P-38J-15

This page is about the American twin-engine fighter P-38J-15. For the premium version, see Bong's P-38J-15. For other variants, see P-38 (Family).

P-38J-15

P-63C-5

P-38L-5-LO

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/2/27/Cockpit_p-38j.jpg

P-38J-15

P-63C-5

P-38L-5-LO

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	4.3	4.0

Class:

Fighter

Interceptor

Research:46 000

Purchase:155 000

Show in game

Description

Throughout the many P-38 Lightning variants, one thing rarely changed, the engine nacelles. With the P-38J, also known as Model 422, the engine nacelles and cooling system was revised. Much of the cooling system was improved, such as a different intercooler and other airframe changes that greatly improved the ability to control the turbochargers. Although the P-38J had the same engine (V-1719-89/91) as the earlier P-38H, the better cooling allowed the P-38J to run at a higher power setting at high altitudes. The power increased by about 13%. The specific J-15 block had a better electrical system but was virtually the same as the earlier P-38J blocks.

Introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm", the P-38J-15 Lightning is a decent twin-engine fighter. The P-38J with its relatively good climb rate and air spawn, can easily climb above many fighters at its battle rating. Players should climb at about 275 km/h (173 mph) IAS for the best climb performance. The P-38J also has the same armament as many of the other Lightnings with four 12.7 mm machine guns and one 20 mm cannon all mounted in the nose. Although the P-38J has a structural limit of 790 km/h (493 mph), players should be cautious of going too fast as the high-speed compression issue wasn't solved at the time. This can make it hard to get guns on target or worse, slam into the ground. In addition, the P-38J can take bombs and rockets, but players should stick to attacking enemy aircraft. Overall, the P-38J is quite a good aircraft with some quirks.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 7 921 m693 km/h

Turn time21 s

Max altitude12 192 m

EngineAllison V-1710-91

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight9 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 7,921 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	669	651	12192	22.6	23.4	15.9	15.9	332
Upgraded	721	693		20.4	21.5	24.3	19.6

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
790	289	565	495	250	~9	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 380	< 460	< 500	> 420

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
7,500 m	1,290 hp	1,416 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural790 km/h

Gear289 km/h

• 6.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit plating
• 6.5 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
• 9.8 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB1 752 → 2 345

RB4 046 → 5 417

SB5 764 → 7 717

Total cost of modifications40 500

78 000

Talisman cost1 400

Crew training45 000

Experts155 000

Aces820

Research Aces440 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

80 / 200 / 420 %

160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 2 700 Cost: 5 200 220 Radiator Research: 2 700 Cost: 5 200 220 Compressor Research: 2 300 Cost: 4 400 185 Wings repair Research: 3 400 Cost: 6 600 270 Engine Research: 3 400 Cost: 6 600 270 G-suit Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 210 Engine injection Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 210	Airframe Research: 2 300 Cost: 4 400 185 Cover Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 210	bmg50_belt_pack Research: 2 700 Cost: 5 200 220 bmg50_new_gun Research: 2 300 Cost: 4 400 185 FMBC mk.1 Research: 2 300 Cost: 4 400 185 anm2_belt_pack Research: 3 400 Cost: 6 600 270 anm2_new_gun Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 210 Rocket Launcher M10 Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 210

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 120 mm AN/M2 cannon

Ammunition150 rounds

Fire rate600 shots/min

Weapon 24 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The P-38J-15 is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg)
• 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 12 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb

Setup 26 x M8 rocket

The P-38J-15 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 6 x M8 rockets

Usage in battles

When playing the P-38J, climb to a high altitude, search for the enemy, and then pick an enemy you feel confident in engaging.

Once these steps have been ticked off, assuming you are above the enemy target, put the Lightning into a gradual descent. This allows you to maintain a speed advantage. As you are descending, make small course corrections, so you don't give the element of surprise away by shooting too soon, overshooting, or being within view. When you are about 1-2 seconds away from your target, line your sights up and fire a short burst with your cannon and machine guns. Your target should now be heavily damaged or shot down. If you fail to damage your target, climb back up above using your energy advantage and repeat or move on.

