RE: Lately stuck on WW2 history.
December 6, 2018 at 3:31 pm
(This post was last modified: December 6, 2018 at 3:42 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
The p40 had four -very- clear advantages over the a6m. Zero pilots respected them immensely.
It was better in a diving attack (or escape).
It was flatly superior at speeds above 250 MPH.
It was -always- faster.
It was heavily armored.
The aircraft were night and day. The p40 was the superior energy fighter, the a6m a turn and burner. By refusing to give the enemy a low speed death spiral, a p40 could completely dictate the engagement. At high altitude, the p40 was it's equal in the tnb rgardless of speed. Once we'd trained our pilots to the appropriate doctrine..that's exactly what they did. P40's were wrecking japanese aircraft all over the world..from the start of the war till the end. Most famously, I suppose.... in china. To goive an idea of the disparity...level and cruising a p40 was about 30mph faster than a zero. If the engagement included diving....the p40 was much...much faster, capable of engaging in high g turns and even of surviving mid air collisions...while the zero....sluggish over 250, went dead stick at 350....and couldn;t take a hit for shit.
Speed kills, especially when you can make a mistake and take one on the chin...without turning into a ball of fire.
![[Image: 300px-Curtiss_P-40E_Warhawk_2_USAF.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Curtiss_P-40E_Warhawk_2_USAF.jpg/300px-Curtiss_P-40E_Warhawk_2_USAF.jpg)
nomnomnomnom
It was better in a diving attack (or escape).
It was flatly superior at speeds above 250 MPH.
It was -always- faster.
It was heavily armored.
The aircraft were night and day. The p40 was the superior energy fighter, the a6m a turn and burner. By refusing to give the enemy a low speed death spiral, a p40 could completely dictate the engagement. At high altitude, the p40 was it's equal in the tnb rgardless of speed. Once we'd trained our pilots to the appropriate doctrine..that's exactly what they did. P40's were wrecking japanese aircraft all over the world..from the start of the war till the end. Most famously, I suppose.... in china. To goive an idea of the disparity...level and cruising a p40 was about 30mph faster than a zero. If the engagement included diving....the p40 was much...much faster, capable of engaging in high g turns and even of surviving mid air collisions...while the zero....sluggish over 250, went dead stick at 350....and couldn;t take a hit for shit.
Speed kills, especially when you can make a mistake and take one on the chin...without turning into a ball of fire.
nomnomnomnom
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
