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Introduction
Engine Performance
Firepower
Maneuverability
Flying the P-38G
Fighting the P-38G
Summary
Engine/Range Info
Fuel Tankage: 75 gallons
1/4
150 gallons 1/2
225 gallons 3/4
300 gallons full
+300 gallons droptanks
Engine Settings Military:
3000rpm/47mp
620 gall/hr
Normal:
2600rpm/41mp 467gall/hr
Max Cruise: 2300rpm/35mp 352gall/hr
Calculated Ranges (Internal Fuel
Only):
Military: 158 miles
Normal:
210 miles
Max Cruise: 278 miles
(External Fuel)
Military: 347 miles
Normal: 469
miles
-Soda
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Introduction:
The P-38G introduces an interesting alternative to the J and L
models. The G fits nicely
in some early war scenarios but it’s unclear how popular it may end up
in general play. I suspect that as in the other P-38’s, the quality of
the pilot will really mattered, as someone unfamiliar with the P-38 in
general tended to have difficulty mastering the aircraft. That said, the G is certainly a
different aircraft from the others in some ways so only time will tell.
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Engine Performance:
Not great, the P-38G can manage only 327mph at sea-level with no
WEP option. This is a bit
slow but steadily improves with altitude at a rate of about 3-4mph/1K
gain. By 10K it cruises at
359mph, at 20K 387mph, and it tops out at 26K and 401mph. Climb appears to be in the
2,700ft/min range with matching acceleration. Fuel range is slightly less than other P-38 models
due to the lack of leading edge wing tanks. Duration at military power is only 29 minutes though
this can be doubled with the addition of drop tanks. Altitude makes little
difference in fuel duration as there is no measurable difference from
sea-level up to 25,000ft at which point is slowly decreases. Fuel is stored in 4 tanks,
LA/RA with 60 gallons each are burned first, LM/RM with 90 gallons each
are burned second. To help
out with general fuel management, the fuel gauge has a very small red
marker that shows percentage of internal fuel remaining. It seems to be the pattern in
the remodeled aircraft to have this added though all aircraft can look
at the E6B now and see exact fuel remaining.
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Firepower:
Standard P-38 for the most part, the P-38G has the typical four
.50cal plus single 20mm hispano cannon arrangement in the nose. This is an excellent gun package,
easy to use, and with enough hitting power to defeat any target. The only gun option you have is
whether you would like the 200 rounds/gun or 500 rounds/gun option for
your .50cals. The larger
option tends to match up better with your cannon, which has 150 rounds,
in that the firing times are almost identical and the ballistics are
well matched at most reasonable ranges. The smaller ammo load would result in only about 6
seconds firing time vs. 14-15.
External ordinance comes in two basic flavors, two wing mounts
and two fuselage-side mounted rocket tubes. The wing mounts can take bombs up to 1,000lbs in
size or drop tanks up to 150 gallons, or combinations of the two. These are very useful and a
combination load gives some extended cruise range while not totally
losing your attacking abilities.
The rocket tubes contain six 4.5” rockets in total but the
effects of the tubes is limiting on performance even after the rockets
are used. Anticipate the
rockets will cost you between 7 and 10mph depending on altitude for
your entire flight.
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Maneuverability:
From some testing, the P-38G appears to turn better than the
other P-38 models, though the difference is not dramatic. Overall in roll and general
handling, the P-38G appears to feel very common to the whole P-38
family. Roll rate is good
once started but the inertia of starting/stopping rolls has to be
overcome so there tends to be a bit of delay in initiating roll. Elevator response is good and
stall handling is excellent, especially at high angles of attack or in
the vertical. The P-38G
appears quite tolerant to higher airspeeds, structural creaking
beginning at ~480mph IAS though I have yet to find the limits of
structural failure. Mach
buffet and compression, two issues that have effected P-38’s in the
past, don’t seem as serious in the G, recovery at low altitudes was not
difficult and did not require the use of dive-recovery-flaps as on the
L model. At high altitudes
though those conditions still exist and can make maneuvering difficult
unless you slow down or descend to lower altitudes. I do feel the G model picked up
some turn-rate improvement over the L model, which was no slouch
itself, so it should make for a pretty competitive ride in the same
turn-class as a Spitfire Mk IX. Flaps can be used to enhance maneuverability, the
first 3 stages available at 250mph, with the last two at 200mph and 150mph. Fuel load-out does have some
impact on the P-38 simply because it has so much fuel (~1,800lbs at
full load, double that with drop tanks) so getting light on fuel will
really enhance your maneuverability. Ammunition load is personal preference though most
people claim the difference in flying qualities is almost
imperceptible.
