United States' Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter

Photos

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss XP-40 Warhawk fighter prototype:	Curtiss XP-40 Warhawk fighter prototype:
Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighter:
Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighter:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter with 76th Squadron:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter assembly plant:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter at Eagle Pass, Texas, 1944:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter with the 59th Fighter Squadron:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter escorting a B-24 Liberator:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter, Dillingham, Hawaii, February, 1942:	Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter wreck:
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter:

Design

The Curtiss Model 81 P-40 was to replace the Curtiss P-36.³

The Curtiss Model 87 P-40 had the new Allison V-1710 engines.^3,4 With the better engine it also added extra weight and the P-40 suffered at altitudes over 15,000'.⁵

The Curtis Model 87B P-40 was to have the licence built Merlin engine to improve its high altitude performance.³

Early models had a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns on top of the fuselage, but these were removed in most of the RAF aircraft.¹

The control surfaces were the only things that were fabric covered.¹

Engine

The engine was the P-40's weak spot.⁶ It didn't perform well at high altitudes.⁶

Crew

The canopy was armored and had bulletproof glass.¹

Prototype

In March 1937 the XP-40 was converted from the 10th production P-36A.^3,6 It installed an Allison V-1710 engine.⁶

Prototype flew on October 14, 1938.^1,3,6 Tests showed that the XP-40 was about the equivalent of the Hawker Hurricane.⁶

The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was suitably impressed and placed an order for 500⁵/524^3,6 aircraft for a price of $12,872,898⁶ / $12,900,000, on April 27, 1939.^3,6

The P-40 was selected over other designs from Bell, Lockheed, and Republic as Curtiss-Wright was ready to go into full production immediately.⁶ Curtiss-Wright increased its manufacturing plant by four times and eventually had 45,000 employees.⁶

Production

There were 16,802 produced and of those, 13,738 were used by United States' forces.¹

• Curtiss P-40: 199³
• Curtiss P-40A:
• Curtiss P-40B: 131^3,6
• Curtiss P-40C: 193³
• Curtiss P-40D/ Curtiss Kittyhawk I: 22³, 582²
• Curtiss P-40E: 820³, 2,320^2,4,6
• Curtiss P-40F / Curtiss Kittyhawk II: 1,311^3,6
• Curtiss P-40K: 1,300³
• Curtiss P-40L / Curtiss Kittyhawk II: 700³
• Curtiss P-40M: 600³
• Curtiss P-40N: 5,216³, 5,219^2,4,6
• United Kingdom:
  • Curtiss Tomahawk I: 140³
  • Curtiss Tomahawk IIA: 110³
  • Curtiss Tomahawk IIB: 930³
  • Curtiss Tomahawk total: 1,182^2,4
  • Curtiss Kittyhawk I: 560³
  • Curtiss Kittyhawk IA: 1,500³
  • Curtiss Kittyhawk total 3,342^2,4
• Total: 12,014^2,4, 13,378³, 13,733⁶, 16,802¹
  • Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation⁶
  • Production: 1939 - 1944⁶

Variants

• Curtiss XP-40: Prototype.² Initially had the radiator under the fuselage but was later moved to under the nose.³
• Curtiss P-40 / Curtiss Tomahawk Mk I³:
  Curtiss P-40A / Curtiss Tomahawk Mk I⁴: Production.³ First flew in April 1940.³ Deliveries started in June 1940.³
• Curtiss P-40B / Curtiss Tomahawk Mk IA: Had cockpit armor installed.^2,3,4 Armament was two 12.7 mm machine guns and four 7.62 mm MGs.^2,3,4
• Curtiss P-40C / Curtiss Tomahawk Mk IIB: Self sealing fuel tanks were installed.^2,3,4 The ability to carry a drop tank was added.³ First flew in April 1941.³
• Curtiss P-40D / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk I: Had a shorter nose with the radiator moved forward and deepened.^2,3,4 First flew in May 1941.³
• Curtiss P-40E / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk IA: First version to be used by United States.^2,4 Armament was six 12.7 mm MGs.^2,4
• Curtiss P-40F / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk II: Had Packard built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.^2,3,4 Internal fuel capacity was increased.³ The dorsal fin had an extension installed.³ The fuselage was lengthened by 19".³
• Curtiss P-40K / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk III: Had Allison V-1710-73 engine.³
• Curtiss P-40M / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk III: Had Allison V-1710-81 engine.³ All but five went to British and Commonwealth forces.³ Lower takeoff speed.³ Better altitude performance.³
• Curtiss P-40N / Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk IV: Had Allison V-1710 engine.^2,4 Could carry up to 1,500 lb / 680 kg of bombs.^2,4 Introduced in early 1943.³ The structured was lightened, armor reduced, forward wing tanks eliminated.³
• Curtiss P-40Q: Had a cut down rear fuselage and bubble canopy.³
• Curtiss TB-40N: Trainers with two seats.³

Usage

Used by Australia, Britain, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Soviet Union, Turkey, and the United States.^1,3

First Deployments

United States Army squadrons started to receive the P-40s in May 1940.^5,6

Shark Mouth

The famous shark mouth symbol that was painted on the Flying Tigers was actually first used by the Royal Air Force's Desert Air Force Squadron 112.⁶

China

Used by General Chennault's Flying Tigers who shot down 286 Japanese planes with a loss of 23 Flying Tiger pilots.^1,6 100 of the Tomahawk IIBs were diverted from a order placed by the United Kingdom.^3,6

Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, there were 73 / 80³ P-40 Warhawks destroyed by the Japanese.¹ There were 107 P-40Bs and P-40Cs stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.³

End of War

There was only one group in service.¹

United Kingdom

Most of the Tomahawk Mk Is produced went to the Royal Air Force (RAF).² 140⁶ / 230 were taken over from an order placed by France.^3,6 These were made into trainers.⁶

The first models available under Lend Lease were the Kittyhawk IA model.³

The RAF changed the P-40 Tomahawks to Warhawks.²

In North Africa the No 112 Squadron first used the shark mouth markings made more famous by the Flying Tigers in China.³

Australia

Australia received 163 Kittyhawk IAs in March 1942.³ These fought in New Guinea and northern Australia.³

Specifications

	Curtiss P-403
Type	Fighter3
Crew	13
Engine (Type)	Allison V-1710-333
Cylinders	V 123
Cooling
HP	1,0403
Propeller blades	33
Dimensions
Span	37' 3.5"3 11.37 m3
Length	31' 8.5"3 9.66 m3
Height	10' 7"3 3.22 m3
Wing area
Weight
Empty
Loaded
Maximum load
Performance
Speed
Cruising speed
Climb
Service ceiling
Range
Range with drop tank
Armament
Nose	2: 0.5" MG3
Wings	2 or 4: 0.3" MG3