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And there were plenty of Liberators shot down by Ki43s armed with one 12.7-mm and one 7.7-mm. One can play the anecdote game all day when it comes to the somewhat nebulous 'adequate'.
The Whirlwind was nice for 1940-41 but it's not going to cut it at all against Fortresses and Mustangs. It has a performance slightly less than a Spitfire Mk.I
I think it is a misconception that 4 x 20mm cannon is adequate bomber destroying armament. The RAF thought so in 1940/41 and were sorely disappointed by the inability of the Whirlwind to knock down two engine bombers. There are several examples of Whirlwinds engaging and scoring multiple strikes on Ju 88s and at least a couple I know of on He 111s when the bomber was not shot down.
Cheers
Steve
There is an article in the October 2001 Flight Journal magazine titled "Splash One Dreamboat" that adds further fuel to this fire. Cliff Notes version; a B-29 is damaged over japan. After the crew bails out over Iwo Jima, a P-61 is called to shot down the unmanned aircraft flying aimlessly to prevent it from crashing onto the island. The P-61 was able to shoot at a 'sitting duck' from close range. Even then they still needed all of their 450 rounds of 20mm ammo plus all of their 50 caliber ammo to shoot down the B-29.I think it is a misconception that 4 x 20mm cannon is adequate bomber destroying armament. The RAF thought so in 1940/41 and were sorely disappointed by the inability of the Whirlwind to knock down two engine bombers. There are several examples of Whirlwinds engaging and scoring multiple strikes on Ju 88s and at least a couple I know of on He 111s when the bomber was not shot down.
Cheers
Steve
I think it is a misconception that 4 x 20mm cannon is adequate bomber destroying armament. The RAF thought so in 1940/41 and were sorely disappointed by the inability of the Whirlwind to knock down two engine bombers. There are several examples of Whirlwinds engaging and scoring multiple strikes on Ju 88s and at least a couple I know of on He 111s when the bomber was not shot down.
Cheers
Steve
A case could be made for the P-47, Hellcat and F4U as bomber interceptors
Without diverging too much the Whirlwind was not a good aircraft.
There doesnt seem to be anything fundamentally wrong with the airframe or engines and if the RAF had wanted it it would have been developed. I dont think its too far into the realms of fantasy for it to have 1100hp 2 stage engines running on 100 octane by 43.