Fighter Re-Arm times

[Greyman]

Due to discussion in another thread I figured I'd post re-arming times from British trials on certain aircraft. I'll update this post to include any more if I find them ...

Airacobra I (1 x 20-mm, 2 x .5-inch, 4 x .30-inch)
25 minutes (two armourers)
17 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Beaufighter (4 x 20-mm, 6 x .303-inch)
2¾ minutes (observer in flight) cannons, drums AFDU
1 hour 30 minutes (two armourers) cannons, Mk.I feed
45 minutes (four armourers) machine guns

Buffalo I (4 x .5-inch)
30 minutes (four armourers)

Corsair I (6 x .5-inch)
1 hour 30 minutes (two armourers) wings folded
*'These times ... would have been considerably reduced if a level servicing platform had been available.'

Firefly I (4 x 20-mm)
20 minutes (two armourers) wings spread
30 minutes (two armourers) wings folded

Grumman G.36 A (4 x .5-inch)
About 20-30 minutes (two armourers)

Martlet IV (6 x .5-inch)
20 minutes (two armourers)

Martlet II (6 x .5-inch)
30 minutes (two armourers)

Hellcat I (6 x .5-inch)
34 minutes (two armourers) wings spread
58 minutes (two armourers) wings folded

Hurricane IIc (4 x 20-mm)
Approximately 15 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Lockheed P-38F (1 x 20-mm, 4 x .5-inch)
6 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Kittyhawk I (6 x .5-inch)
25 minutes (two armourers)

Mosquito II (4 x 20-mm, 4 x .303-inch)
40 minutes (two armourers) cannons
8 minutes (two armourers) machine guns

Mustang I (4 x .5-inch, 4 x .30-inch)
35 minutes (two armourers)
11 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Mustang Ia (4 x 20-mm)
15 minutes (two armourers)

Mustang II (4 x .5-inch)
3½ minutes (four armourers) AFDU

Mustang III (4 x .5-inch)
7½ minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Spitfire Vc (4 x 20-mm)
20 minutes (two armourers)
10 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Spitfire Vc (8 x .303-inch)
8 minutes (two armourers) inner four guns
12 minutes (two armourers) outer four guns

Spitfire Vc (2 x 20-mm, 4 x .303-inch)
26 minutes (two armourers)
Approximately 12 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Spitfire XIVe (2 x 20-mm, 2 x .5-inch)
9¼ minutes (two armourers) machine guns

Spitfire IXe (2 x 20-mm, 2 x .5-inch)
15 minutes (two armourers) machine guns

Spitfire 21 (2 x 20-mm)
16 minutes (two armourers) Mk.II guns

Spitfire VIII (4 x 20-mm)
8 minutes (two armourers) 2 x Mk.II, 2 x Mk.V

Seafire III (2 x 20-mm, 4 x .303-inch)
6 minutes (two armourers) cannons, wings folded
16 minutes (two armourers) machine guns, wings folded

Thunderbolt II
30 minutes (two armourers) 267 rpg

Tomahawk I (2 x .5-inch, 4 x .303-inch)
10 minutes (one armourer) fuselage guns
15 minutes (two armourers) wing guns

Tomahawk IIb (2 x .5-inch, 4 x .30-inch)
Time 'did not differ materially' from that on Mk.I
12 minutes (two armourers) AFDU

Vengeance Ia (4 x .30-inch)
12½ minutes (two armourers)

 

[Greyman]

Added some times from AFDU reports (otherwise the majority are from A&AEE reports).

The obvious trend is much shorter times at the AFDU -- generally half. It strikes me as unlikely that their experience/technique would have been that much better on every aircraft.

I think the criteria for each unit might be different. I'll have to investigate.