P-39Q-5

This page is about the American fighter P-39Q-5. For other versions, see P-39 (Family).

P-39Q-5

P-39N-0

P-63A-5

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/2/2d/Cockpit_p-39q_5.jpg

P-39Q-5

P-39N-0

P-63A-5

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	2.7	3.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:6 900

Purchase:32 000

Show in game

Description

The P-39Q-5 Airacobra is a rank II American fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB), 2.7 (RB), and 3.3 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The primary purpose of a P-39 is that of a low-level interceptor against low energy aircraft. It lacks the high-altitude performance needed to engage strategic bombers. The 37 mm M4's dropping trajectory and slow rate of fire make it useless in head-on passes. Therefore, prioritise low altitude objectives, like escorting attackers & low alt bombers, or preying on the ones of the enemy.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 3 048 m602 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude9 700 m

EngineAllison V-1710-85

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight5 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	573	554	9700	19.2	20.1	10.3	10.3	280
Upgraded	636	602		17.6	18.0	20.3	14.4

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	+	-
886	322	426	396	241	~13	~9

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 360	< 380	< 450	> 312

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear322 km/h

• 15.87 mm Steel - Propeller hub
• 15.87 mm Steel - Plate in front of the cockpit
• 7 mm Steel - Plate over the instrument cluster
• 6 mm Steel - Upper pilot's seat and headrest encasement
• 6 mm Steel - Rear tail
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen
• 64 mm Bulletproof glass - Headrest of pilot's seat

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB764 → 986

RB1 527 → 1 971

SB2 358 → 3 044

Total cost of modifications13 740

20 000

Talisman cost860

Crew training9 200

Experts32 000

Aces320

Research Aces250 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

50 / 120 / 230 %

130 / 130 / 130 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 690 Cost: 1 000 95 Radiator Research: 690 Cost: 1 000 95 Compressor Research: 1 000 Cost: 1 400 135 Wings repair Research: 870 Cost: 1 300 120 Engine Research: 870 Cost: 1 300 120 Engine injection Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 200 210	Airframe Research: 1 000 Cost: 1 400 135 Cover Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 200 210	bmg50_belt_pack Research: 690 Cost: 1 000 95 Rocket Launcher M10 Research: 690 Cost: 1 000 95 bmg50_new_gun Research: 1 000 Cost: 1 400 135 m4_belt_pack Research: 870 Cost: 1 300 120 FMBC mk.1 Research: 870 Cost: 1 300 120 m4_new_gun Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 200 210

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 137 mm M4 cannon

Ammunition30 rounds

Fire rate150 shots/min

Weapon 24 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun

Ammunition1 000 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The P-39Q-5 is armed with:

• 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 16 x M8 rocket

Setup 21 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb

The P-39Q-5 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 6 x M8 rockets
• 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)

Usage in battles

Basic dogfighting skills apply. Use energy tactics and only fire the cannon under optimum conditions. It is advised to utilise separate keys for the main weapons.

Otherwise, utilise the given machine guns at every opportunity. The centre/cowling mounted .50 cals provide great long range accuracy & harassment.

"Jack of all trades, master of none" is the credo of the Airacobra. Thus the basic tactic is to analyse your opponent's weakness and then exploit it. The P-39 will always be able to find an area in which to surpass the foe, or at least is on par to let the skill decide.

Given the P-39's sleek and rather an aerodynamic form, Boom & Zoom is the preferred form of combat. However, this aircraft is capable of turn-fighting as well. Again, the P-39 provides all the options a pilot would want, a "Jack of all trades, master of none".

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Heavy armament
• Great dive speed and acceleration
• Good secondary armament of four HMG
• Reasonable turn time
• High top-end diving speed, can dive up to +800 km/h
• Good climb rate

Cons:

• "Jack of all trades, but master of none"
• Different weapon trajectories make aiming difficult
• 37 mm projectiles have extremely low accuracy and muzzle velocity
• 37 mm projectiles are incapable of defeating tank armour, even at optimal angles with AP-T rounds
• Long countdown for the 37 mm in both overheating and reload
• Easy to stall with full controls
• Low ammo count for the machine guns

History

In-game description

The Q series became the most numerous and advanced of all the Airacobra family. It was a direct successor of the N series. The whole propeller-engine group remained unchanged: the Allison V-1710-85 engine, the reduction gear, the elongated shaft and the Aeroprop type propeller. Because of this, the flight characteristics remained virtually unchanged. However, a more efficient four-bladed propeller was fitted to the series from Q-21 to Q-25. As for the alterations, they mainly concerned the armament. The inefficient wing machine guns of rifle-calibre were removed and usually replaced by two 12.7 mm Brownings in pods under the wings. But these were not always fitted. Most of the aircraft sent for export to the USSR had no wing machine guns. The suspension tank of 87 gallons was replaced by the standard 120 gallon tank. A tank of 110 gallons (416 l) capacity was used in the Q-5 series.

The differences between the various Q series consisted mainly of the search for the optimum combination of armour protection and internal fuel tank capacity. Takeoff weight, range and load varied from version to version. Altogether, beginning with Q-1 and ending with Q-30, eight series of the fighter were built, to a total number of 4699 aircraft. Of these, 3291 were exported to the USSR. Furthermore, a few reconnaissance versions of this aircraft, fitted with photo-cameras, were built on the basis of the Q series.

This aircraft was not used at all in Great Britain, because the high-altitude speed characteristics of the Cobra were considered unsatisfactory. The US Army Air Corps used the aircraft mainly in the Pacific, in places in which it was impossible to use any aircraft other than the Cobra because of the condition of the airstrips, where the P-39, because of its tricycle landing gear, had no difficulties. Nevertheless, the American pilots feared and disliked the aircraft, calling it "Iron dog" because of its rear-mounted engine and rear centering. Cases were known of the aircraft being deliberately crashed to speed up re-equipment with the more popular P-38.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the P-39Q-5 from live.warthunder.com.

See 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.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance