Disarmament Treaty

[Zipper730]

There was a book about the P-47 (Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: From Seversky to Victory) by Warren Bodie, and there's a small section on page 99

The Armament Section people, perhaps handcuffed by congressional demands for adhering to World Disarmament Treaty concepts and out of touch with reality, insisted on a two-gun armament while Spitfires and Hurricanes carried eight rifle-caliber machine guns and the Germans and French were installing cannons without question.

I never knew such a treaty existed -- anybody else have more?

 

[swampyankee]

Perhaps you're referring to the Kellogg-Briand Treaty? (Milestones: 1921–1936 - Office of the Historian)

I think that it's unlikely; the US was specifying 2-gun armament of its fighters as late at 1940 (the P-40), when even the most reality-averse politician would say any anti-war treaty was beyond moot. The armament was being specified as the military planners thought it entirely adequate.

 

[pbehn]

The Spitfires original design was for 4 mgs this was increased to 8 very early on, based on the number of bullets needed to bring down a bomber of the day. The Whirlwind had 4 cannon and first flew in 1938.

 

[Clayton Magnet]

I think standard pre-war US armament for fighters was 1x .30 and 1x .50, in the nose

 

[pinehilljoe]

In his book With Wings Like Eagles, Michael Korda credits Air Marshall Dowding with insisting the Hurricane and Spitfire carry 8 guns. Calculated as the minimum to bring down a bomber.