Youchan3070
Recruit
- 6
- Dec 14, 2021
Did the original P-51 have any production blocks? I don't know if they were buit before that the USAAF introduced the production block system in 1942.
P-51 (original with 20mm) production block
- Thread starter Youchan3070
- Start date
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Here you go, P-51 Mustang Production - MustangsMustangs.com
| P-51 | NA-91 | 91-11981 | 91-12130 | 41-37320 | 41-37469 | 148 |
| RAF FD418 to FD567. 91-12013 and 91-12082 taken out for XP-51B | ||||||
| A-36 | NA-97 | 97-15881 | 97-16380 | 42-83663 | 42-84162 | 500 |
| P-51A-1NA | NA-99 | 99-22106 | 99-22205 | 43-6003 | 43-6102 | 100 |
- Thread starter
- #3
Youchan3070
Recruit
- 6
- Dec 14, 2021
Thank you for the information. And I have an another question. Why did there exist 2 types from prtototyp? The NA-73 (XP-51)and NA-73X.And what weere the differences between those two?
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drgondog
Major
One Prototype NA-73, named X73. XP-51 was one of the first run of NA-73, two of which were pulled for AAC. All of the first run were deemed unsuitable for combat because one longerons and some shear panels failed under Static Test of XX73. The NA-73 production spars and longerons for the first 10 were same. Shear panels were increased in thickness, the rounded windshield of the X73 was replaced by flat windshield for NA-73, fuel supply was increased.
They (production NA-73 #11 through #320) were modified for spar and longeron changes and also modified with future carb intake extending to spinner (and increasing cross sectional area) to kill the harmonic/vibration issues. All were Mustang I. The follow up NA-83, with more improvements, were Mustang I also. The next NA-91 was an order for 150 Mustang IA with Oldsmobile Hispano II 20mm cannon. In May 1942, the AAC took 58 away from RAF delivery, 56 for P-51-NA and two (NA-101)for future XP-51B after modifications to install Packard 1650-3 and new cooling system. Many P-51-NA were modified to install cameras for Recon squadrons and re-designated P-51-1-NA and P-51-2-NA.
The NA-97 A-36 did not have production blocks. The NA-99 P-51A had three blocks P-51A-1, -5 and -10-NA. Henceforth all P-51 versions had production blocks beginning P-51B-1, -5, -10 and -15-NA.
EDIT - and of course the P-51M did not have production blocks.
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P-39 Expert
Non-Expert
The cannon armed P-51 would have had belt-fed ammunition, right? Did they experience any problems with the operation of the cannons?
drgondog
Major
The RAF noted issues with both feed and mounts. They fixed them both and switched to Brit Hispanos
P-39 Expert
Non-Expert
Thanks.
The RAF conducted trials comparing the US Oldsmobile manufactured 20mm Hispano to the British manufactured 20mm Hispano and as a result removed all the US manufactured 20mm Hispano from their Mustang Mk.IA and replaced them with British manufactured 20mm Hispano. The US manufactured 20mm Hispano were rated as not being suitable for use in aircraft installations, so were placed into ground mounts and issued to the RAF Regiment as AA weapons.
There were a range of issues with the US Oldsmobile manufactured 20mm Hispano and the original NAA mounts, ammunition feeds and shell/link ejection arrangements, so RAF had to do considerable work to make the installation reliable. They were able to draw on their experience with the 20mm Hispano installations in a range of aircraft already in service with the RAF at that time. Information on the RAF modifications was fed back to both NAA and the USAAF.
All covered in:
I was going to quote it but it didnt seem right
, especially with drgondog being in the discussion.
drgondog
Major
Colin is being overly modest when he mentions the RAF coverge in the Book. I asked him to both contribute and to proofread - which he did superbly. Two prominant RAF researchers, Colin Ford and Steve Brooking were of immense help in getting RAF sidebars in context and correct. I didn't want to follow previous authors that short changed RAF contributions to Mustang Story.
BTW David Muir was essential in sorting out the Aussie NA-110 story and some of you will remember Kurfurst - who cross checked my Bf 109 and Fw 190 performance data from Mike Williams Spitfireperformance site. Mike was also crucial to the performance presentation as we used his format and personal contributions. Last but not least, there is no better compilation of the R-R Mustang story than David Birch's works.
And this group - too many to mention were extremely helpful.
Possibly be more informative to read up on the travails of putting canon in Spitfires. Putting it in a wing is the easy bit, keeping it working and feeding in ammunition is another, with the vibration, wing flexing and "g" loads in flight.
Spindash64
Airman
- 89
- Oct 21, 2021
iirc, part of the reason that the P-38 and USN fighters were eventually using 20mms was due to the ability to charge the guns in flight, rather than needing the guns to be precharged by ground crew. Thus, a "bad round" could be skipped over, costing you the round and the gun solution, but keeping the gun available, while in USAAF fighters (and I presume most other land-based aircraft), any problems with feed or firing would essentially disable the gun for the duration of the mission. Of course, even with that in mind, the first Corsairs to get cannons weren't in combat until 1945
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
The AAC eventually had the 20 mm installed on the P-38 because the proposed 25mm cannon wasn't available and the the 37 mm T-4 cannon wasn't reliable during testing.
