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This suggestion was originally posted on the legacy forum and has been imported over here following its permanent shutdown.
Lockheed P-38M Lightning
Hello everyone. I’d like to reintroduce 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, and I encourage you to discuss and share your knowledge and findings in the comments on this topic.
Key Characteristics
Converted P-38L into a radar-equipped night fighter
Two-seat night fighter
AN/APS-4 Radar Pod
Conical flash hiders on all guns to conceal visible fire burst signatures
Turbo-supercharged Allison V-1710-111/-113 (1,600 hp each) powerplants
History
The P-38M Lightning is a two-seat night fighter variant of the modified P-38L, fitted with an AN/APS-4 radar pod mounted under the nose. This variant traced back to the outcome of experiments early in 1943; the P-38Fs and P-38Js were modified as the experimental single-seat night fighters by the Fifth Air Force, fitted with SCR540 radar with a yagi antenna on the nose.
Flying the plane and operating the radar at the same time was too much of a job for one pilot, so in October 1944, Lockheed attempted to convert the P-38L into a two-seat night fighter 1944, which was identified as the P-38L-5-LO Serial Number 44-25237. An extra crew, a radar operator, would sit aft of the pilot under a raised section of the canopy, but it was very cramped for the radar operator to sit in. The aircraft was fitted with an AN/APS-4 radar in an external radome underneath the nose. It was also fitted with anti-flash gun muzzles. They were the flash eliminators to aid the pilot in retaining night vision when they were fired.
The conversion was successful, and it flew for the first time in January 1945, recording a top speed of 406 mph at 15,000 feet as compared to only 369 mph at 20,000 feet for the Northrop P-61A Black Widow. The Army Air Corps issued a contract for Lockheed to convert 80 P-38L-5-LOs into the P-38M twin-seat night fighters. They were painted glossy black overall.
However, deployment of the P-38M night fighters was delayed while crews were trained to use the new aircraft. The P-38Ms were reported to have only seen operational service in the Pacific in the last few days of the war, too late to score any kills. They remained in Japan with the 418th Night Fighter Squadron before phasing out early in 1946.
Specifications
Lockheed P-38M Lightning
General Characteristics
Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Operator)
Dimensions:
Length: 37 ft 10 in (11.5 m)
Height: 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m)
Span: 52 ft (15.85 m)
Wing area: 327 sq ft (30.4 sq m)
Propellers: 2 x 3-bladed electric constant-speed propellers
Powerplants: 2 x turbo-supercharged piston engines, Allison V-1710-111(Right)/-113(Left)
Output: 3,200 hp (3,244.38 ps)
Fuel/Oil:
Internal Fuel: 416 US gal. (1,575 L)
Oil Tankage: 26 US gal. (98.4 L)
Weights:
Empty: ~12,800 lb (5,805 kg)
Gross: 17,646 lb (8,008 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: 0.18 hp/lb (0.40 ps/kg)
Wing Loading: 54 lb/sq ft (264 kg/sq m)
Critical Altitude Speed: 406 mph @ 15,000 ft (654 km/h @ 4,572 m)
Time to Climb: 8.7 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
Service Ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,411 m)
Weapons System
Radar:
Guns:
1 x 20-mm M2(c) Cannon (150 Rounds) with flash hiders
4 x .50-cal. Heavy Machine Guns (2,000 Rounds) with flash hiders
Rockets:
10 x 5-inch (127-mm) HVAR rockets
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-38M would make a welcoming addition to the P-38 Lightning family in War Thunder and is a perfect, unique variant of the P-38 that offers a lighter alternative to the heavier P-63 Black Widow.
Related Suggestions
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This suggestion was originally posted on the legacy forum and has been imported over here following its permanent shutdown.
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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 …
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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.
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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…
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This suggestion was originally posted on the legacy forum and has been imported over here following its permanent shutdown.
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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…
Sources
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
3 Likes
YES YES YES YES!!! I’ve wanted this for so long!!!
2 Likes
Oh absolutely, 100% yes. You can take my +1
1 Like
I sure am glad I didn’t have to sit in that rear cockpit.
+1
1 Like
Updated P-38M Specifications with Engine Ratings; added Supplemental Data and Diagrams sections.
1 Like
YESSSS PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I WAS SHIPPIN THE P-38E (or G) WITH THE P-61 BUT NOW-… Bruh what did i just say??? Nvm. BRING IT TO THE GAMEEEE (green p-38 + P-61 = better heheheeheheheh)
+1 would make a great supplement to the P-61C
