P-39Q-15 Kobra Dogfighter is a Soviet Air unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
A product of Bell Aircraft, the P-39 was created in response to Circular Proposal X-609, issued in 1937 that requested a single-engine high-altitude fighter aircraft (nominally called an interceptor). The extensive list of requirements was answered by Bell by creating an unusual fighter design, with the engine placed behind the cockpit, driving the propeller through a shaft passing underneath the pilot's feet. This move freed up the front bay of the fuselage, allowing Bell to mount a 37mm Oldsmobile T9 cannon firing through the propeller hub, which gave the P-39 devastating firepower when paired with the .50 Browning M2s mounted alongside the cannon.
Although the United States military accepted the P-39, it was found lacking in its intended role as a high altitude fighter, primarily due to a single-stage supercharger and no turbo that made it impossible for it to catch up. When upgraded to remain competitive with self-sealing tanks and additional armor, the P-39 was over a tenth slower than advertised, and was far more suited for low altitude combat than high up in the sky.
As a result, most P-39 were exported as part of the Lend-Lease program. Of the 9 558 units produced by Bell until production ceased in 1944, 4 773 were sent to the Soviet Union and a further 200 were transferred from the RAF, as unsuited for West European conditions. They excelled in Eastern Europe, where Soviet tactics coupled with a majority of air combat occurring at low altitudes resulted in a surprising amount of victories against most types of enemy aircraft, remaining in use until the end of the war and below.
The P-39Q was the final production variant, rearmed with .50 machine guns placed in bod under each wings, and additional armor plating. The Q-15 variant was one of the later versions, featuring a number of fixes, primarily reinforcement to prevent cracks in the machine gun mounting, rudder pedal wall, or cowling. Other minor changes included a repositioned battery solenoid and oxygen supply reduced by 50%.