new to site i have a few question about airplanes in the war.

Discussion in 'World War 2' started by gusski, May 10, 2012.

  1. gusski

    gusski New Member

    I have a few questions about world war two airplanes like fighters and bombers in the war. I have heard that the fighters could only fire the guns for 20 seconds. I did the math with how much ammunition they carried and the rate of fire for the gun and it comes out about right.
    So is this a true statement that they can only fire for 20 seconds. I know you would fire for 20 straight seconds and that it would be in burst of a few seconds each time.
     
    Second question is how much ammunition did a bomber carry and how long could they fire until they used up the ammunition.
    I worked with a guy who flew B-17 in the war. In fact he had a book on them which he showed us. In the book it said he was the last pilot to get shot down in the war. He crashed in the channel just off England’s shore if I’m not mistaken coming back on a mission. Well that’s what the book said anyway.
    I women across the street has a picture I think of Gen. Heinrich Himmler. I guess a relation was in the war and was in charge of him and took some pictures. They are small pictures, black and white. I will get them from her and post them on the site.
    I’m not sure where to post any of this as I just got on the site today so excuse me if I messed up.

    gus
     
  2. Albanaich

    Albanaich New Member

    Different aircraft have different configurations, what is important is the 'weight' of fire. The German Me 109 had two machine guns and could fire 3 times as long as the British Spitfire and Hurricane, but the British aircraft had 8 guns.

    The configuration of 8 guns v 2 meant the British were unlikely to miss, but they ran out of ammunition much quicker. Think of a shotgun v a rifle.

    The Me 109 could maintain sustained fire at long range against an easy to hit target, a bomber, but was less effective in snap shooting a high speed target. The Spitfires would get 8 hits for the Me 109's 2 over an equal time interval.

    The same it true of Bomber aircraft. It depends on the configuration and weight. You can carry more ammunition or more bombs. If a target is undefended you carry more bombs, if there is an active defence less bombs and more ammunition.

    If the woman has photographs of Heinrich Himmler after he was captured (which I think is quite unlikely) they would be very valuable. He committed suicide immediately after capture.
     
  3. Albanaich

    Albanaich New Member

    And yes, the rate of fire in all cases is seconds. Ever driven in a car at over 100 mph? Think about trying to hit a fixed target from a car travelling at 100 mph WW II fighter aircraft flew at about 300 mph and both were moving, opportunities to aim and fire were very very short.
     
    Diptangshu likes this.
  4. Diptangshu

    Diptangshu Active Member

    Well,as far as my knowledge goes,not for every aircraft/fighters gun would have been numb after 20 secs,for each sortie.It depends upon the type of aircraft,on which it been installed..

    For fighters,different aircraft installed different guns/canons or both,according to the operational and strategic point of view.
    eg. BF 109 E3 had installed 2 x MG FF wing cannons with 60 rounds each for a max of 7 secs.Its another installation was 2 x MG 17 machine guns at cowling,carried 1000 rounds each and lasted a max of 55 secs.
    It wasn't a long range fighter-bomber.

    If you look into P 51D Mustang,it had 6 x .50 Brownings of which two inboard guns had 400 rounds each,lasts for a max 32 secs and four outboard guns carried 220 rounds,lasts for 22 secs.

    Interestingly for P 38 Lightning, one A/N M2 cannon installation with 150 rounds and 4 x .50 M2 Brownings with 500 rounds each. Here we found that the cannon was enable to fire a max of 15 secs and the machine gun was capable for 40 secs.

    Mk XIVE Spitfire installed with two wing-cannons of 120 rounds , 2 x .50 M2 Brownings with 250 rounds each,wher the cannon was a max of 12 secs and machine guns lasts for 20 secs in operation.
     
  5. Alexander

    Alexander Member

  6. Alexander

    Alexander Member

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