Difference between revisions of "Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 (USSR)"

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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
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The Russian P-39N works basically like the American version, the only difference being lower mass due to removed machine guns and slightly improved roll and turn rate because of that. In realistic battles it can an advantage of excellent low altitude performance, most of low tier battles in which it will participate will take place there. Climbing in this plane is not an issue, it can get to 5,000m in slightly over 4 minutes, so after reaching it will most likely encounter other fighters like the BF-109E/F, or the American counterparts. Dogfighting with anything is not recommended, at its battle rating it can be outturned by almost everything, so it is the best to keep your speed which in some cases is even 100 km/h higher compared to other fighters, then try to Boom and Zoom the enemy. The cannon that this plane uses has low rate of fire, also its muzzle velocity is not that fast, so it is the best to try attack slower targets, heavy fighters, attackers and bombers by using it. Going for head to head with most of other planes will end up badly, the P-39N-0 SU's armamement is too weak for that.
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Against the Germany it might struggle a little bit, the Bf 109 has better climb and is also better at turning so in most situations it is just the best to start using the superior level speed from 0 to 4,000 m, or go for very shallow dive, they will not be able to keep up because of lower structural speed.
 +
The only concern can the Fw 190 A-1, its level speed is almost as high and gets higher above 5,000m, the best way to win against them is just by using the superior turn rate, but the player still should be careful, the Fw 190 has a really great roll rate, it might try to make the other planes overshoot.
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Against the Britain the only plane that pose any challenge is the Spitfire. Its turn rate is way more superior, the climb rate performance is also very similar, although every other aspect is worse, it will also suffer from overheating issues in any prolonged fight, so they will start bleeding their speed very fast. In most cases it is the best to go for Boom and Zoom or high speed Hit and Run tactics.
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Against the Italy the only planes that can cause any problems are the C.202 and C.205 series. The C.202 is a much slower plane, its climb rate is also worse and the turn rate of the version with cannons very similar, it can be dealt by either Boom and Zooming it or just dogfighting, but it is not recommended unless there are no other planes around, it will make the plane slow and easy to show down, using the speed advantage is way less riskier.
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The C.205 is a harder enemy to deal, its level speed is still slower, by ~30-40 km/h (depending on the version), but the climb rate performance is the same, it also gets faster above ~4,500 m. Both the Cobra and Macchi have also very similar turn rate, dogfighting in this situation will most depend on the player's skill, but the C.205 have a much easier time with snap shots and high angle attacks, the cannon version is equipped with three 20mm cannons, going for head to head is a certain death, so after the encounter at similar altitude the P-39 will most likely be pushed to defensive position, although it can still run away, the structural speed limit is higher by 80 km/h and the lower it gets, the higher chance for winning the Cobra has.
  
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===

Revision as of 13:54, 19 March 2021

Rank 6 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the gift Soviet fighter Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 (USSR). For the American version, see P-39N-0. For other versions, see P-39 (Family).
▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0
p-39n_su.png
GarageImage Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 (USSR).jpg
360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/e/ea/Cockpit_p-39n_su.jpg
▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0
AB RB SB
3.3 3.0 3.0
Show in game

Description

The ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 Airacobra is a premium gift rank III Soviet fighter with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB) and 3.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.31. The plane is painted after the camouflage scheme of Soviet pilot Alexander Pokryshkin in the 16th Guards Fighter Regiment, who scored most of his aerial victories in a lend-lease P-39. It differs from the regular P-39N-0 by the removal of all 4 wing-mounted 0.30 cal machine guns.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 3 048 m644 km/h
Turn time18 s
Max altitude9 700 m
EngineAllison V-1710-85
TypeInline
Cooling systemWater
Take-off weight5 t

The P-39N-0 is a low altitude fighter. Its engine: the Allison V-1710-85 can produce up to 1200 HP, however it has only a single-stage, single-speed supercharger. Because of that, the plane perform well only at low altitude, at sea level it can reach up to 575 km/h and at 3,048 m and it reaches its max level speed at 3,048 m, the level speed there is 644 km/h. Thanks to that it can outperform many other fighters like the early versions of Bf 109 or other American planes at that altitude range. The climb rate performance is decent, getting to 4,500 m should take about 4 minutes when flying with enabled WEP and full fuel tanks, below 1,000 m it is able to reach ~23 m/s. That puts it almost on par with some Bf 109 versions or the Yak-9, but only up to certain altitude. Due to the engine limits after flying for 5 minutes with enabled WEP it might start to overheat, especially with closed radiators. Reducing the propeller pitch to 90-95% and opening its radiators to 15-20% or more will significantly increase the time for how long it can fly at full power.