Ground Battles
Using the Lightning in ground forces (RB) is very effective once you have unlocked the appropriate modules. FMBC Mk.1 allows you to equip 2 x 500 lb bombs, which are mounted under your wings. To help get the bombs on target, put the plane into a steep dive. As you near the ground, drop the bombs then pull up. Make sure you either pull up with altitude to spare or have a timed fuse to avoid crashing or blowing yourself up. The M10 Bazooka module allows you to equip your P-38J with 2 triple Bazooka launchers. These are attached to the lower nose panel and are very accurate. These are ideal for destroying tanks and bunkers.

Once the enemy ground units have been destroyed or you run out of external ordnance, you can use the Lightning to help maintain air superiority. This will help you secure that much-wanted victory.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent speed and climb rate
• Incredible energy retention, great for Boom & Zoom
• Very powerful armament, great for bomber hunting
• Nose-mounted armament, no need for gun convergence
• Multiple armament presets; allows it to function as a ground attack and/or air superiority fighter
• Good roll and turn time
• Good overall visibility in simulator matches

Cons:

• Fuel tanks catch on fire easily
• Low initial roll rate
• Unable to dive to put fires out without breaking wings
• Easy to rip wings in dives; no airbrakes installed unlike the P-38L
• Low cannon ammunition amount compared to other planes at the rank.

History

Development

The concept of the plane was made in February 1937 when the US Army Air Corps made a requirement for a plane that had twin-engine and could act as a high-altitude interceptor that could hold a large amount of armament and ammunition. The term "interceptor" was used for the aircraft by the requirement authors, 1st Lt Benjamin S. Kelsey and Gordon P. Saville, to bypass the Air Corps' strict requirements on aircraft designs at the time. The specifications laid by these new requirements also called for a maximum speed of 360 mph (580 km/h) and able to climb to 20,000 ft altitude in six minutes, making it the toughest specifications at the time. Design proposals were made for the specifications, one of which would become the Bell P-39 Airacobra, but it was the Lockheed design team headed by Hall Hibbard and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson that made the final product. They made many designs with a twin-engine configuration. The prototypes made for the design used a twin-boom design to hold all the components of the aircraft. Various armaments were tested on the aircraft, from different machine gun combinations and autocannons. It was finally settled to four x M2 .50 cal machine guns and one Hispano 20 mm autocannon. The aircraft armament configurations, all at the nose of the aircraft, was very unusual for American aircraft design, as most of their designs and those of their foreign contemporaries had the armament mounted on the wings angled forward. Because of this mounting, the aircraft can fire at a longer distance accurately than wing-mounts.

P-38J

The P-38J model of the series was introduced into service in August 1943. Its distinctive form is the movement of the turbo-supercharger intercooler system from the leading edges of the wings to in between the oil coolers of the engine to protect them from combat damage. Thus, the J models of P-38s have a distinctive "chin" in the engine design. The empty spaces on the wing now made room for fuel tanks for an additional 55 gallons of fuel when installed. Other improvements in the P-38J were hydraulically boosted ailerons and flat bullet-proof windscreens. 2970 P-38Js were built during its production period.

Combat usage

The P-38 performed very well in the Pacific and European theatres during World War II. They were used in roles such as bomber and transport escorts, performing reconnaissance, Combat Air Patrols, ground attack, Search and Rescue and other important and critical roles.

Survivors

Unfortunately, it is estimated that only five P-38Js survive to this day. Only two of them are still airworthy.

Notable pilots

• 

  Major Richard Bong's infamous fighter with the Marge nose-art was a P-38J-15. Bong became the top U.S. ace of W.W. II after 40 confirmed victories (and a possible 8 more).

• 

  United States ace pilot Robin Olds, the only pilot to become an ace in a P-38 and P-51 during World War II.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the P-38J-15 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #297 - Pages of History section at 04:39 discusses Robin Olds, P-38 ace.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Northrop P-61 Black Widow
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.92

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• AAF Manual 51-127-1 - Pilot Training Manual for the Lightning P-38

Lockheed Corporation
Fighters	XP-38G · P-38E · P-38G-1 · P-38J-15 · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38K · P-38L-5-LO · YP-38
Bombers	B-34 · PV-2D
Jet Fighters	F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
	F-104A · F-104C
Strike Aircraft	F-117
Export / License	A-29 · ▄Hudson Mk V
	␗P-38L-1
	␗F-104A · ▀F-104G · ␗F-104G · ▄F-104G · ▅F-104J · ▄F-104S
	The Lockheed Corporation merged with Martin Marietta Corporation in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin Corporation.
See Also	SABCA · Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Fiat Aviation