What are your thoughts? - P-40F-10 Warhawk

[tx141 815]

Hi All,

 

This week I thought I would review the P-40F-10 Warhawk (Tier II; Battle Rating 2.3 American Fighter). Below you will find both my video review (including the history behind the "F" variant of the Curtiss P-40) and a summary of my review in bullet-point form:

 

P-40F-10 Warhawk - Goodbye Allison, Hello Merlin

Summary:

 

• Ample firepower – The 6x12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns on the P-40F-10 will bring down most opposition with an accurate 1-2 second burst. With 1,686 rounds of ammunition available, reloads are not going to come immediately unlike those at your Battle Rating who field singular 20mm cannon with limited ammo (e.g. M.S.410).
• Sense of pace – Whilst not the fastest at its Battle Rating, the P-40F-10’s decent straight-line acceleration; good dive speed acceleration; and high maximum dive speed all combine together to give this plane the ability to make its way around the battlefield quickly as it seeks the next engagement.
• Altitude independence – With its engine and control surfaces only hitting altitude performance limits at 4500m and 5500m respectively, the P-40F-10 will maintain its performance within the typical altitude ranges engagements occur at for its Battle Rating.
• Linearised Boom and Zoom – With both the P-40F-10’s ailerons and rudder losing 75% of their performance in a dive at 725km/h, you are encouraged to conduct your Boom and Zoom strikes over short distances; otherwise you can very easily miss your target if they take evasive action.
• Unstable rudder – With the P-40F-10’s rudder wobbling whenever you conduct turns below a speed of 450km/h, and this wobble only worsening with decreasing speed; you will find yourself fighting against the aircraft to get guns on target. This will cost both time and energy which can really put you at a disadvantage in extended engagements.

 

Final Thought:

 

The P-40F-10 continues the jack-of-all-trades fighter theme from the preceding P-40E-1. With the two aircraft being very similar in performance, the F-10 trades rudder stability and longevity in a turn-fight for a slight increase in overall pace and maximum altitude limit. Therefore, for those who did not enjoy the P-40E-1, the F-10 offers minor change. However, for those who are fans of the P-40 family, it is time to say: “goodbye Allison, hello Merlin”.

 

And now over to you: what are your thoughts on this Fighter?

 

Next time:

 

Spitfire Mk.Vb or A6M3 mod.22Ko?

 

Be sure to let me know which one you want me to review using the above poll. Poll closes 1200 GMT 23/12/2018.

 

As always, take care and good luck in the skies, and Merry Christmas!

 

Paul "tx141" Walsh 

Edited December 16, 2018 by tx141

[RolandofSalem 280]

Good review! I'd love to see what it would do with a decent rudder! 

[MrBader 516]

Hi,

Nice review sir,

I just wonder why the e has the fixed FM and the f has the old wobbly /floaty FM. And the cockpits match the FM's:-)  in full controls its even more noticeable.

 

And Merry Christmas back at ya!

Edited December 17, 2018 by MrBader

[PARAMI 478]

Just funny how the P40E had the rudder problem for a long time, and Gaijin fixes the issue, but the next P40 they come out with has the same issue :P

 

[AlexByrth 6]

Nice video, Paul!

 

[Challenger_TA 421]

The plane has strong speed and guns for the battle rating. It even has ok bomb load options. It should be moved up from 2.3 to 2.7-3.0 ab

[tx141 815]

On 17/12/2018 at 05:28, RolandofSalem said:

Good review! I'd love to see what it would do with a decent rudder! 

 

Thank you.

 

Assuming the plane's rudder will be fixed one day, I can see the P-40F-10 making its way to BR 2.7; leaving space for the P-40N to be included at 3.0.

 

Thinking about it, there would be no harm in adding the P-40L as a Battle Rating 2.3-2.7 premium/side grade as it would effectively be the P-40F with less guns.

 

On 17/12/2018 at 21:59, MrBader said:

Hi,

Nice review sir,

I just wonder why the e has the fixed FM and the f has the old wobbly /floaty FM. And the cockpits match the FM's:-)  in full controls its even more noticeable.

 

And Merry Christmas back at ya!

 

Thank you @MrBader. Hopefully they will fix it in the near future as if anything, the P-40F should be the more stable aircraft!

 

18 hours ago, ion__ said:

Just funny how the P40E had the rudder problem for a long time, and Gaijin fixes the issue, but the next P40 they come out with has the same issue :P

 

 

Haha very true! Nonetheless I am sure they will fix it soon.

 

15 hours ago, AlexByrth said:

Nice video, Paul!

 

 

Thank you sir.

 

3 hours ago, Challenger_TA said:

The plane has strong speed and guns for the battle rating. It even has ok bomb load options. It should be moved up from 2.3 to 2.7-3.0 ab

 

I can see it moving to 2.7 in the near future (especially once its rudder is fixed). Following that, I hope to see the P-40N at 3.0.

 

Concerning the poll:

 

Crikey you guys have been fast to cast your votes! It is tied 7-7 at the moment, I wonder which way the vote will tip? 

[tx141 815]

Well, the vote has ended, and by a very narrow margin of 9-8 the Spitfire Mk.Vb has won! Review due in two weeks's time.

 

Have a Merry Christmas folks, and catch you then!