Some P 39 love...

[Finkeren]

P-39 L-1

 

Unlimited : 2600 RPM @ 37.2"

15 Minutes : 3000 RPM @ 42"

5 Minutes : 3000 RPM @ 51"

Water out : Optimal 105°-115° / Maximum 125°

Oil in : Optimal 60°-80° / Maximum 95°

5 mins at emergency?

 

That's at least usable.

[Guest deleted@83466]

5 mins at emergency?

 

That's at least usable.

 

I am kind of hoping that some of the "hard" limitations of the Allison  in the P-40 would be relaxed just a little bit after they look at Allisons again with the P-39, as we know that the Russians were able to run the Allison somewhat harder than we are able to in game, but in the absence of me reading old threads, I'm going to guess that this subject has already been done to death. 

Edited June 6, 2017 by Iceworm

[Finkeren]

I am kind of hoping that some of the "hard" limitations of the Allison in the P-40 would be relaxed just a little bit after they look at Allisons again with the P-39, as we know that the Russians were able to run the Allison somewhat harder than we are able to in game, but in the absence of me reading old threads, I'm going to guess that this subject has already been done to death.

You'd be right about that.

 

I agree with you about the limitations, not just for the P-40 but for all planes with time limits.

[Tag777]

Yes, Im waiting too, not read yet but this book in on my shelf:

 

 

In english: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Star-Airacobra-Memoirs-Fighter-ebook/dp/B005AU15QI

I am already reading the book. It is good. And also this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Airacobras-American-Against-Paperback/dp/0700616543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496769238&sr=8-1&keywords=attack+of+the+airacobras.

Edited June 6, 2017 by Tag777

[No601_Swallow]

Very interesting photo! Must be 601 squadron, but it doesn't look like Duxford, so I wonder if it's Acaster Malbis a couple of miles down the road from me. Nothing much left there now.

Thanks for posting.

 

I must say, they all look very bemused....

 

 

That IS 601 squadron, and I don't know, but I'd guess - of xourse - Tangmere

 

(I really should know for sure  )

Edited June 6, 2017 by No601_Swallow

[ShamrockOneFive]

That IS 601 squadron, and I don't know, but I'd guess - of xourse - Tangmere

 

(I really should know for sure  )

 

Now why would that be?     

[No601_Swallow]

Some in-depth research (or ten minutes on Wikipedia) suggests 601 Squadron and their shiny P39s are at RAF Matlaske, in Norfolk in mid-1941, no doubt working hard to impress the East Anglian sheep. (Could also be Duxford, though. - But it looks too windswept to be Duxford.)

 

It seems they didn't go to Acaster Malbis until March 1942, which coincides with their switch to - Spit Vbs!

 

I therefore DEMAND official 601 Squadron (UF) skins for both the Spit Vb and the P39!    

[Sokol1]

Description of group air combat 10th crews on planes Aerocobra 68 GIAP with 6 planes Fw-190, conducted 08.29.1943 

 

 

 

"Confirmed chute kill". 

 

Edited June 7, 2017 by Sokol1

[EAF19_Marsh]

I loved it in IL-2; a right oddity with bags of personalty, not bad performance and an absolute B**** to get out of a spin

[DD_Arthur]

Some in-depth research (or ten minutes on Wikipedia) suggests 601 Squadron and their shiny P39s are at RAF Matlaske, in Norfolk in mid-1941, no doubt working hard to impress the East Anglian sheep. (Could also be Duxford, though. - But it looks too windswept to be Duxford.)

 

It seems they didn't go to Acaster Malbis until March 1942, which coincides with their switch to - Spit Vbs!

 

I therefore DEMAND official 601 Squadron (UF) skins for both the Spit Vb and the P39!    

 

601 were the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the Airacobra.  They received them at Duxford in August 1941.  601 squadron was then almost immediately stood down from operations whilst their shiny new Airacobras were withdrawn from service to have a number of modifications made to them. 

 

601 recommenced operations in October '41 with their Airacobras.   601's operational career with the Airacobra lasted around four days, during which five of the aircraft were lost to 'pilot error'.

 

601 were promptly given back their Spitties.   

[Gambit21]

You guys are making me really look forward to this aircraft now.

I interviewed Bud Anderson a few years ago, but didn't ask him anything about the P-39 as I had no interest at the time.

Now I regret that just a bit.

[Livai]

1. Some P-39 love for the plane what nobody wanted....
 


2. About the Frisbee who has no place for more markings........

 

 

3. to be continued................

[Finkeren]

The cartoon is super cute, but I still gotta be an ass and clarify, that the P-39 generally wasn't used for ground attack by the VVS (to any greater extent than all their other single seat fighters) and since the USSR never received AP ammunition for the M4 cannons, it would never be able to destroy a tank with its guns.

[Voidhunger]

The cartoon is super cute, but I still gotta be an ass and clarify, that the P-39 generally wasn't used for ground attack by the VVS (to any greater extent than all their other single seat fighters) and since the USSR never received AP ammunition for the M4 cannons, it would never be able to destroy a tank with its guns.

