Lockheed P-38M Lightning - The Night Lightning

[Nostalgistic 312]

Welcome! This time, I am introducing Lockheed P-38M Lightning.

Overview

Aircraft: Lockheed P-38M Lightning

 

Role: Heavy Fighter / Night Fighter

 

Snapshot:

Background

Spoiler

The P-38M known as the Night Lightning is a two-seat night fighter variant of modified P-38L, fitted with AN/APS-4 radar pod mounted under the nose. This variant traced back to the outcome of experiments early in 1943; the P-38Fs and P-38Js were modified as the experimental single-seat night fighters by the Fifth Air Force, fitted with SCR540 radar with antenna on the nose. They found that the flying of the plane and the operation of the radar was too much of a job for one pilot. In October 1944, Lockheed made an attempt to convert the P-38L as a two-seat night fighter in 1944 which the P-38 identified as the P-38L-5-LO Serial Number 44-25237. An extra crew, radar operator, would sit aft of the pilot under a raised section of the canopy. The aircraft was fitted with an AN/APS-6 radar in an external radome underneath the nose. It was also fitted with anti-flash gun muzzles. They were the flash eliminators to aid the pilot in retaining night vision when they were fired. The conversion was successful, and it flew for the first time in January 1945, recorded a top speed of 406 mph at 15,000 feet as compared to only 369 at 20,00 feet for the Northrop P-61A Black Widow. The Army Air Corps issued a contract for Lockheed to convert 80 P-38L-5-LOs into the P-38M twin-seat night fighters. They were painted glossy black overall.  However, deployment of the P-38M night fighters was delayed while crews were trained to use the new aircraft. P-38Ms were reported to have only seen operational service in the Pacific in the last few days of the war and served with the 418th Night Fighter Squadron in Japan early in 1946.

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Operator)
• Length: 37 feet, 10 inches
• Height: 12 feet, 10 inches
• Span: 52 feet
• Powerplant: 2x Engines, Allison V-1710-113 (on Right) and V-1710-111 (on Left)
• Empty Weight: 12,800 lb (5,805 kilograms)
• Gross Weight: 17,500 lb (7,937kilograms)

 

Performance

• Speed: 406 mph at 15,000 feet
• Service Ceiling: 44,000 feet

Cockpit

Spoiler

Armament

Guns

• 4 x .50 cal Heavy Machine Guns (2000 Rounds)
• 1 x 20 mm M2(C) Cannon (150 Rounds)

 

Misc

• AN/APS-4 radar
• Flash suppressors

Images

Spoiler

Conclusion

The purpose of this suggestion is to, of course, expand WW2 aircraft content. The P-38M would make a welcoming addition to the P-38 Lightning family in War Thunder.

 

In my opinion, the P-38M is a perfect and unique variant of the P-38 that offers an alternative with the dogfighting capabilities of P-63 Black Widow. 

Sources

Secondary

• http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_P-38M.html
• https://p38assn.org/variations-nightfighter.htm
• https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p38_16.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning

 

Thank you for your time reading my suggestion!

 

Edited April 30, 2022 by Nostalgistic

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[Milocat 4,857]

Interesting find, +1.  This would be nice to see.

[Draco_Argentum 1,504]

Definitely on of the less attractive P-38s, either this or the Pathfinder. Still, a low BR radar equipped plane is neat.

[Tetravault 225]

+1

 

Mmmnight P-38 go brrrrrrr