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Flying the P-38G
I know a couple of good P-38 pilots have really given the G
model good marks. It
should retain all the best features of the P-38 in ease of use,
excellent stall and vertical characteristics, but will give up quite a
bit in acceleration/climb.
Likely you really want to start with a solid energy position and
BnZ, only letting yourself get into turn-fights for short periods of
time. You certainly can’t
run away from most aircraft but you should be able to give them a tough
time in close. Flap use is
critical but requires knowledgeable employment at the correct instant.
Offensively, use the advantage in ease of gunnery and your total
firepower to hit people quickly and hard. Not much can take a full broadside from a
P-38G. The forward view
can be a bit frustrating because of the unusual arrangement of the
armored glass plate, it tends to get in the way. I also don’t know that I find
the gauges all that easy to read, some are obscured by the control
column/wheel when it moves around. Some claim the P-38G can maneuver with the likes of
a Spitfire Mk V though I don’t know that I give it quite that high a
mark, I think it’s probably in a tier just behind that so could
probably give it a good fight but not purely beat it. The P-38G makes a good
swing-role attack aircraft though the rockets, with tubes, are not a
good choice.
Defensively, avoid getting slow and low, your climb and
acceleration aren’t going to let you get out of those situations
easily. The P-38G is also
a large target, you don’t want to give people shots at you as rounds
that would normally pass behind a smaller fighter will instead hit the
P-38G.
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Fighting the P-38G
I think the P-38G has fewer options for defense but early on in
a fight when it has lots of energy it can be very dangerous. As the fight moves along into
lower energy points, the P-38G is less likely to be able to break free
or generate large amounts of energy like some common AH fighters.
Offensively, the P-38G is a large target so take every shot you
can at one. Sometimes a
single hit or two may spell a long term success because of damage
adding up. The P-38G can’t
really run well, it’s very much in the mid-lower tier of fighters in
that respect, so you should be able to keep one from getting away
should it try and run. Never
try and HO a P-38 of any type, if that is the only shot opportunity
then try and do something else, you can’t really win in those
situations.
Defensively, the P-38G is going to be most dangerous early on in
a fight. While still
packing energy it can do some amazing vertical maneuvers and
turns. You need to have
him burn up that excess and then try to turn the tables. Don’t get caught thinking you
can beat one in a vertical zoom, he is just as likely to hit you at
D800 with his easily aimed nose guns. Scissors offer a generally good defense against
P-38’s, change directions in frequent rolling motion. The P-38G roll is slow to
start/stop because of the large momentum to roll such a large aircraft.
I would also not dive away from the P-38G except if you are starting at
very high altitudes. With
some of the modeling changes in AH2 the P-38’s don’t appear quite as
susceptible to compression and Mach buffet as they used to be but I
still wouldn’t consider them especially strong divers.
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Summary
I don’t think the P-38G is going to get a lot of attention from
the general populace as the P-38L never attracted swarms of
players. That said, elite
P-38 pilots are likely to adapt fairly easily and will quickly fill
their perk point coffers with the G’s high ENY value. I’d suspect that most G model
P-38’s you meet will have a better than average pilot at the controls
because of that, especially if you see a couple of them working
together. The P-38G shares
most of the advantages of the family though, just missing out on some
acceleration, climb, and ordinance carrying but gaining a bit in
turn-rate. The P-38G
should be a bit easier to exploit though if caught low/slow as it can’t
generate energy nearly as quickly as the later models can.
I’ve tried the P-38G out a couple of times and had mixed
success. It’s certainly a
fun aircraft to fly but the forward view is a bit annoying and it’s
easily trapped by multiple enemies working together. I really need to spend some
more stick time in it though to get the full appreciation for what
appears to me to be quite a light P-38 in feel.
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