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We know that there were a variety of "U" and "R" kits for the FW-190 and the Bf-109, but does anyone have any figures on whether fighters with the external cannon (and rockets) were the exception vs. the rule? I'm thinking mainly of the time the American daylight bomber war escalated say, from October 1943 through May 1944. My pet theory is that the number of fighters with external cannon increased just as allied fighter protection rapidly increased, thus making the German fighters less competitive at just the wrong time. Does anyone have any facts and figures that might shed some light on this? Thanks.
Great info Mike
Interesting question. Sorry I don't have any precise numbers. Unfortunately Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen don't show the gondelwaffen types, however, perhaps of interest Bf 109G-6/U4 with 30 mm cannon start showing up in these records in spring 1944. The level speed hit when equipped with the gunpods wasn't that bad, ~7 mph - see Performance measurement ME 109 G-6 Tropical with DB 605 A; Influence of various attachments. Presumably climb and maneuverability would suffer somewhat. I have to think that the Wfr. Gr. 21 rocket equipped aircraft were pretty much sitting ducks though. Fwiw, these types appear to be listed in the Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen.
Browsing various Prien & Rodeike books shows widespread use of the gunpods from around spring 1943 into early 1944 on 109 G-4s & G-6s. One idea to consider would be that the introduction of the 30 mm motor cannon made the wing gunpods less important. Also installing AS and MW-50 engines in the summer of 44 suggests a changing role for the 109 - less of a bomber attacker and more as a counter to allied fighters as well as 190 defender.
Interesting question. Sorry I don't have any precise numbers. Unfortunately Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen don't show the gondelwaffen types, however, perhaps of interest Bf 109G-6/U4 with 30 mm cannon start showing up in these records in spring 1944. The level speed hit when equipped with the gunpods wasn't that bad, ~7 mph - see Performance measurement ME 109 G-6 Tropical with DB 605 A; Influence of various attachments. Presumably climb and maneuverability would suffer somewhat. I have to think that the Wfr. Gr. 21 rocket equipped aircraft were pretty much sitting ducks though. Fwiw, these types appear to be listed in the Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen.
Browsing various Prien & Rodeike books shows widespread use of the gunpods from around spring 1943 into early 1944 on 109 G-4s & G-6s. One idea to consider would be that the introduction of the 30 mm motor cannon made the wing gunpods less important. Also installing AS and MW-50 engines in the summer of 44 suggests a changing role for the 109 - less of a bomber attacker and more as a counter to allied fighters as well as 190 defender.
Just a note as a result of browsing through various Prien & Rodeike 109 books, usage of gunboats on the eastern front appears to have started earlier and lasted longer than on the western front. A more thorough examination is warranted. For example, JG 52 was equipped with G-2s with gondola mounted cannons in autumn 1942.
The BR21 was a 21 cm solid rocket that was derived from the army's smoke launcher grenades and with the help of which the close-flying heavy bombers were to be blown up.
Do you know why the wing canon were removed on the Me 109 F/G thereby forcing the use of gun pods when engaging bombers? It seems inexplicable given plans to reintroduce integrated MK108 wing canon in the Me 109K6?
Mike, thank you for the effort to extract & translate the very interesting paragraphs.