Would you like to see this in-game?
This suggestion was originally posted on the legacy forum and has been imported over here following its permanent shutdown.
Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning
Hello everybody. I’d like to reintroduce and suggest the Lockheed P-38H Lightning for War Thunder. The P-38H was an interim variant with an airframe of the late-block P-38G and more powerful engines of the P-38J. The P-38H-5 was introduced in mid-1943 as the final production batch of Lightnings with the original ‘sweptback’ engine cowling configuration.
Key Characteristics
Heavy fighter and interceptor
Turbo-supercharged Allison V-1710-89/-91 (1,425 hp each) powerplants
New 20-mm M2(c) cannon
New automatic cooling system
More underwing racks capable of carrying 3,200 lb of suspended armament
History
The P-38H Lightning was an improved variant of the P-38G, featuring a new 20-mm M2(c) cannon instead of the old M1 cannon and more underwing racks to carry a 3,200 lb payload. It was powered by 1425-hp Allison V-1710-89/91 engines with new coolant shutters, turbo superchargers, and automatic oil radiator flaps as the solution to the overheating problems.
The P-38H was the standard version of the Lightning during the second half of 1943. It was a stopgap for the P-38G, while the near-definitive P-38J would eventually appear later and replace the early Lightning models. 601 P-38Hs were built with two production blocks: 226 H-1s and 375 H-5s.
Both P-38H-1-LOs and P-38H-5-LOs had different versions of their turbo-superchargers. The P-38H-5-LO was fitted with newer B-33 turbo-superchargers instead of the older B-13, improving high-altitude performance.
The first of 226 P-38H-1-LOs went into service in May of 1943, and these P-38Hs debuted their first operational service in England in September 1943 to escort the B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 8th Air Force. These P-38Hs belonged to the 55th Fighter Group and regularly performed escort missions with the B-17 raids over Europe. Sometimes, they flew on intruder missions where they could cruise much further into Germany, enough to reach Berlin to intercept anything within their sight.
The P-38Hs of the 8th Air Force were discovered to have reliability issues with their turbo-superchargers in high-altitude and cold-weather operations. The engines of the P-38H were subjected to detonation if they were operated at high power for extended periods, and the intercooler system integral to the wing leading edges restricted the P-38H from reaching its potential performance. These issues were seen in P-38Gs. Therefore, the decision was made to restrict P-38Hs to operate at continuous 1,240 horsepower, a total loss of 370 hp, 160 hp less than the P-38G. Instantly, the P-38Hs were more unpopular with the pilots and senior officers. Nevertheless, the P-38H was reportedly two mph faster than the P-38G.
Consequently, the restricted performance of P-38H did not allow the maneuvering flap to be used at high altitudes for dog-fighting battles. Those problems were solved when the intercoolers were
Specifications
Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning
General Characteristics
Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Dimensions:
Length: 37 ft 10 in (11.5 m)
Height: 9 ft 9.75 in (2.99 m)
Span: 52 ft (15.85 m)
Wing area: 327.5 sq ft (30.42 sq m)
Propellers: 2 x 3-bladed constant-speed propellers
Powerplants: 2 x turbo-supercharged piston engines, Allison V-1710-89(Right)/-91(Left)
Output: 2,850 hp @ (2,889.53 ps)
Fuel/Oil:
Internal Fuel: 300 US gal. (1,135 L)
Oil Tankage: 26 US gal. (98.4 L)
Weights:
Empty: 12,380 lb (5,615 kg)
Gross: 16,300 lb (7,394 kg)
Engine Ratings
Take-Off (Sea Level):
1,425 hp @ 3,000 rpm @ 54.0” hg
War Emergency (S.L. - 15,000 ft):
1,600 hp @ 3,000 rpm @ 60.0” hg
Maximum Continuous (S.L. - 28,000 ft):
1,000 hp @ 2,600 rpm @ 44.0” hg
Performance
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.175 hp/lb (0.39 ps/kg)
Wing Loading: 49.8 lb/sq ft (243.1 kg/sq m)
Critical Altitude Speed: 402 mph @ 25,000 ft (647 km/h @ 7,620 m)
Time to Altitude: 6.5 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,192 m)
Max. Range: 2,400 miles (3,862 km)
Armament
Guns:
1 x 20-mm M2(C) cannon (150 Rounds)
4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (2,000 Rounds)
Bombs:
2 x 1000-lb bombs
2 x 500-lb bombs
4 x 250-lb bombs
Rockets:
Drop Tanks:
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
I made this suggestion to request more World War II-era vehicles for War Thunder. This P-38H would make a welcoming addition to the P-38 Lightning family in War Thunder. The P-38H could be a great addition to a folder with P-38G in the tech tree for anyone, and the P-38H would enjoy upgrades over the P-38G with an improved 20mm cannon, slightly better performance, and more bombs.
Related Suggestions
poll
This suggestion was originally posted on the legacy forum and has been imported over here following its permanent shutdown.
[image]
Lockheed P-38D Lightning
Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Lockheed P-38D Lightning for War Thunder. It received minor improvements and is slightly different from the YP-38 in the game. Please pardon my short writeup story since there is not much information about this variant due to a short-lived history of service in the US Army …
poll
[image]
Lockheed P-38F-15-LO Lightning
Hello everybody. I’d like to introduce and suggest the Lockheed P-38F Lightning for War Thunder. The P-38F is an intermediate variant between P-38E and P-38G with different engines, underwing racks, and combat flaps.
[image]
Key Characteristics
Heavy fighter and interceptor
First production variant with inboard underwing racks after P-38E
Turbo-supercharged Allison V-1710-49/-53 (1,325 hp each) powerplants
New combat flaps, which the P-38E…
poll
This suggestion was revised and reposted from my original suggestion in old forums.
[image]
Lockheed P-38M Lightning
Hello everyone. I’d like to re-introduce and suggest the Lockheed P-38M Lightning for War Thunder. This P-38M is the final and unique combat variant after the P-38L and was built as a two-seat night fighter with a radar pod.
The technical information regarding the P-38M is very limited and difficult to find online. I request your assistance in finding additional …
Sources
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
4 Likes
Looks awesome!!! Would love this!! With that kind of bomb load I know where lighting will strike ;)
1 Like
Have a +1 from me, I’d definitely love to see more P-38s pop up
1 Like
Updated P-38H-5 History and Specifications with Engine Ratings; added Supplemental Data and Diagrams sections.
