- Yes
- No
Hello and welcome to my next installment of suggestions for the North American Mustang (AKA P-51) in UK service! I feel these could come to game to give the UK a high performance fighter to provide a different playstyle to what most aircraft in the British Tree have. I highly recommend reading my previous suggestion on the Mustang Mk.III for some context on what I will talk about in this suggestion.
History
Spoiler
The RAF had tried to fix the issues with the Mk.III however it was clear that a more effective solution was needed, even with the Malcolm hood it was still difficult for Pilots to check their six, and by this stage of the war, its armament of only 4 12.7mm machine guns was quite lacking compared to the newer german fighters and their multiple 20mm and 30mm cannons. This lead to the improved P-51D variant, incorporating a new ‘Bubble’ canopy and an improved armament of two more 12.7mm guns alongside a variety of various other improvements.
Of this new variant, 292 were sent to the RAF with them being dubbed the Mustang Mk.IV, this variant was a massive upgrade over the P-51s the RAF already had, it provided greater armament than ever before, better visibility than most RAF fighters and flight performance that outperformed many Axis fighters. These attributes paired with its incredible range made it ideal for escorting Allied bombers from the UK in raids over Europe, where the Mustang Gained its fame.
Another improvement over the Previous Variants was the improved Ordinance capability, the Wing attachments had been strengthened allowing for bomb loads of up to 1000 lbs under each wing, making the Mustang even more of a Multirole wonder when used in the Army Cooperation role the RAF often placed them in.
The Mustangs served in a variety of places with the British, ranging from southern Italy, Africa, the Middle east and even as far flung as the Far east and New zealand. they were also sent to several Commonwealth nations including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Overall although supplied through lend lease, many of the Mk.IVs and Later Mk.IVAs would go on to serve as far as 1947 under Fighter command instead of being returned at the end of the war like most aircraft.
Images
Spoiler
One of the Earliest P-51Ds, transferred to the RAF for evaluation, its original USAAF serial was only partially removed
Several Mustang Mk.IVs in flight over Southern Italy, 1946
One of the Mustangs of the RNZAF
A line of Mustangs in Israel, 1945
An Image showing the Machine gun layout of the Mustang Mk.IV, the inner pair had more ammo than the outer guns
Specs/Armament (effectively identical to the early P-51D in game)
Spoiler
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
- Height: 13 ft 4.5 in (4.077 m) tail wheel on ground, vertical propeller blade
- Wing area: 235 sq ft (21.8 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5.83
- Airfoil: NAA/NACA 45–100
- Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,463 kg)
- Gross weight: 9,200 lb (4,173 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,488 kg) 5,490
- Fuel capacity: 269 US gal (224 imp gal; 1,020 L)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163
- Drag area: 3.80 sqft (0.35 m²)
- Powerplant: 1 × Packard (Rolls-Royce) V-1650-7 Merlin 12-cylinder liquid cooled engine, 1,490 hp (1,110 kW) at 3,000 rpm; 1,720 hp (1,280 kW) at WEP
- Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard, constant-speed, variable-pitch), 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 440 mph (710 km/h, 383 kn)
- Cruise speed: 362 mph (583 km/h, 315 kn)
- Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
- Range: 1,650 mi (2,660 km, 1,434 nmi) with external tanks
- Service ceiling: 41,900 ft (12,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag: 14.6
- Wing loading: 39 lb/sq ft (190 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.162 / 0.187 hp/lb (0.266 / 0.307 kW/kg) (without / with WEP)
- Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
Guns:
- 6 x 12.7mm Machine guns (500 rpg on inner pair, 270 rpg on outer four)
Rockets
- up to 10 HVAR unguided Rockets
- Possibly RP-3s (was fitted to previous RAF Mustangs but no proof on the Mk.IV)
Bombs
- Up to 1000 lbs of bombs under each wing
Place in game
Spoiler
In game the Mustang Mk.IV would be very similar to the P-51D perhaps only with British Ordinance instead of American, it would most likely sit around the same BR of 4.0 and would offer a different playstyle to the Spitfires that sit at that BR, as most British Aircraft at prop tiers are more geared towards turn fighting and this would provide a different and interesting playstyle with a High performance Boom and Zoom fighter capable of retaining energy in a vertical rate fight.
Sources