50 cal (high rate of fire) vs 20mm cannon (hitting power)

[pbehn]

There were some aircraft with .50mm guns (which is 25mm) but not many because the common cannon bores have trended towards consolidation at 20mm, 23mm, and 30mm

Thats a Typo, I think you mean .50Cal (half inch) One inch is 25.4mm 50mm is 2 inches.

 

[Clayton Magnet]

There were some aircraft with .50mm guns (which is 25mm)

a half millimeter projectile would have to moving at around light speed to have any sort of meaningful energy

 

[pbehn]

Its one thing discussing an individual round from a 0.5cal Mg or a 20mm canon. Was any plane ever made that could withstand 2 seconds of fire from a P-47 or Typhoon? On ground targets you damage more with a cannon but you have more chance of a hit with an Mg.

 

[ThomasP]

Hey Omniseed,

re

There were some aircraft with .50mm guns (which is 25mm) but not many because the common cannon bores have trended towards consolidation at 20mm, 23mm, and 30mm

".5 inch" is the WWII period British name for the caliber their 12.7mm MG (and in many cases the US .50 cal as well).