A 'Droop Snoot' Modification to the P-38J Collector Aircraft

[I/JG54_chuishan]

Hello there!

 

Virtual pilots that are active on various dynamic war servers (like me and my friends) may have well recognized that there's a lack of designated medium bomber on the allied side in 1944 Western Front scenarios. What we have is just 1940 model A-20Bs and we have to fly that over the Rhineland and France against Focke-Wolfs and Messerschmitts that had been heavily re-inforced regarding their firepower. It is out-right painful experience.

 

It has also been clear that we are not likely to get a flyable B-25 or B-26 anytime soon, because of reasons. So that makes me thinking: what about a P-38J variant that is capable of carrying out level-bombing missions? P-38J is very good in case of bomb load and high-altitude performance, and it turns out that historically the 8th AF indeed had such a modification variant called P-38 'Droop Snoot' deployed to the battlefield. It's basically a field modification to remove the weapons and ammunition on the nose of a P-38 and replace them with a single crew compartment that holds a qualified bombardier/navigator and a Norden bombsight together with all the bombing equipment. 

 

Detailed info and reference images for Droop Snoot's interior is available here: 
https://www.axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?id=13085

 

From my point of view:

i) It's a historically accurate modificaton that had actually been deployed in service with numbers (at least more than 100 of them were built and deployed).

ii) It's a modification mostly only involving changes to the exterior modelling (yeah I am personally ok with devs just making a 'Droop Snoot'-style nose and slapping a bombsight UI into the cockpit, that will serve, the same as what we have with A-20B), and the FM would not need any significant adjustment.

iii) It has sufficient flight performance for 1944 scenarios.

iv) It provides a whole new play style to the P-38J collector plane we all know and love.

v) It encouranges coop operation online because 'Droop Snoots' can lead other attack aircraft without a proper bombsight into level-bombing missions as bomb leads.

 

I am aware that it may not be a commercially successful project, but it would greatly improve the quality of life for ground-pounding pilots on the allied side. I'm personally tired of flying attacker-style aircraft for mud-moving missions tbh. 

 

I'm also aware that this idea has been brought up in the forum multiple times since the publication of the P-38J. I personlly did not find any compelling reason being provided for 'this cannot be done'. So well, here's another guy that wishes this modification could come to GB. 

 

Thank you for your time and attention, and cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2024 by I/JG54_chuishan

[357th_KW]

I'd love to see a collector P-38J-15 added with the droop snoot mod as an option.  The J-25 we have only made up the last 210 aircraft of the P-38J production run (and is essentially identical to a P-38L).  The earlier P-38J's had the same engines, but didn't have the boosted ailerons or dive brakes.  It appears that most of the droop snoots in use in the ETO were converted from these earlier J models.  Additionally, these earlier models made up the bulk of P-38's in theater throughout 1945.  Even during the Battle of the Bulge in December, the majority of the lost P-38s were J-15s rather than J-25s or Ls.  A J-15 would also be the right block to get 150 octane fuel (used by 8th AF lightnings - again mostly J-15s and J-10s - from late June through September 1944 when the last 8th AF P-38 squadrons converted to P-51s).

 

In short, a P-38J-15 collector would be a great addition to the game - the most widely used P-38 in the ETO, gives up the boosted ailerons and dive brakes of the J-25, but would have the option of 150 octane and the droop snoot conversion.