War Thunder P-40 Kittyhawk Tutorial

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Ace1000ks1975

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Published on January 3, 2015 2:57:23 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdKTQL11Oig

Game:

War Thunder (2016)

Duration: 10:16

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Aircraft: P-40 Kittyhawk/Warhawk/Tomahawk
Engine: Allison V1710-39 inline V12 liquid cooled engine 1,150 hp
Armaments: 6 .50 cal machine guns with 1500 rounds+3 hard points for mounting 2000 lbs worth of bombs.
Empty Weight: 6070 lbs or 1839 kgs
Loaded Weight: 8280 lbs or 3763 kgs
Service Ceiling: 29,000 feet or 8787 meters
Climb Rate: 11 meters/second
Top Speed: 579 kph or 360 mph

The P-40 was used in the early days of World War 2. It was deployed very successfully the Flying Tigers who were operating in China. However, many were shot down in the initial days of the Pacific War when P-40 pilots tried to dogfight with the more nimble A6M Zeros and Ki-43 Oscars. As allied pilots got a basic idea about the weaknesses of the new Japanese aircraft, it was eventually deployed successfully. P-40 pilots used their high speed advantage over the more agile Japanese aircraft. The flying Tigers shot down 115 Japanese aircraft and lost only 4 aircraft using zoom and boom tactics or hit and run tactics. The slower Japanese aircraft could not catch up to the P-40s.

Not only that, the P-40 was a good fighter bomber as well. If an air force didn't have access to heavy bombers, they could use the 3 hard points and 2000 lb bomb carrying capacity to wreck havoc on ground forces. The Flying Tigers were used effectively in Burma against the Japanese.

In the Mediterranean and European Theares, the British Commonwealth forces successfully used them to down many German and Italian aircraft. When the P-40 faced early model Bf-109Es and Mc c200, it was more than a match for anything fighter they had in the early days of WW 2. The P-40 was deadly for Axis bombers, and many Italian and German bombers were shot down by the P-40s.

The P-40 as a level 2 aircraft is similar to the Mc 202, Bf-109E3, Ki-61 Tony, and Hawker Hurricane. The strong points of this aircraft are its diving abilities, good armor protection, & very good fire power. The P-40 excels in diving attacks, you can get enough speed from a dive to climb back up and escape. The endurance of the aircraft is good, it can take a lot of abuse. It had self sealing gas tanks, and good armor protection over all. The best thing I like about the P-40 are its 6 .50 caliber machine guns. Not only that, you can carry a lot of rounds. If you went up against a Zero or a Ki-43, you can turn it into a flaming Zero with one well placed burst. It is excellent for taking out bombers, coupled with good armor protection and heavy firepower, bombers are easy prey for this bird.

The P-40 does have its disadvantages, the aircraft has a poor power to weight ratio. It is not a very good climber at 11 meters/sec. The aircraft does get sluggish when you are at lower attitudes. Most of those problems were addressed when the U.S. started using P-51 Mustangs which was more than a match against any Axis fighter in WW 2, except for the jet powered Me-262s, and rocket powered Me-163 Komets.

Overall, this is a great aircraft if you use it properly.

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