 From the Red Star Airacobra by Evgeniy Mariinskiy:

 

"But the German was quite close and it was impossible to miss! I pressed the trigger and immediately released it. A red ball of my cannon’s shell instantly covered this short distance and pierced the Messer’s engine. There was no burst and it meant that it had been an armour-piercing one. One large calibre bullet passed in front of the enemy’s cockpit and another pierced it through."

[Finkeren]

From the Red Star Airacobra by Evgeniy Mariinskiy:

 

"But the German was quite close and it was impossible to miss! I pressed the trigger and immediately released it. A red ball of my cannon’s shell instantly covered this short distance and pierced the Messer’s engine. There was no burst and it meant that it had been an armour-piercing one. One large calibre bullet passed in front of the enemy’s cockpit and another pierced it through."

That's a very loose anecdote to base anything on. Especially when we have sources for the exact number of 37mm rounds supplied to the USSR by the US, all of them HE M54s.

Edited June 8, 2017 by Finkeren

[ShamrockOneFive]

The cartoon is super cute, but I still gotta be an ass and clarify, that the P-39 generally wasn't used for ground attack by the VVS (to any greater extent than all their other single seat fighters) and since the USSR never received AP ammunition for the M4 cannons, it would never be able to destroy a tank with its guns.

 

I was going to if you didn't.

 

It's so oft repeated. I have multiple books that quote the same information yet I know its incorrect.

[Voidhunger]

That's a very loose anecdote to base anything on. Especially when we have sources for the exact number of 37mm rounds supplied to the USSR by the US, all of them HE M54s.

OK, Im just reading the book He obviously missed from the point blank range. But it was his first or second mission.

[Brano]

 

2. About the Frisbee who has no place for more markings........

 

 

While the image name says "rechkalov_P-39",that pilot with the notebook is Sasha Pokryshkin,not Grigoriy Rechkalov.

[Tag777]

OK, Im just reading the book He obviously missed from the point blank range. But it was his first or second mission.

There is some strange things about the Russians P-39. I was also surprised by reading that part in the book, considering that no armor piercing shells for the 37 mm cannon were supplied. But in the "Attack of the Airacobras" book there is also some odd things. For example the author mention that some missions were fought above 20.000 feet, well above the recommended altitude range for the P-39 of up to 10.000 feet. Then: how that was possible?

[Finkeren]

There is some strange things about the Russians P-39. I was also surprised by reading that part in the book, considering that no armor piercing shells for the 37 mm cannon were supplied. But in the "Attack of the Airacobras" book there is also some odd things. For example the author mention that some missions were fought above 20.000 feet, well above the recommended altitude range for the P-39 of up to 10.000 feet. Then: how that was possible?

Recommended combat altitude is just that: a recommendation. It doesn't mean that the Airacobra couldn't fly higher than that.

 

The service ceiling of the P-39 was above 10,000m, higher than most Soviet designs.

[[DBS]Tx_Tip]

 

 

601 recommenced operations in October '41 with their Airacobras. 601's operational career with the Airacobra lasted around four days, during which five of the aircraft were lost to 'pilot error'.

 

Perhaps the pilots look of bemusement as mentioned in the pic was rather one of bewilderment...

Couldn't resist. Just a slight pinch on those bulldog tails.

 

Looking forward to Kuban and the P-39 here.

[Tag777]

It is know also that the 30 caliber machine guns were removed from the Russian P-39s. That could have did some difference regarding the performance of the fighters in the Western air forces. 

[Finkeren]

It is know also that the 30 caliber machine guns were removed from the Russian P-39s. That could have did some difference regarding the performance of the fighters in the Western air forces.

Any source on how often this was done?

[Brano]

It is know also that the 30 caliber machine guns were removed from the Russian P-39s. That could have did some difference regarding the performance of the fighters in the Western air forces. 

Not that often. P-39 D/L/N version kept usually all weapons including 30 cals. As a good example you can see them on the shadow projected by the wing of the cobra P-39N on that picture of Sasha Pokryshkin in the post above (taken in late summer 1944 after receiving 3rd Golden Star of HSU). They usually removed 50 cals from Q versions underwing gondolas.

[Riderocket]

When they release the P-39, A-20 and HS129 all in one big patch, that will be a very good day!

 

For me i will test them in that order ^

[Tag777]

 

 

From the book P-39 Airacobra Aces of WW2 from Osprey, p52.

[Voidhunger]

There is some strange things about the Russians P-39. I was also surprised by reading that part in the book, considering that no armor piercing shells for the 37 mm cannon were supplied. But in the "Attack of the Airacobras" book there is also some odd things. For example the author mention that some missions were fought above 20.000 feet, well above the recommended altitude range for the P-39 of up to 10.000 feet. Then: how that was possible?

