The L-4 was a development of the civilian Piper J-3, of which over 700 were manufactured in 1938. Several engine sizes were available for the civilian model (30, 37 and 48-kW), with the planes built for the US Army using the largest powerplant. First designated O-59, the Pipers entered service in 1941 as artillery spotters and front-line liason aircraft.
Although unarmed, in 1945 the crew of an L-4 used their .45-cal pistols to damage and force down a German Fi 156 Storch, the only confirmed downing of an aircraft by pistol fire of WWII. Ironically, though, this was how air-to-air combat started some 30 years earlier ...
The Germans feared the appearance of the Grasshopper, since it meant that accurate American artillery fire was almost certain to follow. However, this really only occured in the late stages of the war, when there was almost no chance of running into German fighter aircraft.
Some 948 L-4A's were built. Depending on the plane's mission, the observer sat facing the front or rear (where he could use a small map table). The plane burns 2 gallons of fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Recon Plane chassis +2, Recon Plane Wings with
STOL option +2, three fixed wheels +0.
Powertrain: 48-kW aerial HP gas engine with 48-kW old prop and
12-gallon self-sealing tanks [Body]
Occupancy: 2 CS. Cargo: 0.6 Body, 2.2 Wings
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| All | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 |
Weaponry
none
Equipment
Body: Large range radio transmitter and receiver, navigation
instruments
Statistics
| Size: 22'x35'x7' | Payload: 0.236 tons | Lwt: 0.6 tons |
| Volume: 96 | Maint.: 136 hours | Price: $2,200 |
HT: 7
HP: 15 [body], 35 [each wing], 2 [each wheel]
| aSpeed: 87 | aAccel: 7 | aDecel: 41 | aMR: 10.25 | aSR: 1 |
Design Notes
Design aSpeed is 80 mph and stall speed 29 mph; the historical speeds,
as well as actual wing area (179 sf), has been used. Armor uses the
cloth
option. A significant number of L-4A's lacked radio equipment.
Historically,
the fuel tank was not actually self sealing, but was located behind a
fireproof
bulkhead; from the MVDS level of detail, a self-sealing tank
approximates
this well enough.
Variants
The L-4B was virtually the same, but used Medium radio equipment.
980 were constructed.
The L-4H was the same as the -A, with minor changes. 1800 built.
The L-4J instroduced a variable-pitch propellor, which improved tack-offs. Some 1680 were made.
The TG-8 (1942) removed the engine and landing gear and and was used as a glider. 250 built.
In addition, some 100 civilian Pipers were impressed into military
service.
The Taylorcraft L-2 and Aeronca L-3 were the same in game terms.