Tthe 커티스 P-40 워호크 1938년에 처음 비행한 미국의 단일 엔진, 단일 좌석, 올메탈 전투기 및 지상 공격 항공기였습니다. P-40 디자인은 이전 커티스 P-36 호크를 수정하여 개발 시간을 단축하고 생산 및 운영 서비스에 빠르게 진입할 수 있었습니다. 워호크는 제2차 세계대전 당시 대부분의 연합군을 포함한 28개국 공군에 의해 사용되었으며, 전쟁이 끝날 때까지 최전선에서 복무했다. P-51과 P-47에 이어 세 번째로 많은 미국 전투기였다. 1944년 11월, P-40의 생산이 중단되었을 때, 13,738개의 건물이 건설되었고, 모두 뉴욕 버팔로에 있는 커티스 라이트 코퍼레이션의 주요 생산 시설에 건설되었다.
Tthe 커티스 P-40 워호크was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that saw extensive use by Allied powers during World War II. Though often overshadowed by faster contemporaries, the P-40 was a robust, reliable, and crucial aircraft, particularly in the early years of the conflict.
Design and Characteristics
Role:Fighter and Ground-Attack. It was the third-most produced American fighter of World War II.
Engine:It was powered by the **Allison V-1710 V-12 liquid-cooled engine**. A lack of a high-altitude, two-stage supercharger in the most numerous early variants limited the P-40’s performance above 15,000 feet.
군비:Armament varied, but typical P-40s were armed with **Six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns** mounted in the wings. It could also carry a bomb, making it an effective fighter-bomber.
강점:The P-40 was noted for its **excellent diving speed**, **tough construction**, and **heavy armor plating**, making it highly survivable in combat and an ideal platform for ground attack.
약점:Its primary disadvantage was its **poor performance at high altitudes** and its relatively **low climb rate**.
운영 이력
The P-40 served in nearly every theatre of the war under various names and with numerous air forces:
The Pacific and China:The Warhawk is most famously associated with the **Flying Tigers** (American Volunteer Group) in China, where its iconic shark-mouth nose art became a symbol of Allied air power. Its ruggedness and good low-to-medium altitude performance made it effective against Japanese aircraft.
North Africa:Under British and Commonwealth service, it was known as the **Tomahawk** (early variants) and **Kittyhawk** (later variants). It was vital in North Africa, where the majority of air combat occurred at lower altitudes where the P-40 was competitive.
Soviet Union:The P-40 was supplied to the Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease Act, where it was used as a frontline fighter, primarily for ground attack and air superiority at low altitudes.
The P-40 Warhawk was instrumental in keeping Allied air forces competitive in the early stages of World War II until more advanced fighters became widely available.
커티스 P-40C 워호크의 54장의 새로운 세트