Cannon, Machine Guns and Ammunition, by Anthony G. Williams - 2

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Tony Williams
Battle of Britain fighters
Tue Feb 10 18:33:21 2024
62.3.225.35

I have posted an evaluation of the armament of the principal Battle of Britain fighters at: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/BoB.htm

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Discussion forum at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Hawk-Eye
Most interesting! Hawk-Eye saw it all. Thanks (nm)
Tue Feb 10 19:02:39 2024
195.93.72.9

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Hawk-Eye
Cannon
Wed Feb 11 18:40:21 2024
195.93.72.9

Let us not forget that the French cannon type Hispano-Suiza 404 (HS 404) was used successfully already 1939-40, particularly in the French Campaign (May-June 1940). In the initial fighter equipment of the French Air Force only approx. 130 Curtiss H 75 "Hawk" - which were excellent fighters - and about 40 (plus replacement AC) meteoritic Caudron CR-714 (which were used by the Polish GC I/145 for a few days only) were armed with light machine-guns and no cannon. All other fighters (Morane 406, Dewoitine 520, Bloch 152-155, Potez 631) and even the French-made medium or light bombers (LeO 451, Amiot 351-354, Breguet 691-693-695, Loire-Nieuport LN 401-411) were armed with cannon, the Potez and the Bloch having two. The cannon gave a very good account of itself and, if aimed properly, its effect was devastating already on 10 May 1940 and before. Obviously French-made fighters had been designed from the start to receive this powerful weapon and there were no incidents of the kind reported during the BoB. What's more, mounting this cannon LYING in the wing (not upright) obviously was looking for troube, it had not been designed for this. Contrary to a never-proved legend (on the contrary) it was satisfactory and did not jam more often than comparable weapons, or less often (the MG FF had jamming incidents too). General Henry Hugo was a captain in 1940 and he was the CO of an escadrille of Morane 406s within GC II/7 ; they re-equipped with Dewoitine 520s about in the middle of the campaign and they saw a lot of action so Hugo was an expert (and an ace). Both types had a centrally-mounted cannon firing through the propeller hub. What he wrote in an issue of "ICARE" on the Fr. Campaign is short and clear, fighter pilot-like : "Le canon marchait bien" (the canon worked well) - but, like most French pilots, he lamented that the provision of ammo was only 60 rounds. He probably never learned that the German pilots, too, had "only" 60 rounds per cannon and they never lamented about this! "IF" the Allies had stopped the Wehrmacht in May 1940 all French fighters (except the Curtisses, which would have been relegated to second-line duties) would have been equipped with belt-fed cannon (at least 120 rounds) about August 1940, at least 8 months ahead of the Germans (Me 109 F, introduced in April 1941), and this equipment actually started with the first Bloch 155s which were delivered in June before the Allied collapse.

Hugo later led a French squadron of Spitfires IX armed with two cannon each - Hispanos again - so he was in a position to really know this weapon ant its different versions.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Tony Williams
Amendments to article
Sat Feb 14 07:48:00 2024
62.3.225.35

I have amended the 'Battle of Britain Armament' article to include additional information about the loading of the .303 guns and the selection of the 20mm Hispano.

See: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/BoB.htm

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Discussion forum at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Tony Williams
WW2 Aircraft Gun Effectiveness
Mon Jun 28, 2024 23:18
62.3.225.35

I have updated the article on WW2 aircraft gun effectiveness, to consider some of the criticisms made of the original study and to add some comparative ammunition photos. See: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/WW2guneffect.htm

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Discussion forum at: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/