 

hmm theres more:

 

"I calmly trained my guns at it, pressed the trigger and watched with satisfaction as my gun burst crossed the Fascist plane. The first shell exploded in the left wing, the second, armour-piercing one, no explosion was seen, went through the cockpit, a third exploded in the right engine. Apart from three 37mm shells a good two dozen armour-piercing and incendiary large-calibre bullets went into the German plane."

[senseispcc]

In the original IL2 game demo the P-39 was first the plane I could fly and test in the IL2 BOK it shall be the last plane I can fly and test!

But it was and shall be a fun plane to fly even if not the best of the game.

It can, in the right circumstances, fight against the nimble Zero's and end with the upper hand.

Long live the P-39.

Long live IL2 games.

 

Edited June 10, 2017 by senseispcc

[ShamrockOneFive]

hmm theres more:

 

"I calmly trained my guns at it, pressed the trigger and watched with satisfaction as my gun burst crossed the Fascist plane. The first shell exploded in the left wing, the second, armour-piercing one, no explosion was seen, went through the cockpit, a third exploded in the right engine. Apart from three 37mm shells a good two dozen armour-piercing and incendiary large-calibre bullets went into the German plane."

 

Two possibilities here that I can think of. The pilot may have been describing the .50cal effects on target. In interviews that I've read with Russian pilots suggested that they frequently did not fire MG/Cannon separately but held the trigger for both whenever they had the opportunity.

 

The other possibility is that the 37mm shell, despite being HE, passed right through and did not explode for whatever reason.

 

I guess another possible outlier is that they were shipped AP shells too but it was never documented. That does seem a bit far fetched but then there were issues tracking down serial numbers for P-40s send to the Soviet Union so maybe not unbelievable.

[Voidhunger]

Two possibilities here that I can think of. The pilot may have been describing the .50cal effects on target. In interviews that I've read with Russian pilots suggested that they frequently did not fire MG/Cannon separately but held the trigger for both whenever they had the opportunity.

 

The other possibility is that the 37mm shell, despite being HE, passed right through and did not explode for whatever reason.

 

I guess another possible outlier is that they were shipped AP shells too but it was never documented. That does seem a bit far fetched but then there were issues tracking down serial numbers for P-40s send to the Soviet Union so maybe not unbelievable.

 

but why would anybody take 37mm AP shells for non- ground combat mission. Its a waste of AP shells and against planes not so effective

[ShamrockOneFive]

but why would anybody take 37mm AP shells for non- ground combat mission. Its a waste of AP shells and against planes not so effective

 

That is a good question too. I'm guessing that they weren't AP rounds at all (since official records state that no 37mm AP rounds were ever sent) but rather shells that failed to explode for one reason or another. Even a non-exploding 37mm shell is going to cause some serious damage.

 

That or he was talking about the .50cals.

[szelljr]

[=WH=PangolinWranglin]

That's real neato!

[216th_Jordan]

I wonder what kind of modifications there will be. I certaily hope those .30 cals could be removed and be replaced by 2 .50 cals

[=WH=PangolinWranglin]

I sorta hope we can keep wing mounted guns. Just as an option. 

[ShamrockOneFive]

I sorta hope we can keep wing mounted guns. Just as an option. 

 

I'm going to guess that the four .30cals in the wings will be the default setting. Though there was lots of talk about the Russians removing machine guns, a lot of that talk was apparently centered around the .50cal pods fitted to some of the later Q series P-39s. Old memories and oft repeated stories.

 

I don't doubt that units removed the .30cals in the field but I would guess it would be similar to the P-40 where we'll have the option of removing them.

 

I took kinda like to keep them sometimes. The hail of bullets makes me feel good

[Lusekofte]

Flypast got a lot of interviews with pilots flying the P 39 in Pacific, some of them served a tour in P 51 in Europe too. No one disliked the P 39 per se . It is like those few flying the Boulton Paul Defiant, they simply recall them as likeable planes. When it came to the car doors the liking ended, almost all remarked a intense reluctance for that design. When it came to flat spin they said it was easy to avoid, and those who didn't´t could not tell about it. I remember te first time in IL 2 when it came. I loved it, and many said the first FM was the best for it. 

[JG1_Labroisse]

Very interesting photo! Must be 601 squadron, but it doesn't look like Duxford, so I wonder if it's Acaster Malbis a couple of miles down the road from me. Nothing much left there now.

Thanks for posting.

 

I must say, they all look very bemused....

Lol.  Looks like they all have the same thought... "wtf?"

[Tag777]

Well, will see what developers give us. Sadly we have to wait until November to figure out  

Edited June 19, 2017 by Tag777

[[CPT]Pike*HarryM]

Yes, Im waiting too, not read yet but this book in on my shelf:

 

 

In english: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Star-Airacobra-Memoirs-Fighter-ebook/dp/B005AU15QI .

Got this and reading now. Great book! I love the "story" style, pilot banter, jokes and a real you-are-there feel to it, some of these can be dull reading. "Attack of the Airacobras" is good but a bit of a slog to get through. 

Edited June 19, 2017 by CPTN_Pike*HarryM