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Hola HoHun,
The weight issue does make sense.. the Bearcat was a streamlined little beast.
I didn't realize 12.7 had poor reliability.
I'd rather see the pilots trained NOT to indulge in prolonged bursts
.
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In Korea the Mk3 was introduced, then the Colt Mk12.. after that the Vulcan dominated production US fighters.
The US should have just used the German designs and paid them a suspended royalty.[/qiote]
The Japanese showed that the .50 Browning could be developed into a good 20mm cannon in the Ho-5. (though due to the use of weaker alloys on high stress components, production models had reduced muzzel from 830 m/s down to ~720 m/s)
Also, seeing as the US mounted the majority of their armaments in unsynchronized positions, a development of the Oerlikin FFL may have been a good choyce. (again shown by the Japanese)
Some good info and discussions on Tony Williams' site:
BOOKS BY ANTHONY G WILLIAMS
IDEAL WW2 FIGHTER ARMAMENT
ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY: THE OERLIKON FFL CANNON
Modifications and Attempts at Standardization (of the US 20mm)
CANNON OR MACHINE GUN
When production ended in May 1949, Grumman had built 1,266 Bearcats: 765 of the F8F-1; 100 of the F8F-1B, which differed by having the four standard machine guns replaced by 20 mm cannon; 36 of the F8F-1N variant equipped as night-fighters; 293 of the FBF-2 with redesigned engine cowling, taller fin and rudder, plus some changes in detail design, and adoption of the 20 mm cannon as standard armament; 12 of the night-fighter F8F-2N; and 60 photo-reconnaissance F8F-2P aircraft, this last version carrying only two 20 mm cannon. In late post-war service, some aircraft were modified to serve in a drone control capacity under the designations F8F-1D or F8F-2D.
Also, I believe the F8F didn't get 20mm's until after the war. (the F8F-1B model)
The majority produced were armmed with 4x .50 M3's (high rate of fire).
Grumman F8F Bearcat
In my opinion MiGs got away because the the 86 didn't have weapons that detonated fuel above 35000 feet. Every 86 ace i talked wished they had 20mm at high altitude.I didnt know that.
50 cals were good enough for the F-86.
The P-51A (and the A-36) didn't have 20mm cannon. THe P-51A had the same armament as the P-51B/C.
The Mustang I (NA-83) had 4x .30's and 2x .50's in the wings, and 2x .50's in the lower fusalage.
The Mustang IA (NA-91) was armmed with 4x 20mm cannon, and NA-91's recevied by the USAAF (P-51's and F-6A's) retained the 4x 20 mm's.
North American P-51/F-6A Mustang
Don't forget about the M39
The US should have just used the German designs and paid them a suspended royalty.[/qiote]
The Japanese showed that the .50 Browning could be developed into a good 20mm cannon in the Ho-5. (though due to the use of weaker alloys on high stress components, production models had reduced muzzel from 830 m/s down to ~720 m/s)
Also, seeing as the US mounted the majority of their armaments in unsynchronized positions, a development of the Oerlikin FFL may have been a good choyce. (again shown by the Japanese)
Some good info and discussions on Tony Williams' site:
BOOKS BY ANTHONY G WILLIAMS
IDEAL WW2 FIGHTER ARMAMENT
ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY: THE OERLIKON FFL CANNON
Modifications and Attempts at Standardization (of the US 20mm)
CANNON OR MACHINE GUN
According to Gruenhagen and the NAA drawings for Xp51 through P-51M, the P-51A had 4 20mm Hispano suiza with 125 round each
In my opinion MiGs got away because the the 86 didn't have weapons that detonated fuel above 35000 feet. Every 86 ace i talked wished they had 20mm at high altitude.
These aircraft had the same external stores capability as the A-36A Invader, but had no dive brakes and no fuselage guns, the armament being limited to four 0.50-inch machine guns mounted in the wings. The inboard pair had 350 rpg and the outboard pair had 280 rpg. An underwing load consisted of two 250 lb, 325, or 500-pound bombs.
So successful were the US Army trials that 150 were ordered as the P-51 Apache (later the British name was adopted), with four M-2 cannon. The basic aircraft resembled the RAF Mk IA with four Hispano cannon.
Bill Gunston, in "Aircraft of WWII" wrote:
incendiary rounds didn't ignite tanks above 35??
Bill Gunston, in "Aircraft of WWII" wrote:So successful were the US Army trials that 150 were ordered as the P-51 Apache (later the British name was adopted), with four M-2 cannon. The basic aircraft resembled the RAF Mk IA with four Hispano cannon.
Contrary to some reports, the Army planes still retained the 20-mm cannon of the RAF version, but were fitted with two K-24 oblique cameras mounted behind the pilot in the fuselage. These were designated as tactical reconnaissance aircraft and were designated F-6A, but this designation was soon changed to P-51. Some sources say that the F-6As had an additional downward-pointing fuselage camera munted between the tailwheel bay and the radiator exit flap, with the two cameras mounted behind the pilot being common to both designations.
Hi Comiso,
>50 cals were good enough for the F-86.
There were thought to be good enough, but Korean War experience showed they really weren't. As a result, eight Sabres were converted to 20 mm cannon and employed operationally in project GUNVAL in 1953: See Cannon-Armed F-86Fs at Baugher's.
Regards,
Henning (HoHun)
In my opinion MiGs got away because the the 86 didn't have weapons that detonated fuel above 35000 feet. Every 86 ace i talked wished they had 20mm at high altitude.