Aircraft/Loadouts The P-38K. The XP-38 Replacement

[Bullfrog_ 3,180]

A thing that has been a topic discuses many times by this community is the XP-38. As we know, there are multiple premium packs that you can buy: The Dora, Typhoon, Pacific, and Peshka Advance Packs. In these packs you get premium aircraft that are typically very competitive top of the line prop planes. 

For exp, the Fw190D13, a 1945 Pre-Production aircraft. Only two were in service. This is one of the last models of the Fw190 to be design by Kurt Tank. Every other pack as well, you get very good competitive prop aircraft. With the exception that is the Pacific.

You are either buying this pack for the A6M5 Ko (again one of the later models of the plane) for Japan, or the XP-38G witch is a prototype of the aircraft in game all ready. 

The US Gift aircraft, rather it's the XP-38G or P-51D-20 is not anything special unlike, say the Fw190D13. I've personally opted out of getting the pacific pack for that very reason when I decided to put money in to the game. 


Well, I've came across the perfect aircraft to replace the Xp-38 and give the pacific pack something worth buying. That being the P-38K, 



This nearly forgotten plane, the P-38K-LO1 is the last edition of the P-38 line and held up to that title, it was the best preforming lightening ever created. Lockheed took a P-38E and heavily modified it, along with giving it the Hamilton standard hydraulic propellers. The P-38E had it's inter-coolers replaced with the newer P-38J model intercoolers. This gave way to the Xp-38K.

The plane was fitted with Alison V1710F-15 engines witch were rated for 1,875 bph with WEP. This new engine capitalized on the propellers and promised excellent performance

There were many other modifications to the aircraft on a more technical level so I will avoid them.


The first flight test were conducted in Feb, 1943 and lasted until April 1943. Performance of the aircraft were excellent as promised. At critical altitude, 29,600 feet, maximum speed was 432 mph, military power, expected to exceed 450mph with wartime emergancy power. at 40,000 feet the P-38K could hit speeds 40mph faster than the earlier P-38J model. Improvements to the cowling and removal of the paint would even further improve the performance of the aircraft.

A service ceiling of 45,000 feet on hot and humid day, and was expected to  exceed 48,000 feet in average weather.


The plane was tested for evaluation against the P-47D and P-51C in 1943 and was shown to be superior to both in every category of performance with most notable, it's rate of climb. It could climb to 20,000 feet from the airstrip in 5 min.

a plane that preforms this well, you would expect to see combat. Sadly, the P-38K suffered something that all P-38s did. Being complicated and expensive. This plane as good as it was, couldn't be put in to service due to many logistical reasons. Like in the field maintenance. Being a fighter, maintenance is of the utmost important, something that the government couldn't give on. A P-51 or P-47 was much easier to maintain than a P-38. Thus more combat time for them and more bang for the buck. 

Another issue with the P-38 is that factories threw out America were all ready tooling up for the P-51 and P-47 models. To change these factories to the new P-38K model would of taken time. Time that could of given the enemy a advantage. P-38K sadly would not play a roll in the war.


This plane would give the US a premium gift plane worth buying, like the D-13. And a competitive tier 16 USAAC fighter. Also being a great fighter, it will encourage sells of the pacific patch.

Aye... Gaijin.. sells... 

Thanks for your time.

 

[Rumpullpus 3,883]

not to mention this "XP-38G" never existed and is complete fantasy.

 

i approve of any variant that can replace it. though with this aircraft we might have to up the tiering a bit.

[Bullfrog_ 3,180]

I always assumed the Xp-38G was just an Xp-38 with the wrong name anyway.

[Sidiros 4,914]

OH MAN!    Would that be a plane worth buying!

 

If only the War production board would have allowed Lockheed a delay in production to retool and produce that bad boy...

[BratwurstBob 3,855]

I'm all for it. Your argument makes absolutely sense.

http://www.ausairpower.net/P-38-Analysis.html#mozTocId107283

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p38_14.html

http://www.456fis.org/P-38K.htm

 

Forwarded to the devs, Tracker ID 8005

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Moved to Implemented suggestions. 

http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/262444-development-p-38e-and-p-38k-with-developers-answers/