The manoeuvrability wise the Cobra is a decent plane. It can perform a full horizontal circle at 1,000 m in 18 seconds, but once it climb above the altitude where its engine performs the best the sustained turn rate will be getting worse due to not sufficient amount of power. However even at low altitude it will not be able to outturn any Bf 109E or F version, the P-40F or Yak-9 are also much better at dogfighting. The plane also locks up quite a lot above 600 km/h IAS, although it is very good at diving, its structural speed is 886 km/h, which is excellent compared to the other fighters at similar battle rating. Its roll rate is slightly improved compared to the American N-0 version because of removed wing mounted machine guns, at 400 IAS it can reach ~90°/s and 75°/s at 600 km/h IAS. The turn rate performance can be improved by using flaps, depending on the situation to up to even ~20% at a cost of much higher drag. They can be extended to combat, takeoff and landing position, but their speed limit is quite low, up to 425 km/h IAS, losing them during the fight will significantly decrease its dogfighting capabilities.

In simulator battles the P-39 is a very stable plane, unlike many other propeller driven planes it does not require so much trimming to keep it steady. The stalling characteristics can be violent, it will reaching maximum AoA at ~55% and with combat flaps at 70% of elevator deflection. After pulling it all the way to yourself it will stall out within a few seconds and recovering it from that state will take another few seconds or become almost impossible depending on the fuel loadout (the more fuel, the harder to recover).

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 614 595 9700 18.9 19.9 11.0 11.0 280
Upgraded 682 644 17.8 18.0 21.7 15.4

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 + -
0 322 426 396 241 ~13 ~9
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 360 < 380 < 450 > 312
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
2,800 m 1,125 hp 1,446 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear322 km/h
Armour plates
  • 15.87 mm (5°) Steel - Propeller hub
  • 15.87 mm (15°) - Plate in front of the cockpit
  • 7 mm (67°) Steel - Plate over instrument cluster
  • 6 mm (5-16°) Steel - Upper pilot's seat and headrest encasement
  • 6 mm (5°) Steel - Rear tail
  • 38 mm (71°) Bulletproof glass - Windscreen
  • 64 mm (5°) Bulletproof glass - Headrest of pilot's seat
Critical components
  • The engine is located behind the pilot
  • Cooling systems are under the engine and in the middle of the the tail section.
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks are located at the root of each wing.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB1 027 Sl icon.png
RB5 611 Sl icon.png
SB1 746 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts67 000 Sl icon.png
Aces400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces570 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 60 / 230 / 310 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 136 / 136 / 136 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods ammo.png
bmg50_belt_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
bmg50_new_gun
Mods weapon.png
m4_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition30 rounds
Fire rate150 shots/min
Ammunition400 rounds
Fire rate750 shots/min

The Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 (USSR) 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)

Usage in battles

The Russian P-39N works basically like the American version, the only difference being lower mass due to removed machine guns and slightly improved roll and turn rate because of that. In realistic battles it can an advantage of excellent low altitude performance, most of low tier battles in which it will participate will take place there. Climbing in this plane is not an issue, it can get to 5,000m in slightly over 4 minutes, so after reaching it will most likely encounter other fighters like the BF-109E/F, or the American counterparts. Dogfighting with anything is not recommended, at its battle rating it can be outturned by almost everything, so it is the best to keep your speed which in some cases is even 100 km/h higher compared to other fighters, then try to Boom and Zoom the enemy. The cannon that this plane uses has low rate of fire, also its muzzle velocity is not that fast, so it is the best to try attack slower targets, heavy fighters, attackers and bombers by using it. Going for head to head with most of other planes will end up badly, the P-39N-0 SU's armamement is too weak for that.

Against the Germany it might struggle a little bit, the Bf 109 has better climb and is also better at turning so in most situations it is just the best to start using the superior level speed from 0 to 4,000 m, or go for very shallow dive, they will not be able to keep up because of lower structural speed. The only concern can the Fw 190 A-1, its level speed is almost as high and gets higher above 5,000m, the best way to win against them is just by using the superior turn rate, but the player still should be careful, the Fw 190 has a really great roll rate, it might try to make the other planes overshoot.

Against the Britain the only plane that pose any challenge is the Spitfire. Its turn rate is way more superior, the climb rate performance is also very similar, although every other aspect is worse, it will also suffer from overheating issues in any prolonged fight, so they will start bleeding their speed very fast. In most cases it is the best to go for Boom and Zoom or high speed Hit and Run tactics.

Against the Italy the only planes that can cause any problems are the C.202 and C.205 series. The C.202 is a much slower plane, its climb rate is also worse and the turn rate of the version with cannons very similar, it can be dealt by either Boom and Zooming it or just dogfighting, but it is not recommended unless there are no other planes around, it will make the plane slow and easy to show down, using the speed advantage is way less riskier. The C.205 is a harder enemy to deal, its level speed is still slower, by ~30-40 km/h (depending on the version), but the climb rate performance is the same, it also gets faster above ~4,500 m. Both the Cobra and Macchi have also very similar turn rate, dogfighting in this situation will most depend on the player's skill, but the C.205 have a much easier time with snap shots and high angle attacks, the cannon version is equipped with three 20mm cannons, going for head to head is a certain death, so after the encounter at similar altitude the P-39 will most likely be pushed to defensive position, although it can still run away, the structural speed limit is higher by 80 km/h and the lower it gets, the higher chance for winning the Cobra has.

