North American P-51B-5 Mustang - 'B' Variant with a Malcolm Hood

[Nostalgistic]

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North American P-51B-5 Mustang

   Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the North American P-51B-5 Mustang for US aviation in War Thunder. The P-51B-5 was the subsequent subvariant of the P-51B-1. Like the P-51B-1, the B-5 still had a smaller fuel capacity, and this subvariant had seen more action in early 1944 over Europe. It also received the British-designed Malcolm Hood canopy, which improved pilot visibility and safety compared to the earlier framed “razorback” canopy.

TL;DR:

An initial Merlin-powered P-51 variant of the B-5 block variant with a smaller fuel capacity, an alternate air source grill on each side of the nose, a Malcolm Hood, and access to M8 rocket launchers.

History

After the successful test flights of the Merlin-powered XP-51B, an order for 400 P-51B-1s was placed, with production of the P-51B/C series beginning at the end of January 1943. As demand for the new Mustang grew, the US Army Air Forces expanded the contract with an additional 2,200 P-51Bs.

Once the initial 400 P-51B-1s were completed, production shifted to the new P-51B-5 block. This version introduced an alternate air source grill on each side of the cowling, providing filtered airflow and improved cold-weather operation, absent on the B-1. A total of 800 P-51B-5s were built. Early examples lacked the additional fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat, which improved handling and directional stability but reduced range on escort missions.

The first P-51Bs and P-51Cs began arriving in Britain between August and October 1943, assigned to the 354th, 357th, and 363rd Fighter Groups. On December 1, 1943, the 354th FG flew its first cross-Channel sweep, claiming its first victory over Bremen on December 16. By January 1944, Mustangs were flying long-range escort missions, reinforcing the earlier B-1s with the newer B-5s.

In combat, the P-51B-5s were heavily modified in the field. The most significant addition was the Malcolm Hood, a British-designed perspex canopy that greatly improved rearward visibility and cockpit space. Unlike the original framed canopy, the Malcolm Hood could be slid open easily, offering both better situational awareness and safer bailout capability. Another key modification was the installation of an 85-gallon fuselage fuel tank, extending range to Berlin and beyond.

By March 1944, P-51Bs and Cs were escorting B-17 and B-24 bombers on deep-penetration raids into Germany, where they proved decisive. Capable of fighting effectively after dropping their external tanks, Mustangs devastated Luftwaffe defenses, relieving the pressure on Allied bombers. By summer, with fighter sweeps destroying German aircraft both in the air and on the ground, the daylight bombing campaign shifted decisively in the Allies’ favor.

The razorback Mustang, P-51B/C, remained a mainstay of USAAF fighter units well into 1944. While the bubble-canopy P-51D began arriving in March, the earlier Mustangs continued to serve until war’s end. Even in the final months of the conflict, nearly 1,000 of the 2,500 Mustangs in Europe were still B and C models. These aircraft served not only with the 8th and 9th Air Forces in Britain but also with the 12th and 15th Air Forces in Italy.

Among the most famous P-51B-5s were “DING HAO!” 43-6315 and “Shangri La” 43-6913. DING HAO!, flown by Major James H. Howard of the 354th FG, earned renown when Howard single-handedly defended a bomber formation from more than 30 German fighters on January 11, 1944, downing three aircraft and earning the Medal of Honor, the only such award given to a fighter pilot in the European Theater. His Mustang was later fitted with a Malcolm Hood.

Shangri La, flown by Major Dominic Gentile of the 4th FG, became another iconic B-5. Gentile, a former Spitfire and P-47 pilot, transitioned to the Mustang in February 1944. Between March and April, he claimed 18.5 victories in the aircraft, making him one of the most famous American aces of the war. Though he crashed Shangri La in April while showing off for reporters, the aircraft is an example of the best-known razorback Mustangs of World War II. The next month, he was ordered back to the United States and became a test pilot at Wright Field until after the war. His initial claim of 30 aircraft destroyed was later reduced to a final tally of 19.83 aerial victories.

Specifications

North American P-51B-5 Mustang (Early w/ Malcolm Hood)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
  • Span: 37 ft 0.25 in (11.28 m)
  • Wing Area: 233 sq ft (21.65 sq m)
• Propeller:
  • Type: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed, hydraulic
  • Diameter: 11 ft 2 in (3.4 m)
• Powerplant:
  • Engine: Packard V-1650-3
  • Configuration: supercharged, liquid-cooled inline
  • Power Output: 1,620 hp (1,208 kW)
• Fuel & Oil Capacity:
  • Internal Fuel: 180 US gal. (681 L)
  • Oil Tankage: 13 US gal. (49.2 L)
• Weights:
  • Empty: 7,200 lb (3,266 kg)
  • Gross: 9,300 lb (4,218 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff: 11,300 lb (5,125 kg)

