How many rounds of ammunition could the various F2A types carry?
- Thread starter FulmenTheFinn
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
FulmenTheFinn
Airman 1st Class
It's probably just the angle and colouring. Here's a sharper version of that image.
Here's a 239 getting its portside wing .50 cal loaded. According to Kari Stenman the photos are dated 16 September 1941, while the photo descriptions give the place as Immola Airfield, Lappeenranta (the previous images were probably specifically from there too). Photo L. Johnsson via SA-Kuva. SA-Kuva #49525, 49526 and 49528.
EDIT: Although, what bothers me a little now is that in the previous images they were filling the box from the side (?) and here they're filling it from the top. So is it even the same type of box?
Last edited:
This second set looks like real 0.50. One can compare the round size with palm size. For the first set of pictures, it looks quite small round.
- Thread starter
- #24
FulmenTheFinn
Airman 1st Class
You may well be right. I just noticed this on the second photo:
If these are 7.7 mm (.303 cal) then the photo description is wrong, which unfortunately is the case on these wartime photos from time to time.
Last edited:
Shortround6
Lieutenant General
US .30 cal ammo was about 3.34in (84.8mm) long. depends little bit on the exact bullet but too long and you have feed problems.
US .50 cal ammo was about 5.45in (138.4mm) long. depends little bit on the exact bullet but too long and you have feed problems.
US .50 cal ammo was about 30lbs per 100 rounds linked.
US .30 cal ammo was about 5.9lbs per hundred unlinked.
Trying to load boxes with 60lbs (200 round) of ammo or more (much more) and fit the boxes back in the wings was going to be hard.
Fuselage gun ammo boxes. are usually taller than they are wide. Some planes used removable boxes for the ammo. Box holding even 600 rounds of .30 cal is going to around 45-50lbs
depending on the weight of the box (36-38lbs of ammo depending on links?)
To my knowledge there was very little 7.7mm rimless ammo in Europe during WW II.
What some nations may have called US .30 cal ammo (7.62 x 63 mm) to distinguish it from Soviet 7.62 x 54 mm ammo I don't know.
US .50 cal ammo was about 5.45in (138.4mm) long. depends little bit on the exact bullet but too long and you have feed problems.
US .50 cal ammo was about 30lbs per 100 rounds linked.
US .30 cal ammo was about 5.9lbs per hundred unlinked.
Trying to load boxes with 60lbs (200 round) of ammo or more (much more) and fit the boxes back in the wings was going to be hard.
Fuselage gun ammo boxes. are usually taller than they are wide. Some planes used removable boxes for the ammo. Box holding even 600 rounds of .30 cal is going to around 45-50lbs
depending on the weight of the box (36-38lbs of ammo depending on links?)
To my knowledge there was very little 7.7mm rimless ammo in Europe during WW II.
What some nations may have called US .30 cal ammo (7.62 x 63 mm) to distinguish it from Soviet 7.62 x 54 mm ammo I don't know.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Is this an actual Buffalo or the Finnish "Mk II"?
- Thread starter
- #27
FulmenTheFinn
Airman 1st Class
It's a real Brewster 239: BW-372. During a sortie on 25 June 1942 it was chased by four Soviet Hurricanes, shot up and caught fire, and its pilot Lt. Lauri Ohukainen (later Pekuri) force-landed it into Lake Iso Kolejärvi in East Karelia, from where it was fished out in 1998. Its salvaging and how it ended up back in Finland is a whole ordeal unto itself that deserves a thread of its own. There's a book and documentary about the whole affair, both I believe by Marja Lampi, daughter of Finnish Brewster ace Heimo Lampi. During the recovery process the aircraft was damaged by a Russian militia trying to seize it for the Russian state, and some of its parts were taken by said militia, which may explain some of the missing pieces and instruments in the cockpit.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
THEY'RE NOT EXTINCT!
- Thread starter
- #29
FulmenTheFinn
Airman 1st Class
SaparotRob You can also look at it through the Finnish Air Force Museum's Virtual Museum service. I recommend using a PC to do so, as it can be wonky on mobile devices.My visit to the museum was in September 2017. The exhibit is still there today in the same condition, as much as I know.
Both Finnish and USA sources confirm the history of the aircraft as a genuine Brewster 239 and its preservation in Finland is a very good example for the aircraft condition as of June 1942.
Best regards,
Yavor
Brewster Model 239 BW-372 [DSCN5665]
Brewster Model 239 BW-372 [DSCN5749]
May be I have yet another picture from the museum somewhere.
