan army) page 99,126-127
- Monografie Lotnicze No.64 Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk/Warhawk, Cz.1
(Monografie Lotnicze No.64) Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk/Warhawk, Cz.1 | PDF
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