Performance

• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.17 hp/lb (0.28 kW/kg)
• Max Speed:
  • 363 mph @ 5,000 ft (584 km/h @ 1,524 m)
  • 394 mph @ 10,000 ft (634 km/h @ 3,048 m)
  • 425 mph @ 16,800 ft (684 km/h @ 5,121 m)
  • 422 mph @ 23,200 ft (679 km/h @ 7,071 m)
  • 440 mph @ 30,000 ft (708 km/h @ 9,144 m)
• Wing Loading: 39.9 lb/sq ft (195 kg/sq m)
• Rate of Climb:
  • 3,600 fpm(18.3 m/s) @ S.L.
  • 3,570 fpm @ 5,000 ft (18.1 m/s @ 1,524 m)
  • 3,540 fpm @ 10,000 ft (17.98 m/s @ 3,048 m)
  • 2,915 fpm @ 20,000 ft (14.8 m/s @ 6,096 m)
• Time to Altitude:
  • 1.8 minutes to 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • 3.6 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
  • 7 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
• Service Ceiling: 42,000 ft (12,802 m)
• Range:
  • Combat Range 550 - 810 miles (885 - 1,304 km)
  • Max. Range: 2,200 miles (3,540 km) w/ drop tanks

Armament

• Guns:
  • 4 x 0.50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (1,260 rounds)
• Bombs:
  • 2 x 100-lb AN-M30A1 bombs
  • 2 x 250-lb AN-M57 bombs
  • 2 x 500-lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• Rockets:
  • 6 x M8 rocket launchers
• Drop Tank:
  • 2 x 75 gal drop tanks

Diagrams

Cockpit

Images

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   I made this suggestion to request more World War II–era aircraft for War Thunder. The P-51B-5 was an important subvariant of the Mustang B-series and deserves a place in the US aviation tree. For the game, the P-51B-5 should also feature the Malcolm Hood canopy to offer players a razorback Mustang with a bubble-style canopy and greatly improved rearward visibility.

   In terms of performance, the P-51B-5 would fly almost identically to the P-51B-1, previously suggested, since both used the Packard-built Merlin V-1650-3. However, the early-production B-5s I am suggesting lacked the later field modification of an 85-gallon fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat. Without this extra weight, the aircraft was lighter, more stable, and handled better, particularly in directional stability, giving it an edge over the in-game P-51C-10. Simulator players would especially appreciate this version, as Malcolm Hood’s wider view significantly improves situational awareness in combat.

   Because of its historical importance and unique qualities, the P-51B-5 with Malcolm Hood would make an excellent addition to the P-51 family in War Thunder, whether as a battle pass reward, event vehicle, premium, or squadron aircraft. It would be a welcoming addition to the P-51 family for the dedicated completionists.

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Hi…

Sources

• Technical Order No. 01-60JD-1 Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions P-51B-1 Airplane (1 July 1943)
• P-51 Mustang in Action - Aircraft Number 45 (1981)
• P-51 Mustang in Action - Aircraft Number 211 (2008)
• P-51 Mustang in Detail & Scale Vol. 50 Part 1 (1996)
• P-51 Mustang Performance
• P-51 Mustang Variants - P-51B - MustangsMustangs.com
• P-51 Mustang Specifications - MustangsMustangs.com
• North American P-51B/C Mustang
• P-51B-1-NA | This Day in Aviation
• North American P-51B Mustang | Plane-Encyclopedia
• North American P-51 Mustang - Wikipedia
• Rolls-Royce Mustang Mk.X - Wikipedia
• North American P-51 Mustang variants - Wikipedia
• James H. Howard - Wikipedia
• “DING HAO!” | This Day in Aviation
• Dominic Salvatore Gentile - Wikipedia

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

[_PabloSniper]

You certainly have my support for yet another suggestion!
Remember that the P-51 was not North American Aviation’s only fighter.
They had two low-cost fighter versions, based on the T-6 Texan trainer.
The two versions he had were these.
NA-50

This one, which was sold to Peru, and which even saw combat in a small war fought here in South America.

NA-68 / P-64

And this one was going to be sold to Thailand, but the sale was cancelled, and they ended up being destined for advanced trainers in the US Air Force.
Note that it has smaller wings than the T-6.
But that’s a topic for another thread.

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[SoulBuffalo7]

p51b-5 with a malcom would be perfect. especially in the p-51c-10 folder

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1 in a folder

[more_bid]

from everything that i’ve read regarding the progression of the P-51s, most times it states that the B and C are effectively identical outside of which factory they were produced in, so the only real difference one would have in game is if your cockpit bulges or not and (if they model it) slightly more drag due to the new canopy shape