P-38F Lightning - A King Above Clouds

When Update 1.3 hit last month, there was a lot of anticipation among World of Warplanes pilots about the first batch of heavy fighters in the U.S. tech tree. The game developers chose the legendary Lockheed P-38F Lightning with its distinctive twin-boom design to be the entry-level plane for this newest class extension.

With over 10,000 aircraft of this type produced throughout WWII, expectations were high for the P-38F to become popular in the game as well. Find out how this "fork-tailed devil" measures up against its competition in our in-depth analysis below!

The Lockheed P-38F Lightning

You can find the P-38F at tier V of the U.S. heavy fighter tech tree. The only way to get to it is through the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - a solid fighter whose in-flight characteristics prepare you nicely for a smooth transition into the heavier class. The Lightning will cost you 17,500 XP and an impressive 378,000 Credits. However, considering the plane and corresponding level of gameplay that you're getting, that's a bargain!

Profile and Tactics

Outside of its interesting look, the plane's strongest attribute is an extremely high optimum altitude of 2,100m. The Lockheed warbird can easily cruise at heights of up 3.5 km or higher, outclassing its same-tier competitors by at least 400m. Along with this high-flying ability, it features the second-highest airspeed value (643 km/h top speed) and highest maximum dive speed (850 km/h) of the entire tier. Lastly, the Lightning is one of the most maneuverable planes of its class, completing a full 360-degree turn in as quickly as 28.9 seconds.

On the flipside, the plane comes in last among its peers in both durability (280 HP) and firepower (148 points) - a sad fact that is only accentuated by the absence of a rear gunner. It should also be noted that while the plane excels once it's at high altitude, it isn't the strongest at actually getting there. Its rate of climb begins at an underwhelming 15.5m/s and remains noticeably behind its competition even when fully upgraded to the strongest engine.

Despite this feature, the key to success with this plane is altitude! Customize the Lightning in your Hangar so it can reach a comfortable elevation of 2.5km as quickly as possible. Don't make the mistake of being lured down by passing fighters or ground attack aircraft - simply stay in your aerial comfort zone and deal first with anything that has the capacity to reach your height. Focus on enemy heavy fighters and use your maneuverability advantage, always coming down on your enemies from above. 

Once you've cleared out any high-risers and the enemy fighters are busy with each other below you, you can use the P-38F as a semi-vertical Boom-and-Zoomer. We say 'semi-vertical' because diving too steeply with the Lightning will end up in a crash most of the time due to the aircraft's incredibly fast, hard-to-control diving speed. Boom down on your opponents in a shallow dive, while simultaneously preserving your energy as best you can and being prepared to pull up early enough, even if you didn't manage to shoot down your target. When zooming away, keep the angle equally low in order to maximise your superior speed, which will drop off once you go beyond a 45-degree elevation.

Don't use the P-38F in turning engagements! Once past an opponent, switch into 'defense mode' immediately by boosting away without needing to change direction. Avoid head-on encounters, even against seemingly light-armed planes, until you've upgraded to the 37mm cannon.

Wingman Tip: We recommend the use of Armor-Piercing Incendiary Ammunition with all possible P-38F configurations. You will want to balance out your low firepower (for a heavy fighter) as best you can, by squeezing every last bit of damage out of your guns as soon as possible.

Upgrades

The Lightning is a truly two-faced plane that has a tough time while on its stock configuration, but picks up in all aspects to become a veritable beast when fully upgraded. Those who keep their patience early on will be rewarded with an enormous proficiency boost that will make this heavy fighter seem like it jumped a tier up!

AIRFRAME

Since the stock plane is really lacking in durability, rate of climb and firepower, and all are equally important to a heavy fighter, there isn’t really one particular module that you need to start upgrading first. If you choose to begin with the airframe, you’ll be rewarded with a small but helpful 20 HP boost, an even higher diving speed and a 0.7s shorter average time to turn. Since this doesn’t have any downsides, buying this airframe is pretty much a no-brainer. 

“Catch me if you can!” 

ENGINE

Upgrading your initial V-1710-27 engines is a must on the P-38F in order to be able to employ typical heavy fighter tactics. In order to unlock the full potential of the Lightning, you’ll have to spend XP and Credits to install the V-1710-91 engine. This tier VII model will further increase your rate of climb to a decent 19.1 m/s and, most importantly, add another 17 km/h to your top speed at best altitude. You will never be slow in the P-38F but to truly excel at evading your foes as you employ its high-altitude tactics, you’ll need this bit of extra performance.

WEAPONS

The first available M2 (C) cannon adds a modest but nonetheless much-needed 20 points of firepower while costing you nothing in terms of maneuverability. Although it may seem like a downgrade at first to exchange a 23mm gun for a 20mm-caliber model, the tier VI cannon actually doubles your rate of fire and extends your range by 150m. If you’re used to playing German heavy fighters, which are very precise long-range snipers, and you are looking to stick with this play style then you’ll want to choose this setup. You’ll definitely feel the impact of the stronger gun but if you want to experience the unique gameplay that the Lightning can deliver, then you’ll need to start saving for the next upgrade as soon as possible.

“Doing my best Captain America impression” 

The tier VII 37mm M4 (C) cannon will cost you the noble sum of 20,500 XP and 47,500 Credits, almost as much as progressing to the next aircraft in the tech tree, but it will prove worth the investment in the long run. This beast of a gun will double the damage output of your cowling-mounted weapon, dishing out a whopping 200 damage-per-second and raising your firepower score to a respectable 221 points.

However, much like other high-calibre cannons such as the Bf 110 C-6’s fearsome 30mm MK-101 (D), its punch only really kicks in at short distances. You’ll have to change up your tactics and adjust accordingly to get closer to your foes before you can open fire. On the plus side, with the 37mm cannon equipped, it’s unlikely that you’ll need more than one pass to finish off opponents (especially lighter ones).

BOMBS & ROCKETS

Since the Lightning was mostly used as a bomber during its real-life service, the developers included the option for the plane to carry two 500-poundbombs. Rockets were also added, and though they're a bit lighter, they'll still drag you down. However, given the way the Lightning needs to be played in order to be successful (high in the clouds with only minimal stints close to the ground when ‘booming’ down on opponents), you'll have minimal opportunities to drop your payload so choose these moments wisely!

Equipment and Consumables

Here’s our recommendation for equipment to further boost this plane’s performance: 

1st		Improved Reflector Sight The 37mm cannon is pretty inaccurate and has a low rate of fire. Get the 10% accuracy booster to make every shot count!
2nd		Reinforced Covering II With a heavy fighter as fragile as the P-38F, you’ll want to pack a little extra insurance to give you extra durability.
3rd		Aircraft Polish I Opt for the +5% top speed booster to give you that edge when you try to break away from your enemies.

Make sure you bring the following consumables for your sorties: