- Yes
- No
The North American Mustang Mk.II was an early variant of the famed P-51 Mustang series that was operated by the British Royal Air Force during World War II. The Mk.II version—known in US service as the P-51A—featured improved engine performance and revised armament compared to its predecessor, the Mustang Mk.I. This variant is currently underrepresented in game compared to versions of the P-51, P-51C, and P-51D.
History
Between late 1942 and early 1943, 50 P-51A aircraft were supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease agreements. In British service, the aircraft was designated as Mustang Mk.II. Compared to the earlier Mk.I variant, the Mustang Mk.II featured an improved 1,200 hp Allison V-1710-81 engine, which enhanced its performance over the Mk.I’s V-1710-39. The RAF primarily used the Mustang Mk.II for reconnaissance and ground-attack missions, capitalizing on its low-altitude speed and agility. Pilots conducted “Rhubarb” raids, targeting enemy transportation and infrastructure across occupied Europe. The Mustang Mk.II remained in RAF service through the end of WW2, with the last units being retired in 1945.
Performance
There are some discrepancies among online sources that seem to quote performance data from the earlier Mustang Mk.I/P-51 as the specs for the Mustang Mk.II. I have used the in-game specs for the US tree P-51A below.
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Engine: Allison V-1710-81 (1,200 hp)
- Max Speed: 668 kph (415 mph) mph at 3,169 m (10,396 feet)
- Climb Rate: 15.7 m/s (51.5 ft/s)
- Turn Time: 20 s
- Takeoff Run: 370 m
- Armament: Four wing-mounted 0.50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns; two wing stations, each capable of holding 500 lb bombs or drop tanks
Place in Game
Because the P-51C & D series are so iconic in the history of the USAF/USAAF, it’s often overlooked that North American originally designed the Mustang to meet British requirements (before backdooring their way into American ranks). The American P-51A is already in the game, although it features a fictional eSports skin and has been unobtainable for nearly 10 years. There are currently many versions of the P-51C and P-51D across multiple tech trees, but the only P-51A variant in-game is unobtainable for most players and exceedingly rare.
In-game, the Mustang Mk.II could slot into the British tech tree in Rank II, Line 1. The BR would likely be 3.0, as the performance is effectively identical to the (extremely rare) US P-51A event vehicle. Due to its capabilities (top speed, climb rate, turn rate, and armament), it would fit best after the Typhoon Mk.Ia. It would provide an alternative playstyle to the Spitfires at this rank, and more subtle differences to the Typhoon Mk.Ia. The aircraft’s versatility also enables it to perform ground-attack missions, targeting enemy vehicles and installations. Its inclusion would provide players with a historically significant aircraft that offers diverse gameplay options within the mid-tier range of the British aviation lineup.
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