XP-38G

XP-38G

XP-38G

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.3	3.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Interceptor

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

Show in game

STORE

This page is about the American premium twin-engine fighter XP-38G. For the regular version, see P-38G-1. For other uses, see P-38 (Family).

Description

The XP-38G is a premium rank II American twin-engine fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB) and 3.3 (RB/SB). This twin-engine fighter has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. It is available to be bought at the Gaijin Store in the "USA Pacific Campaign (1941-1942)" pack.

General info

Flight Performance

The XP-38G is very similar to the P-38G. It has most of its fine handling characteristics, speed, and armament. It should be used as a strike fighter.

Being a twin-boomed fighter, the XP-38 is slightly less manoeuvrable than its counterparts. However, it has a very small turn radius in return.

The P-38 has an extremely high rate of climb and high speed. Use it as a strike fighter- target bombers and lone fighters. Always side-climb to gain altitude over your opponent.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 8,229 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
634	616	12192	23.1	23.9	14.6	14.6	380
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 8,229 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
689	660	12192	20.9	22.0	22.4	18.0	380

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		241	~9.5	~5.5

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

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,800 m	2,620 hp	3,010 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name			Number present
Allison V-1710-51 12-cylinder			2
Engine characteristics
Weight (each)		Type	Cooling
610 kg		Inline	Water
Engine power (Stock)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,084 hp		1,350 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,072 hp		1,200 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,264 hp		1,531 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,252 hp		1,380 hp

WEP Duration
Arcade		Realistic/Simulator
25 seconds		Infinite

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit top front.
• 6.5 mm Steel plates in the nose.
• 6.5 mm Steel plates in pilot's seat.
• 9.5 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The XP-38G is armed with:

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

The armament on the XP-38G is extremely powerful. A single 20mm cannon combined with 4 M2s in the nose make a devastating, accurate combination. The XP-38G can effectively slice wings in half due to its extremely accurate weapons.

Suspended armament

The XP-38G can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 6 x M8 rockets

Usage in battles

Utilize the P-38 as a strike fighter. The P-38 has very good energy retention and climb speed, so mainly use it as a BnZ fighter. However, it can be an effective turn fighter against less manoeuvrable opponents. Be warned, however, that once at a low speed and altitude the P-38 is a sitting duck. It is a very large fighter and easy to destroy.

The best cure is being prepared. Always maintain a high, safe altitude. If you have to, the P-38 is best in a flat dive. Its roll rate can be used to its advantage as well. Use diving and climbing manoeuvres to get out of trouble. Avoid turning to counter opponents, unless they are less manoeuvrable.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable	Not controllable	Controllable	Combined	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm	Rocket Launcher M10
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Gathers speed quickly in a dive
• Good armament, can rip apart other planes quickly
• Good for Boom & Zoom
• Good climb rate

Cons:

• Extremely prone to fire
• Poor turning /manoeuvrability

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === Encyclopedia Info ===, also if applicable).

In-game description

"The P-38 was an all-metal, three-wheeled, single-seater, twin-engined monoplane fighter with an aerodynamic design rarely seen in World War II.

An experimental XP-38 (Model 22) was first flown on January 27, 1938. Production began in June of 1941.

The G variant was created at the end of 1942 and was based on the E and F variants. The G had a more powerful turbocharged Allison V-1710-51/55 engine. Engine management was significantly more automated than before.

The plane carried a formidable armament consisting of 20mm Hispano AN/M2 cannons with 150 rounds and four 12.7mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns with 300 rounds apiece. The P-38G had a reinforced fuselage and could carry two extra 300-gallon (1136-liter) fuel tanks. The G was not equipped to carry rockets and bombs, but was often modified on the field to carry 250-lb or even 500-lb bombs as well as unguided rockets.

The P-38G was widely used by the Army Air Force (USAAF) in all theaters of the war. They were often used for shuttle missions over Germany from the airfields of Ukraine. The best known operation in which the P-38G participated was Operation Lightning, which changed the war in the Pacific. The mission, which was flown on April 18, 1943, intercepted and shot down a Japanese G4M1 bomber with Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto on board. In addition, the P-38 was the plane of choice of the two most successful American aces: Richard Ira Bong (40 kills) and Thomas McGuire (38 kills).

From 1942 to 1943, Lockheed built 1,462 P-38Gs. They were decommissioned in 1949."

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bristol Beaufighter
• de Havilland Mosquito
• Kawasaki Ki-96
• Mitsubishi Ki-83
• Nakajima J5N
• Northrop P-61 Black Widow
• Westland Whirlwind
• Petlyakov Pe-3
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.92

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.