P-40's w/ dual centerline hardpoints

Shay · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:11 pm

I was reading that the 23rd FG would mount a 2nd centerline rack. In the instance i was reading about. The forward mount held a bomb while the aft mount held a belly tank. One pilot stated that "Even if you holed the tank on take off, you'd alteast get something out of it before it was empty"

Any pictures exist of this setup?

Also did any units ever try mounting dual hardpoints on the P-40 ala P-47 and P-51?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:17 pm

IIRC I've seen side by side under-fuselage racks on RAAF P-40 Kittyhawks in North Africa for 250lb bombs, but what you are describing is new to me.

I'll have a dig for pics.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:36 pm

Pretty standard set-up in the CBI especially with the P-40Ks.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:56 pm

Reading Don Lopez's book right now and he doesn't seem to describe anything of the sort. Though I am highly intrigued. Are you describing a setup with one center line rack behind the other? Or side by side?

hang the expense · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:23 am

I would like to see a picture of that.The wing has a provision for one mount which is reenforced from the skid bar and internal structure.I am curious what kind of set up(lash up) for the second mount looks like.

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 am

Pretty sure this is an adapted mount with two British 250 lb(?) bombs side by side with stick fuses. RAAF Merlin engine Kittyhawk in N Africa.

Photo RAAF Official.

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 am

There are pictures of Brit P-40s in the desert with the tandem set up. I seem to recall that I saw the photos in the old Camouflage and Markings series

Stormin · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 am

To mount a bomb and fuel forward and aft I think would create a C.G. problem ? That's why most hard points, ordanance, external fuel, ect. is possitioned were it is.

Shay · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:38 am

None the less that is how it was described. Didn't the Mustang risk the same with the addition of the aft fuselage tank in an effort to extend the range?

Is the P-40's tail wheel height adjustable? Because in the account the pilot said they had to crank the tail wheel down as much as possible to get enough clearance.

The time frame ws the 2nd half of 43 (before recieving "A" model Mustangs) so these were most likely N, M, L and K models.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:38 pm

the only way to adjust the hieght of the tail wheel is to over inflate the strut and it can only be done on the ground.

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm

Here's an image of wing and fus mounted double racks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P0337 ... bomber.jpg

sdennison · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm

Decent shot but all appear on the same fore/aft line. That seems logical but a bomb load on that line and then a 50 to 150 gal aux fuel tank aft? :shock:

That would be a handful, I'd think. Will look for more info.

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm

Pogmusic wrote:

Here's an image of wing and fus mounted double racks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P0337 ... bomber.jpg

Interesting that this is also actually another RAAF Kittyhawk as in the illustration I posted above.

I'm sceptical of a tandem tank/bomb arrangement for anything (for the reasons outlined above) except one off operations - probably only once when the engineering officers weren't looking!

sdennison · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm

Page 87 of the Pilots Flight Operating Manual states that "Auxilliary fuel tanks may be carried in place of the bombs under each wing and fuselage. These tanks range in capacity from 52 to 150 gallons."

So, I'd tend to agree with JDK that the "creativity" of the lads in the field may be at work here, if at all. Still, a handful to fly, I'd think. :wink:

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P-40's w/ dual centerline hardpoints

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