20-mm. RAF fighters

[Jerry W. Loper]

How much difference would it have made in the Battle of Britain if all the RAF's Spitfires and Hurricanes were armed with four 20-millimeter cannons instead of eight .303-caliber machine guns, from the beginning of the battle?

 

[Waynos]

If the guns were reliable and the mounts rigid it might have meant more bombers brought down from the attacks that actually took place, ie less bullet riddled ones limping back, as they often did. Not really sure how it would have affected the fighter battle, but its a big if anyway as the guns were not reliable at that time and the RAF's attempts to get a cannon fighter had resulted only in the Whirlwind, plus a few Spitfires.

 

[Colin1]

This topic was done quite comprehensively not that long ago