Best possible fighter

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That is a tough one.

If you want to go by reliability then I would say the P-51 because its engine lasted more then 10 hours.

It also depends on what role you are using it for.

Dog fighting or defending bombers (ie. what it was mostley used for as an escort fighter) the P-51D was better. It had farther range and better maneuaverability.

If you are talking about Intercepting such as bomber formations or as a fighter bomber then I would have to say the Me-262. It was faster and had better armament.

The Me-262 was a more advanced aircraft and the most advanced aircraft to see combat by the end of WW2 but it was not very reliable.

I dont think you can compare the two and decide which one was better because of the fact that they were two different kinds of fighters and each was better then the other in its intended role.

 

[plan_D]

The P-51 carried six M2 Browning .50cal. The Me-262 carried four MK103 30 mm cannon, I've seen them with only two 30 mm.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I have only seen them with 4 before but then again I have only actually seen 3 Me-262's before. As all aircraft they came in a variety of weapon systems.

Some Me-262 weapons variations (I am not 100% sure these are correct for these varients though):

Me 262A-1a:
Four 30mm MK 108 cannon in nose
-Two with 100 rounds each, two with 80
Me 262A-1a/U1:
-Two 30mm MK 103
-Two MK 108
-Two 20mm MG 151/20

Me 262A-1b:
As A-1a plus 24 spin-stabilised R4/M 55mm rockets

Me 262A-2a:
As A-1a plus bomb load of two 500kg bombs

Me 262B-1a:
As A-1a

Me 262B-2a:
As A-1A plus two inclined MK 108 behind the cockpit in Schrage Musik installation
(D) SG 500 Jagdfaust with 12 rifled mortar barrels inclined in nose
(E) 50mm MK 114 gun or 48 R4/M rockets

 

[plan_D]

It's not well known but I have a picture in Bill Gunston's Classic Fighters with a Me-262 with only two cannons in the nose.

The caption reads: Messerschmitt AG took this photograph of an A-1a with only the outer pair of 30 mm guns. Apparently Werk-Nr 170 056, it is not an A-1a/U3 reconnaissance model, which often had no guns at all, nor does it have bomb racks. Several pure fighter versions serving with KG {J} 54 and Jv-44 in 1945 had only two guns.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It would not surprise me but I wonder why since removing those 2 guns would not alter the performance any bit.

 

[plan_D]

Decreased weight, increased speed and climb I suppose. And 30 mm cannons is a bit of an over-kill if they're fighting fighters too.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but i'd have thought they'd keep the inside ones, given they have more ammo........

 

[cheddar cheese]

Maybe the space created by removing the other two gave room for more ammo for the remaining guns.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Maybe I dont know.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

man with that lack of grammar that post's rather ammusing......

 

[cheddar cheese]

Man, with that amount of hair your appearance is rather amusing

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

better to have too mcuh hair than too little, i always say

 

[mosquitoman]

http://www.petebevin.com/archives/2002/02/15/longest_ear_hair_ever.html

You were saying?

Best possible fighter would have to be a Mustang, simply because I'd have 20 other Mustangs around me against every one Axis plane[/url]

 

[P38 Pilot]

Thx a lot guys! Your info really helped! The P51 does prove to be the better fighter against the me262. Your info on the different guns the me262 used were useful as well!

Thx again guys!

 

[Erich]

the standard fighter version had 4 3cm Mk 108 kanon always. Even the bomber versions with KG 51 and 54 had 4 3cm weapons. The 6 canon version - 1 protoype was tested by Heinz Baer. The B-2a was a trainer version and did not fly operations.

1 unit flew with JV 44 having the 5cm weapon and on the two missions flown against B-26's the gun jammed and did not fire in anger.

only in Kommando Welter ~ 10./NJG 11 with the Me 262A-1a was there a special additional trigger mechanism installed for firing only two cannon although the jets were armed with the four 3cm standards.

the B-1a/U1 twin seater was also fitted with four 3cm kanon. 1 unit was tested with only two 3cm weapons but never flown on ops.

 

[P38 Pilot]

Ok.I have a new topic. Which aircraft do u think was the better: The de Havillno Mosquito or the Northrop P62? I know that the P-62 was armed

with any weapon systems, (at least i dont think) while the Mosquito turned

into a killing a machine withe 4 20mm guns in the nose, carried 8 6inch rockets! But which proved to be the better ? In reconnacines though

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Ok.I have a new topic. Which aircraft do u think was the better: The de Havillno Mosquito or the Northrop P62? I know that the P-62 was armed

with any weapon systems, (at least i dont think) while the Mosquito turned

into a killing a machine withe 4 20mm guns in the nose, carried 8 6inch rockets! But which proved to be the better ? In reconnacines though

The P-62 from its conception was designed as a night fighter, although Northrop made available other features available where it could of been used in different roles. It only had a top speed of 365 mph. It did carry a wide arry of armamment, especially when the top turret was installed. With that said, the mosquito, not only served as a night figher, but numerous other roles. It was faster, carried what I would call more effective armament and definetly more manuevable. Where the P-62 maybe had an edge was in its radar, a very advanced unit for its day.

My money is with the Mossie, but I think the -62 probably carried better radar.

 

[Erich]

try P-61 and no it was not as good as the Mossie XIX or XXX.

 

[cheddar cheese]

Late P-61's had very impressive performance stats....

 

[Erich]

originator of this thread go back to the old threads please and find some very lengthy converstaion about the P-61 as a night intruder.........

there is absolutely no need to keep repeating news, it is quite tedious