P-400

[jerryandlinda]

What exactly is a P-400? Reference books have P-39s and P-40s, but I can't find a P-400.

[Raverdave]

The P-400 was the left-overs of the cancelled order from the RAF. The RAF was originally going to call it the Bell Caribou I. Upon cancelling the order, mainly due to the fact that it had a poor ceiling hight and was slower that the Me-109, the bulk of the order was shipped to Russia, but some were diverted to the USAAF and the RAAF for use in the pacific and renamed the P-400.
For all intents and purposes the P-400 is very simular to the P-39D.

[panda124c]

Originally posted by Raverdave
The P-400 was the left-overs of the cancelled order from the RAF. The RAF was originally going to call it the Bell Caribou I. Upon cancelling the order, mainly due to the fact that it had a poor ceiling hight and was slower that the Me-109, the bulk of the order was shipped to Russia, but some were diverted to the USAAF and the RAAF for use in the pacific and renamed the P-400.
For all intents and purposes the P-400 is very simular to the P-39D.

The P-400 was the pre December 7th export version of the P-39 armed with a 20mm cannon instead of the 37mm cannon. After the war started the production of P-400 stopped so exports to Russia were the 37mm armed versions.
Now for a piece of trivia the 37mm cannon was used on PT boats to enhance their fire power and worked very well against barges.

[pasternakski]

A P-400 is actually a P-40 with a Zero after it...

[Spooky]

Some more informations about the P-400 :
http://www.kotfsc.com/aircraft/p400.htm

[Arkady]

Originally posted by pasternakski
A P-400 is actually a P-40 with a Zero after it...

absolutely true