Curtiss P 40 Warhawk variants

Hawk 81A-1 / P-40B / P-40C / Tomahawk I / Tomahawk IIA and Tomahawk IIB

Twin nose guns, smaller engine cowling, "long" nose

1941–43

This was a very important type for the allies in the early part of the war. Many were destroyed on the ground at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines in December 1941; it did well with the AVG in China and Burma, and was an effective fighter available to the RAF in the early months of the Desert War. It was also a small but important part of the Soviet arsenal in 1942, being one of the few types available to them which could take on the Bf 109. The earliest version (P-40) had only four guns and lacked armor plate or self-sealing tanks, but the British pressed these into service into North Africa anyway as Tomahawk Is. The P-40B (Tomahawk IIa) had armor behind the pilot, an armored windscreen and partially protected fuel tanks, the P-40C (Tomahawk IIb) had a fully protected fuel system, provisions for a drop tank, and became heavier, reducing speed to under 350 mph. The Soviets reportedly stripped the wing guns from some of their Tomahawks to improve performance. Used extensively by the RAF's Army Cooperation Command from February 1941 in developing high speed, low level, tactical reconnaissance for the British Army. Replaced by the Mustang I in mid 1942.

There were a variety of differences between the British Commonwealth and US variants, (starting with the guns, .303 instead of .30 caliber) so that there is not actually an exact correlation between specific US variants (P-40B etc.) and British Commonwealth export versions (i.e. 'Tomahawk')

P-40D / P-40E / Kittyhawk Mk 1 / Kittyhawk Mk Ia

Deeper engine cowling, ('definitive' P-40 "Look") four/six wing guns, "short" nose

1941–43

This was the first version armed with six .50 caliber machine guns. More powerful than the P-40B/C in terms of armor, armament and performance, this was the type which fought as a fighter during the most crucial period in both the Pacific and North African campaigns. The P-40E played a major role in the defense of Philippines, Java (NEI), Australia and New Guinea in 1942, and with the Desert Air Force (DAF) in intense fighting against the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica also in 1942. The P-40E was also an important type for the Soviets.

In the Desert War the arrival of the Kittyhawk led to the early retirement of the Bf 109E and its replacement by the faster and more maneuverable Bf 109F. The top scoring DAF squadrons, including No. 3 Squadron RAAF and No. 112 Squadron RAF, transferred from the Tomahawk to the Kittyhawk, scoring many kills against Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica types, helping the DAF to hold on through this tough period.

The Kittyhawk also played an important role in the Soviet Air Force in 1942, notably during the Battle of Leningrad.

P-40K / P-40M / Kittyhawk Mk III

P-40K has expanded fin, later M models had extended tail

1942–43

These were the slowest and heaviest P-40 variants. The P-40K was the primary type used by the 10th Air Force to establish air superiority in the China/Burma theater, achieving dominance over Japanese Army types in that theater. The P-40M was also an important type for the Soviets.

P-40F / P-40L / Kittyhawk Mk II and Kittyhawk Mk IIa

Packard-Merlin engine, no intake on top of engine, some models were lengthened, some had deleted wing guns.

This version fulfilled the long-standing wish of the British to fit the P-40 with a Merlin engine (which is what ultimately led to the development of the P-51), but it arrived in combat relatively late and ironically, few of this type made it to Commonwealth units. It was however the variant with which the USAAF faced the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica in the Med. The Packard Merlin engine improved performance, but the single stage, two-speed supercharger still limited the effective ceiling to about 20,000 feet. Many P-40Fs were lightened in the field by US squadrons to make them 'hot' by removing some armor and wing guns. The P-40L was an official light version nicknamed "Gypsy Rose Lee" after the famous stripper. Some had four guns, some only had two. Top speed for this type was 368 mph; climb and acceleration were better as well. This fighter could cope with the Bf 109F and G within its effective performance ceiling. It was the variant used by the successful 324th, 325th and 57th Fighter Groups, and also by the Tuskegee Airmen's 99th FS in Italy for a short time.

P-40F/L variants were supplied to Free French squadrons flying in North Africa.

Some of the later run P-40F/L types were lengthened like the later P-40N, a measure to cope with the increased torque of more powerful engines.

P-40N / Kittyhawk Mk IV / Warhawk

Modified rear cockpit with expanded view, lengthened fuselage, some models had two deleted wing guns

This version (Model 87V, 87W) remained in use as an air superiority fighter in the CBI. It was the most produced of all P-40s, with 5,220 examples built. In other theaters it was principally used as a fighter/bomber. It featured a lengthened fuselage and a more powerful 1300 hp Allison engine but the use of a single speed, single stage supercharger gave the model only a marginally better effective altitude than a P-40E. As with the F/L, there were both 'light' and 'heavy' versions, the lightest 'hot' fighter-configuration-with-four-guns P-40Ns achieved a top speed of up to 378 mph. The first sub-model, P-40N-1-CU, weighted only 2,700 kg (max 4,015) and it was meant to be a high-altitude interceptor. It was the fastest of all P-40s with 608 km/h or 378 mph at 3,100 m (one of the best performances at such altitude), 6.7 minutes to 4,570 m, and a ceiling of 38,000 ft. Only 400 were built. Later run P-40Ns were made with a lower-power engine, specifically for training or fighter-bomber missions and had a top speed of only 345 Mph. The production led to many blocks, up to P-40N-40-CU with 1,360 hp and metal-covered ailerons. One of the most important sub-model, the P-40N-15-CU, weighed 6,200 pounds empty, 8,350 loaded, 11,400 max. Its performance dropped to 208 mph/5.000 feet, 325 mph/10,000 feet (thus almost 100 km/h slower), 343 mph/15,000 feet, at 20,000 feet in 8.8 min, service ceiling was 31,000 feet.

Specifications

A listing of specifications for major P-40 variants.