 | Spitfire Armor| Aircraft Requests Discuss Spitfire Armor in the Aviation forums; I was recently looking at a diagram of the armor plating used on the Spitifre. It appears that the ammo ... |
|
01-29-2005, 02:51 PM
|
#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| Spitfire Armor
I was recently looking at a diagram of the armor plating used on the Spitifre. It appears that the ammo boxes for the .303 machine guns were armored but no protection was given to the 20mm cannons or there ammo. Does anyone know if this is correct or why it was?
__________________  | 
|  | |
01-30-2005, 02:51 AM
|
#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country:  | If it is true, I imagine it was because there was no room. 20mm cannons take up a lot of space, as do their ammo.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. | |
| | |
01-30-2005, 08:29 AM
|
#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| Perhaps, but I would think an explosion among the 20mm ammo would be a much greater threat. And would the added protection around the .303 ammo justify the added weight?
__________________ | |
| | |
01-30-2005, 08:40 AM
|
#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | I don't know if the added protection was worth it but on the A-Wing Spitfires, all the ammo and gun would be protected so it's good then. Maybe a waste on the B and C Wing Spitfires. I was wondering, did this diagram mention anything about the E-Wings? Were the .50cals armoured?
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
| | |
01-30-2005, 07:00 PM
|
#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 134
| None of my cutaways or references mention armoured ammo boxes. Are you sure you're not misidentifying the metal boxes as armour? | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 08:55 AM
|
#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| It's a cutaway titled "Armor Protection." The expected areas are highlighted (windscreen, seat back, etc.) but so are the ammo boxes for the .303 mgs.
__________________ | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 10:37 AM
|
#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | So, nothing on the E-Wing then?
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 12:18 PM
|
#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| No. It's a Mk.Vb. Is it just a bogus chart?
__________________ | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 12:31 PM
|
#9 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | boy i'd hate to see an armour diagram for the lanc 
__________________ 
"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 12:35 PM
|
#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | The only bit of armour in a Lanc was the pilot's headrest I think
__________________ 
When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 12:45 PM
|
#11 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | yes that is correct, the only peice of armour plating on the entire lanc that was fitted as standard was behind the headrest of the pilot...............
__________________
"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 12:47 PM
|
#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | Lucky pilot!
__________________
When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life | |
| | |
01-31-2005, 04:40 PM
|
#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| I've got a chart that suggests the Lanc had a set of armored doors immediately behind the wireless operator's station.
__________________ | |
| | |
02-01-2005, 04:03 AM
|
#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | It seems this chart is a failure. Surely, it would state all the wing configurations. I've never heard of armoured ammo bins on the Spitfire. They didn't like extra weight after-all.
The only armour on the Hurricane was retro-fitted by 1st Sqn. in France.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
| | |
02-01-2005, 08:30 AM
|
#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,512
| That's kind of what I was thinking. Not only was it added weight, but it's added weight towards the end of the wings and that's not going to help maneuverability one bit. And I just don't see how protecting some .303 ammo justifies that weight.
__________________ | |
| | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 PM. | | |
