P-36C

P-36C

P-36A

P-36C

P-36A

USA

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.0	1.7	2.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:4 000

Purchase:2 100

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Description

The P-36C Hawk is a Rank I American fighter with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB), 1.7 (RB), and 2.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.31.

General info

Flight Performance

Stat card

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
473	462	9,754	17.2	18.2	4.4	6.9	183
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
531	501	9,754	16.8	17.0	19.4	10.6	183

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
670	290	520	~17	~9

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 290	< 380	< 460	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,981 m	1,050 hp	1,299 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name			Number present
Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 14-cylinder			1
Engine characteristics
Weight (each)		Type	Cooling
675 kg		Radial	Air
Engine power (Stock)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	918 hp		1,165 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,092 hp		1,340 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	907 hp		1,025 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,081 hp		1,1 h99p

WEP Duration
Arcade		Realistic/Simulator
25 seconds		Infinite

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

The P-38G-1 Lightning is armed with:

• 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
• 1 x 7.62 mm M1919 Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg)
• 2 x 7.62 mm M1919 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in the battles

This aircraft is an all-round performer, with later versions taking on FW-190s and later 109 F variants. It has an excellent turn time at low and high speeds, a good dive speed and good rate of climb. Its higher altitude performance is fairly average, but this doesn't really matter since most lower tier games occur at lower/ ground level. The issue with the C variant is that its armament is sometimes in-effective against higher tier aircraft with armour as well as the ammo count being quite small, meaning frequent reloads. In Realistic Battles, it is recommended to climb straight- side-climbing can be done, but isn't normally necessary- and gain altitude over your opponent, before diving and pulling numerous energy loops, oval-shaped flight moves over the enemy. Head-ons, especially with little armour and the large radial engine, is not recommended unless the enemy is known to be weaker. A P-36 has the speed to catch and escort bombers if they choose to wait, and can do an excellent job of escorting higher tier bombers. The one weakness of the plane's maneuverability is its role rate, which can be countered by hard yaw movements, although this is only advised in large direction changes. In dog-fights, this reduces speed and accuracy.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable No automatic pitch	Controllable	Not controllable	Combined	Not controllable	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent climb speed.
• Excellent dive speed.
• Better-than-average turn-radius.
• Good energy retention.

Cons:

• Small ammo count.
• Sometimes in-effective weapons.
• No bombs.
• Less-than-average roll rate at certain speeds.
• Weak armour.
• Poor in a head-on.
• Large engine that can get hit.

Media

Skins and camouflages for the P-36C from live.warthunder

Read also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

ETC.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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