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:

  • Great acceleration and great top speed in dive
  • Decent climb
  • Great top speed at sea level
  • Decent roll rate
  • Decent vertical and horizontal manoeuvrability
  • 37 mm cannon does a lot of damage when hitting enemy aircraft

Cons:

  • Rudder stiffens at high speed
  • 37 mm cannon has slow velocity which makes it hard to aim
  • Poor high altitude performance

History

In-game description

Bell's P-39 Airacobra was a WWII-era American fighter that was notable for its uncommon design: the engine was placed behind the cockpit, and the landing gear moved from the tail to the nose. The aircraft was adopted by five countries: USA, Britain, Soviet Union, Portugal and Australia.

The P-39N was the first variant to be mass produced, with the P-39N-0 getting a new V-1710-85(E19) engine and a 3-blade Aeroproducts propeller with a 3.15 meter diameter. Starting from aircraft #167, some fuel tanks were removed from the wings to reduce weight, and a connection for additional fuel tanks was installed under the hull. To further increase flight performance, Soviet engineers often removed the wing-mounted machine guns, leaving two nose machine guns and a cannon.

As this variant, Bell produced 2,095 aircraft. Most of these were sent to the Soviet Union on the US's Lend-Lease program. In November 1942, the USSR received the first Airacobras, and the fighters showed good results in battle maneuvers at low and moderate altitudes. Many famous Soviet aces — such as Pokrishkin Alexander Ivanovich, Rechkalov Gregory Andreevich, Gulaev Dmitry Nikolaevich and Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich — piloted the Airacobras during WWII.

Notable pilots

  • Alexander Pokryshkin changed to the P-39N aircraft after his P-39K was damaged by an Il-2 which inadvertenly fired its guns during a rough landing.

Media

Skins
Videos

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


Bell Aircraft Corporation
Aircraft 
Fighters  P-39N-0 · P-39Q-5
  P-400
  P-63A-10 · P-63A-5 · P-63C-5 · ␠Kingcobra
Jet Fighters  P-59A
Export  ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15 · ▄P-39Q-25
  ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5 · ▄P-63C-5
Helicopters 
Attack  AH-1F · AH-1G · AH-1Z · AH-1W
  OH-58D
Utility  UH-1B · UH-1C · UH-1C XM-30
Export/Licensed  ▅UH-1B · ◄UH-1D
  Tzefa A · Tzefa B · Tzefa D/E · ▅AH-1S early · ▅AH-1S · ▅AH-1S Kisarazu · ␗AH-1W
  ␗OH-58D
See Also  Fuji Heavy Industries · Agusta

USSR fighters
I-15  I-15 WR · I-15 M-22 · I-15 M-25 · I-15bis · Krasnolutsky's I-15bis
  I-153 M-62 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P
I-16  I-16 type 5 · I-16 type 10 · I-16 type 18 · I-16 type 24 · I-16 type 27 · I-16 type 28 · I-180S
I-29  I-29
I-185  I-185 (M-71) · I-185 (M-82)
I-225  I-225
ITP  ITP (M-1)
MiG-3  MiG-3-15 · MiG-3-15 (BK) · MiG-3-34
LaGG  I-301 · LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-8 · LaGG-3-11 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · LaGG-3-35 · LaGG-3-66
La  La-5 · La-5F · La-5FN · La-7 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-7B-20 · La-9 · La-11
Yak-1/7  Yak-1 · Yak-1B · Yak-7B
Yak-3  Yak-3 · Yak-3P · Yak-3T · Yak-3U · Yak-3 (VK-107)
Yak-9  Yak-9 · Yak-9B · Golovachev's Yak-9M · Yak-9T · Yak-9K · Yak-9U · Yak-9UT · Yak-9P
Other countries  ▂P-40E-1 · ▂P-47D-27 · ▂Hurricane Mk IIB · ▂Fw 190 D-9 · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc
P-39  ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15
P-63  ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5

USSR premium aircraft
Fighters  Krasnolutsky's I-15bis · I-16 type 28 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P · I-180S · I-301 · ITP (M-1)
  LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-11
  Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3T · Golovachev's Yak-9M
  ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15 · ▂P-40E-1 · ▂P-47D-27 · ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5
  ▂Hurricane Mk IIB · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc · ▂Fw 190 D-9
Twin-engine fighters  I-29
Jet fighters  Su-11 · MiG-15bis ISH · MiG-17AS · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-23ML
Strike aircraft  IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2 M-82 · IL-8 (1944) · Su-6 · Tandem MAI · TIS MA · Su-8 · Tu-1
  Yak-38 · Su-7BMK · Su-25K · Su-39
Bombers  Po-2M · Be-6 · MBR-2-M-34 · Pe-2-205 · TB-3M-17-32
  ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · ▂A-20G-30 · ▂B-25J-30