Ju-88 Nose Gun

The upper protrusion under the nose in this picture should be a MG FF cannon.

Does anyone have any ideas what the lower item might be?



Pic Source: the internet (Bundesarchiv?)

Found the same photo in a book. No info on the circled item but the caption may hold some clues for others. "This Junkers Ju 88A-14 belongs to 1./Kg.77 identified by the code 3Z+EH and the cockerel badge. It is unusual in having blotches of RLM 71 over the 65 on the undersides of the nacelles on tailplane"

Interesting question and I don't know the answer but I'm guessing a field installed machine gun.

Just a guess, one gun is rigid and is fired by the pilot and the second gun is on a swivel and is fired by a gunner.

Could be another gun, but doesn't seem to be much room in the gondola for that.

Here is an image of a similar mount. The one on 3Z+EH doesn't appear to have the chute for the spent casings on the gondola, but otherwise appears very similar.


The Promodeller conversion kit also doesn't seem to suggest much room in the gondola for another MG, but maybe. That was my best guess too. It just seems... tight for all that in the front half of the gondola.



In theory this is a Ju-88A-14, which is listed as having a cable cutter. I haven't ever been able to find an better description of that, however given the location and shape that doesn't seem to be quite right either.

Another side shot of the gondola. Might be possible to mount a smaller caliber MG in there... Would be a tight squeeze, but I'm not coming up with a better idea.
Junkers Ju 88A14 II.KG77 (3Z+xx) nose profile photo showing the units emblems 01

From what I'm seeing, 3Z+EH was modified in several respects, aside from it's unique camouflage, the bomb shackles were removed as was it's bombsight.
So it's entirely possible the crew could have installed a fixed MG for strafing. My guess would be a MG81, since it was belt-fed.

The time-period of this photo was circa 1941 when it was operating out of Sicily.

Thanks for taking a look. Comparing the shape too other pictures an MG 81 could very well be a possibility.