num_pages: 80
description: Known for the distinctive sharkmouths decoration on their noses P-40 fighters first saw combat in China during World War II.Their most common adversary was the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 nicknamed Oscar. Carl Molesworth describes and explains the design and development of these two foes the products of two vastly different philosophies of fighter design. The P-40 was heavily armed and sturdy with armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks but paid for this with the loss of speed and a sluggish performance at altitude. The Ki-43 was a rapier to the battleaxe P-40 and the Ki-43 was immensely nimble though with less firepower and durability. This book examines these two different fighters and the pilots who flew them over China with an action-packed text rare photographs and digital artwork.
language: English
title: P-40 Warhawk vs Ki-43 Oscar: China 1944–45
publisher: Osprey Publishing