Weapons firing selectivity - Aircraft of World War II

cactus42 · 07-04-2009, 05:36 PM

Reading an excerpt from another random post, I was wondering if US/Allied &/or Axis aircraft (single-seat fighters mainly) allowed their pilot the ability to select a particular amount of weapons he was using? For example, could a pilot use only four out of eight .50 cal guns; could he select the number of guns firing...maybe to conserve ammo or not to burn the barrels out by alternating them? Is this something the pilot could actually have the time or the frame of of mind to even think about in the heat of battle? I'm pretty sure Luftwaffe pilots could use the propeller-firing cannon and wing guns exclusively. Can someone elighten us (me)?

Sweb · 07-04-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactus42

Reading an excerpt from another random post, I was wondering if US/Allied &/or Axis aircraft (single-seat fighters mainly) allowed their pilot the ability to select a particular amount of weapons he was using? For example, could a pilot use only four out of eight .50 cal guns; could he select the number of guns firing...maybe to conserve ammo or not to burn the barrels out by alternating them? Is this something the pilot could actually have the time or the frame of of mind to even think about in the heat of battle? I'm pretty sure Luftwaffe pilots could use the propeller-firing cannon and wing guns exclusively. Can someone elighten us (me)?

The Corsair had this feature. It had a Master Arming switch and then 6 individual gun solenoid arming switches.

Marcogrifo · 07-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Also italian fighters had the possibility to fire MGs and guns individually: MGs were selected with a two position trigger on hand grip, while guns can be escluded switching off their master switches.

Cheers

Deanimator · 07-05-2009, 01:26 PM

Typically Japanese pilots could fire cannons and rifle caliber machineguns separately. It was common for Zero pilots to get the range with their 7.7mm guns, then use their 20mm cannon.

vikingBerserker · 07-05-2009, 05:54 PM

I think the P-38 could fire it's machine guns seperatly from the cannon as well as there is a "Cannon" button on the control stick.

michaelmaltby · 07-14-2009, 02:01 PM

P-39 allowed pilots to select cannon for MG's - at least one Russian P-39 ace had all his wired to one switch.

MM

07-04-2009, 05:36 PM	#1
cactus42 Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 2	Weapons firing selectivity Reading an excerpt from another random post, I was wondering if US/Allied &/or Axis aircraft (single-seat fighters mainly) allowed their pilot the ability to select a particular amount of weapons he was using? For example, could a pilot use only four out of eight .50 cal guns; could he select the number of guns firing...maybe to conserve ammo or not to burn the barrels out by alternating them? Is this something the pilot could actually have the time or the frame of of mind to even think about in the heat of battle? I'm pretty sure Luftwaffe pilots could use the propeller-firing cannon and wing guns exclusively. Can someone elighten us (me)?

07-05-2009, 05:54 PM	#5
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,463	I think the P-38 could fire it's machine guns seperatly from the cannon as well as there is a "Cannon" button on the control stick. __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future"

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07-04-2009, 08:34 PM	#3
Marcogrifo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Genoa, Italy Posts: 179	Also italian fighters had the possibility to fire MGs and guns individually: MGs were selected with a two position trigger on hand grip, while guns can be escluded switching off their master switches. Cheers

07-05-2009, 01:26 PM	#4
Deanimator Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 27	Typically Japanese pilots could fire cannons and rifle caliber machineguns separately. It was common for Zero pilots to get the range with their 7.7mm guns, then use their 20mm cannon.

07-14-2009, 02:01 PM	#6
michaelmaltby Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 223	P-39 allowed pilots to select cannon for MG's - at least one Russian P-39 ace had all his wired to one switch. MM