P-40 vs. Hurricane

[Gnomey]

I like the Hurricane better. Although the P-40 was the more advanced fighter the Hurricane was just as effective as the P-40 in the roles it did, although less competent at taking on the LW fighters it was more than capable of dealing with the bombers (which it did with distinction in the Battle of Britain leaving the fighters to the Spits) and it could take large amounts of battle damage which could be easily repaired because of it's metal and fabric construction.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I will agree with you also. I still have not formed that much of an opinion but it leans toward the Hurricane atleast for historical reasons even though FBJ had a really good argument there for the P-40 with his charts and all. The P-40 did better than I thought it was capable of.

[Gnomey]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

I will agree with you also. I still have not formed that much of an opinion but it leans toward the Hurricane atleast for historical reasons even though FBJ had a really good argument there for the P-40 with his charts and all. The P-40 did better than I thought it was capable of.

Me too, but I have a soft spot for the Hurricane (and a slightly softer spot for the Spit )

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Me too of the two I like the Hurricane better than the P-40.

[FLYBOYJ]

Both of them were very tough and capable aircraft and were both under-rated. I'll take a pot shot at the Hurricane, not out of disrespect, just for argument's sake....

Pisis posted a great site the other day and started reading about MSgt Anabuki Satoru, a 51 kill Japanese ace who flew over Rangoon. He fought against both the Hurricane and the P-40 while in the same theater


APPENDIX I: Killboard of Anabuki Satoru.
Courtesy of Ooishi Naoaki

Kill # Date (*) Type of plane flown Type Comments (Place, etc)
1 22/12/1941 Ki-27 P-40 Lingayen/Philippines
2 - Ki-27 unk. unk.
3 09/02/1942 Ki-27 P-40 Bataan/Philippines
4 25/10/1942 Ki-43 P-40 Chinskia/India
5 10/12/1942 Ki-43 Hurricane Chittagong/India
- 15/12/1942 Ki-43 Hurricane 2C Chittagong/India, probable.
6 20/12/1942 Ki-43 Hurricane Magwe/Burma
7 20/12/1942 Ki-43 Blenheim Magwe/Burma, injured
8 23/12/1942 Ki-43 unk. Fenni/Burma?
9 23/12/1942 Ki-43 Blenheim Magwe/Burma, Night kill
10-12 24/12/1942 Ki-43 3 Hurricane 2Cs Magwe/Burma, one of them was P/O C.D. Fergusson (POW)
11 30/12/1942 Ki-43 Blenheim Meiktila/Burma
12 14/01/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane Inden/India?
13 16/01/1943 Ki-43 P-40 Yunnan Station/China
14 17/01/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane Fenni/Burma?
15-16 19/01/1943 Ki-43 2 Hurricanes Akyab/Burma
17 24/01/1943 Ki-43 Wellington Rangoon/Burma
18 26/01/1943 Ki-43 B-24 Mingaladong/Burma, first B-24 daylight kill
19 30/01/1943 Ki-43 B-25 Toungoo/Burma
20 28/02/1943 Ki-43 Blenheim Akyab/Burma
21 28/02/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane Akyab/Burma
- 02/03/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane Fenni/Burma?,
22 24/03/1943 Ki-43 B-25 Meiktila/Burma, probable
- 29/03/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane 2B Mondo/Burma, probable
23-24 30/03/1943 Ki-43 2 Hurricane 2Bs Mondo/Burma
25-27 31/03/1943 Ki-43 3 Hurricanes Pataga/India
28-29 04/04/1943 Ki-43 2 Hurricanes Dohazali/India
- 20/04/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane Imphal/India, probable
30 20/04/1943 Ki-43 P-36 Imphal/India
31-32 21/04/1943 Ki-43 2 P-36s Imphal/India, Maneouvre flap used
33 28/04/1943 Ki-43 P-40 Kunming/China
34 04/05/1943 Ki-43 Hurricane 2C Cox's Bazar/India
35-38 15/05/1943 Ki-43 4 P-40s Kunming/China
39-40 22/05/1943 Ki-43 2 Hurricane 2Cs Chittagong/India
41-42 29/05/1943 Ki-43 "Fubuki" 1 Hurricane,
1 Spitfire? Chittagong/India, "Fubuki" retired of service with 230 hours of flying
43-46 8/10/1943 Ki-43 "Kimikaze" 1 P-38, 3 B-24s Rangoon/Burma, heavily injured
47-50 unk. Ki-84 4 Hellcats Philippines. In separated sorties
51 unk. Ki-84 B-29 Honshu

I count 25 Hurricanes kills and 9 P-40 kills. Tactics? Pilot Skill? Better aircraft?

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/anabuki/anabuki.htm

[wmaxt]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Both of them were very tough and capable aircraft and were both under-rated. I'll take a pot shot at the Hurricane, not out of disrespect, just for argument's sake....

Prisis posted a great site the other day and started reading about MSgt Anabuki Satoru, a 51 kill Japanese ace who flew over Rangoon. He fought against both the Hurricane and the P-40 while in the same theater

I count 25 Hurricanes kills and 9 P-40 kills. Tactics? Pilot Skill? Better aircraft?

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/anabuki/anabuki.htm

In the PTO (by PTO I include all theaters against Japan a common mis conception is that it was all counted as 1 place, the AAF actualy divided it into 4 areas, Pacific, CBI, Far East and the Alutians) aitcraft were encountered in waves and groups so the encounters with the Hurri/P-40 may not have been equal.

wmaxt

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by wmaxt

In the PTO (by PTO I include all theaters against Japan a common mis conception is that it was all counted as 1 place, the AAF actualy divided it into 4 areas, Pacific, CBI, Far East and the Alutians) aitcraft were encountered in waves and groups so the encounters with the Hurri/P-40 may not have been equal.

wmaxt

Very True! This guy was also one of Japan's top dogs as well! I wonder if we have data about quantities of Hurricanes and P-40 over Rangoon, I think we know about those guys with the faces painted on their aircraft

[wmaxt]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Very True! This guy was also one of Japan's top dogs as well! I wonder if we have data about quantities of Hurricanes and P-40 over Rangoon, I think we know about those guys with the faces painted on their aircraft

Thats true to, luck and oportunity played a part to.

wmaxt

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Humm good info there guys. Id agree here and say that it was probably skill and opurtunity that did those guys in, but then again is that not most air to air kills anyhow?

[P38 Pilot]

I see some people have been doing their homework! Great info!

I like the P-40 Warhawk better than the Hurricane.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Whats your reasons for it. I have not made up a true opinion yet but I am leaning toward the Hurricane.

[MacArther]

I love the P40, mostly because it was an American fighter that served with distinction through most of the war (albiet in the fighter bomber role). I like the Hurricane because of the upgrade programs it went through. Personally, my favorite models of both aircraft are the P40N and the Hurricane IIC and IID. Imagine if an enemy fighter or bomber had been hit by one of those 40mm rounds. Can you say "OUCH."

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah that would suck!

[Wildcat]

I prefer the P-40, because it was the backbone of the RAAF in WWII and played a crucial role in the battle for Milne Bay which saw the first defeat of the Japanese on land.

[MacArther]

Thou dust have a point!