I decided I would go back and re-work all the old Aircraft of the Weeks to include all the usual info I have put in the more recent ones. Starting with the P-40
P-40 Warhawk
The P-40 served in numerous combat areas–the Aleutian Islands, Italy, the Middle East, the Far East, the Southwest Pacific and some were sent to Russia. Though often outclassed by its adversaries in speed, maneuverability and rate of climb, the P-40 earned a reputation in battle for extreme ruggedness. At the end of the P-40’s brilliant career, more than 14,000 had been produced for service in the air forces of 28 nations, of which 2,320 were of the “E” series.
Versions:
P-40
Seeing many fighters using in-line, water-cooled engines to great advantage, in 1938 Curtiss-Wright decided to adapt its model P-36 Hawk to the Allision 1710, an 1160 HP engine. Designated the XP-40, the prototype was simply a P-36 with the inline engine; it took its first flight in October, 1938. For guns, it only carried a pair of 30 caliber machine guns, not uncommon for the late 1903’s, but puny as World War Two developed.
The Army promptly selected the Curtiss airplane for production, ordering 524 in 1939, the largest order for an American fighter at that time. At $13 million, each one cost $25,000 dollars.
P-40B
Even before America’s entry into the war, it became evident that more powerful weaponry was called for, The Buffalo plant began to outfit the P-40B with four (wing-mounted) 30 caliber and two (nose-mounted) 40 caliber machine guns. The “B” model also introduced cockpit armor. With war looming, 107 Warhawks (P40’s and P-40B’s) moved up to the Philippines by December, 1941. The Japansese onslaught caught them unawares, and four days later only 22 remained. Buzz Wagner of the 17th Pursuit Squadron was one of the few Americans to achieve any success in those dark days in the Philippines. Flying a P-40, Wagner downed 5 Japanese planes before being evacuated to Australia in January 1942.
Keeping of the early P40 models, with some originally designated for Lend-Lease delivery to the British, as “Tomahawks,” and other hurriedly shipped over to China for the AVG, is complicated. To this day, debates rage over the Flying Tigers version: Was it the P-40B or P40C?
P-40C
Self-sealing fuel tanks marked this variant, over 900 went to the British, for use in North Africa. The USAAC received 193. The slowest of all P-40 models, the P-40C had a top speed of only 345 MPH (some sources say 328). Over Egypt, “Tomahawk IIB” was no match for the Bf-109E and was soon relegated to ground attack.
P-40D
Marked by a deeper chin radiator, the P-40D’s profile visibly differed from earlier versions. Curitss also switched the four wing-mounted guns to heavier 50 caliber types, and got rid of the nose-mounted guns - and with them the need for through-the-prop synchronization gear. With a more powerful Allison 1710-39, the P-40D could make 362 MPH in level flight.
The Brits took delivery of most of the “D” models, and distinguished them from earlier “Tomahawks” with the name “Kittyhawk.”
P-40E
2,320 P-40E’s rolled off Curtiss production lines, mostly in 1942. Continuing the trend to bulk up, it carried six 50 caliber machine guns in the wings, ultimately the most common armament of American fighters in WW2. Two-thirds of them, designated Kittyhawk Mk IA, went to the RAF, the RCAF, the RAAF, and the RNZAF.
P-40F
As the weight of the Warhawk had crept up to almost 9,000 lbs, Curtiss installed the powerful Merlin engine on the P-40 airframe. The prototype, XP-40F, achieved a top speed of 373 MPH. Inevitably, the P-40F production version weighed even more (9,870 lbs) and speed dropped off to 364 MPH.
P-40K
Starting in August, 1942, Curtiss-Wright produced the “K,” which incorporated Allison’s latest engine, the 1710-73, capable of 1325 HP. Otherwise the “K” was similar to the “E.”
P-40L
This was a stripped-down version of the P-40F, dubbed the “Gypsy Rose Lee,” with 2 guns, armor, and some fuel removed to save weight. These efforts only increased the speed by 4 MPH over the F model. 720 were produced.
P-40M
Allison’s 1710-81 engine, rated at 1360 MPH, powered the P-40M. 600 were produced, mostly delivered to the RAF.
P-40N
The final Warhawk, the P-40N, entered production in late 1943; eventually 5,000 were built. Powered by the Allison 1710-99, the “N” could make 378 MPH, at least in the lightened-up early production blocks. But more weight was dded back, and typical P-40N’s topped out at 350 MPH.
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 37 ft. 4 in.
Length: 31 ft. 9 in.
Height: 12 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 9,100 lbs. loaded
Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns; 700 lbs. of bombs externally.
Engine: Allison V-1710 of 1,150 hp.
Cost: $45,000
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 362 mph.
Cruising speed: 235 mph.
Range: 850 miles
Service Ceiling: 30,000 ft.
Performance chart
Profile:
Markings:
Hope you like the improved P-40 Page
The skies the limit,
V.A.
