A naval version for Warhawk?

[sjk.fly4ever]

Hi everyone,

In my first post here, I share with you some pictures of fighters Curtiss P-40 operating aboard aircraft carriers or on the flight deck. Some questions for aviation and history enthusiasts of WW2. There was a naval version of the P-40? Which countries have used during the war and which Operating Theatres? To view photos visit the link below:


http://aviacaoemfloripa.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/curtiss-p-40-em-porta-avioes.html



Best Regards,

Stephan

[rwanttaja]

Hi everyone,

In my first post here, I share with you some pictures of fighters Curtiss P-40 operating aboard aircraft carriers or on the flight deck. Some questions for aviation and history enthusiasts of WW2. There was a naval version of the P-40? Which countries have used during the war and which Operating Theatres? To view photos visit the link below:

http://aviacaoemfloripa.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/curtiss-p-40-em-porta-avioes.html

I'd say those are pictures of P-40s being transported as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. The national markings on the fighters are right for that period, and the large American flag on some probably helped the French identify the aircraft.

According to Wikipedia, "Curtiss P-40s of the 33rd Fighter Group were launched from United States Navy escort carriers and landed at Port Lyautey on November 10. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Torch

The Warhawks were flown off to land in Africa, but didn't land back aboard. Kind of like Doolittle's B-25s.

The pictures in your great link are obviously escort carriers, and none show a P-40 with folded wings (just about required if it's going to be a carrier-based aircraft).

Ron Wanttaja

[rwanttaja]

I'd say those are pictures of P-40s being transported as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. The national markings on the fighters are right for that period, and the large American flag on some probably helped the French identify the aircraft.

Interestingly, there's one P-40 picture in that group that is NOT from Operation Torch. It has the mid-late 1943 markings, which didn't come into being for almost a year after the African invasion. It's also a later model P-40 (P-40K, I believe), as you can tell by the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer:



Note that it's rigged for a catapult launch, so this is something more than just a jury-rigged carriage of a fighter. I think the rod at the tail is a hold-back for the catapult rather than a carrier landing hook, but I could be wrong. However, it is still painted/marked as an Army Air Forces fighter, not one of the US Navy.

It's kind of weird this sort of experimentation would still be happening by late 43/early 44. While produced almost all the way through the war, the P-40 wasn't top-shelf equipment by then.

By the way, here's a newsreel showing Army Air Force P-40s launching off a carrier in the Pacific. Note they're flying off, not being catapulted:



Ron Wanttaja

[Gunslinger37]

Late in the war, the Navy did experiment with carrier based P-51 Mustangs. The plan was to operate off carriers near Japan and escort the B-29 bombers to their targets. Once Iwo Jima was captured with it's airfield, the idea was never implemented. Navy test pilots made several traps to test the arresting hook configuration. Low speed, full throttle, aborted landings were a problem with the airplane snap rolling.

[Tom Charpentier]

Adapting P-51s to carriers was easier than using USN aircraft to escort? Or did the Navy not have anything suitable for the bomber escort role?

[Mike Switzer]

Could be because the P51 had about a 5000 foot service ceiling advantage over the Corsair, & while they were both better than the B29, the original plan would have had the B29 approaching the targets at altitudes much higher than what had been done previously.

[Mike Switzer]

Interestingly, there's one P-40 picture in that group that is NOT from Operation Torch. It has the mid-late 1943 markings, which didn't come into being for almost a year after the African invasion. It's also a later model P-40 (P-40K, I believe), as you can tell by the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer:



Note that it's rigged for a catapult launch, so this is something more than just a jury-rigged carriage of a fighter. I think the rod at the tail is a hold-back for the catapult rather than a carrier landing hook, but I could be wrong. However, it is still painted/marked as an Army Air Forces fighter, not one of the US Navy.

It's kind of weird this sort of experimentation would still be happening by late 43/early 44. While produced almost all the way through the war, the P-40 wasn't top-shelf equipment by then.

I wonder if this was a test of a new catapult system? It would make sense to use an older plane rather than risk destroying a newer fighter if there was a problem.