World Of Warplanes: The P-38L Lightning, A Fast Brute Or An Explosive Presence

Release date: March 2024
This is a reassessment of the tier 6 American premium heavy fighter, the Lockheed P-38L Lightning. I first reviewed this plane in July 2022, but my ideas on how to play it have changed considerably since then. You'll find my usual statistical analyses and comparisons with the other tier 6 heavy fighters, a detailed explanation of how I build the plane and the results of those choices when taken to their maximum extent, a performance evaluation of 20 battles plus a five chevron battle for you to enjoy. There's a bonus battle featuring the plane in a different role, also a five chevron effort.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Preamble
00:51 Aircraft Statistics And Comparisons To Rivals
10:02 How I Set The Plane Up
19:46 Pilot Skills
21:39 Post-build Effects
27:15 Performance Evaluation
31:13 Map Strategy And Tactics
33:11 The Battle
43:39 Results Review
45:50 Final Thoughts
46:47 Bonus Feature
If you would like to show your appreciation for my content, a convenient way to do it is here:
ko-fi.com/thenobleq
Link to statistics spreadsheet instructional video:
• World Of Warplanes: Ho...

[@SgtZak_]

Another super Q video. Love the analysis 👌

[@TheNobleQ]

I'll keep doing that. I can't convey feel in a video, but numbers speak volumes! Thank you.

[@HiTechOilCo]

Another excellent video. Sorry I haven't been around. I've been under the weather spiritually and emotionally. Your great videos are very helpful.

[@TheNobleQ]

I was just beginning to worry about you. It's good to see you back!

[@Roll_the_Bones]

This is really quite useful to WoWP noobs, as it adds a fair degree of background info, and overall approach to all the selections, which you might be excused for glossing over, since the assumption is that viewers are fully experienced players. However, since this here viewer needs less assistance with WoT, as a new WoWP player, we think this is "Good Stuff".

[@TheNobleQ]

I'm glad you think so. The intended audience is, roughly, players who are relatively new to the game and want to take the next few steps towards understanding some of the mechanics and improving their play. Completely new players will also find information of use to them, but experienced and elite players will, usually, not find anything new. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thank you!

[@GamerDude3469]

I use my P 38 s as hit and run planes. They have enough payload to flip or atleast weaken a sector and after that I do the heavy fighters job.

[@TheNobleQ]

That's a perfectly good use of the plane and what I used to do in the past. It so happens I'm more effective when I don't do that, but that's not to say everybody should do it my way.

[@zkyz5437]

Nice video!

[@TheNobleQ]

Thank you! They take a long time to make so it's nice when someone takes the time to appreciate them.

[@svenottke2073]

Hello, again a nice video. This time about one of my personal favorites 🙂 My original thoughts when it came out were, that the guns would be inferior to the techtree "J"-version, but I had to chance my mind. Especially the alinged bullet speed of the 20mm and the 15mm helps to bring all the lead onto the same spot. That helps so much when firing during turns. Maybe you can do a video about configuring components? On the few occasions that I tried it out I wasn't able to get any use out of it, but lost so many ressources. Wish you a pleasant sunday!

[@TheNobleQ]

The same to you! That's a good idea about enhancing, calibrating and reassembling equipment. I'll put that on the list.

[@Borubar_de_San_Escobar]

I was just wondering if buying a P38L was a good idea. Thanks to your thorough analysis, I can (as always) make a good choice. Thank You!

[@TheNobleQ]

If you do buy it, I hope you enjoy it. It's a very good plane!

[@Borubar_de_San_Escobar]

@@TheNobleQ First impression. On top even in my hands is gr8🙂.

[@TheNobleQ]

@@Borubar_de_San_Escobar There you go. More fun to come, I'm sure. :)

[@JesseJames-kv7xc]

Excellente video, there is a way to turn off the auto repair? , thanks in advance.

[@TheNobleQ]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Let me know if I've given you an answer about the wrong thing. You cannot turn off either kind of automatic repair in a battle. Nor can you switch off the repair of your aircraft after you return to the hangar.

[@JesseJames-kv7xc]

@@TheNobleQ hahaha sorry yes thats the right answer, thank you

[@TheNobleQ]

@@JesseJames-kv7xc Phew! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

[@x1625]

Nice to see you back on warplanes. just got my vampire pilot up to 14. Any tips on training? My Vampire is optimized for agility.

[@TheNobleQ]

14 points? Impressive! With an agility build, so presumably intended for dogfighting, this is what I would do. 1. Aerodynamics Expert (2 - 2) 2. Acrobatics Expert (2 - 4) 3. Marksman I (2 - 6) 4. Engine Guru I (2 - 8) 5. Evasive Target (3 - 11) 6. Resilience (3 - 14) Alternatively, you may want to use Marksman II and/or Engine Guru II in slots 5 and 6. I hope that helps. Let me know if you make different decisions!

[@x1625]

Thank you for taking the time to advise. I went with your first config, and the maiden flight went great. If I may add one more question, what are the reasons to install an additional game instance. P.s. my wwp name is Gossedefer playing on north American server.

[@TheNobleQ]

I use the same client for all the servers, though it's rare that I play on any but the EU server these days. I suppose - if you have the space - you might want a separate installation to play different servers if, for instance, you want a different configuration of mods for each server. However, I've not found it necessary and I'd be interested to know, if anybody does do this, why they do.

[@x1625]

@@TheNobleQ I had noticed the download tab during the last anniversary, and being a few pints in, I mistakenly thought it was a retro server to play old school WWP. Alas no capture the base for me. Well now I have some clean up to take care of. Thank you once more for all you do.

[@TheNobleQ]

It's my pleasure, thank you. I don't think it would ever happen, but I'm curious enough about version 1 of the game that I would jump on a "retro server" if ever it became available.

[@FredTmAstur]

Thanks for the detailed work , NQ, I will use my P38 again . Let's not waste time answering people who love hating KZbinrs. Hundreds of hours are spent looking for our mistakes, promoting hatred of other content creators, Wargaming and also lately the players, it's like the holy inquisition. They are envious people who don't contribute anything to the game or anyone. These people take away our energy.

[@TheNobleQ]

Thank you for your kind comments. I don't like to give up on people, but you're right. There's no point in wasting energy and time on those not worth it. Enjoy the P-38L and do let me know how you get along with it. :)

[@AytchZero]

You mentioned split ordinance on heavies - generally I only take bombs on my heavy fighters. My rationale being I can stay up high while still farming some cap points through ordinance, while also retaining some performance. Is this the best policy? Probably not, but I enjoy it!

[@TheNobleQ]

Time being short, I wasn't able to investigate the idea of keeping some of the ordnance in what I might call a "hybrid" configuration. It's interesting to hear that you have what is almost a policy of using this kind of approach and like it. I'll have to do some work on it, clearly.

[@sawnofflockie7180]

I've got the P-38L, but it is stuck in stock configuration, even though I have completed the specialisation grind. I've contacted Wargaming about it and they say it's a bug. But that was a while ago, and I'm still stuck in stock configuration. Any ideas? Good video BTW.

[@TheNobleQ]

Unfortunately, no ideas on how to fix it. I suspect that's a bug that needs a specific fix, so what I can suggest is that you join the WoWp Discord and nicely ping a message @XBK explaining your problem. He may be able to persuade someone to look at the problem. Good luck with that.

[@sawnofflockie7180]

@@TheNobleQ Thanks for the advice, I'll give that a go.

[@TheNobleQ]

@@sawnofflockie7180 Fingers crossed you get somewhere!