Guns on the 109K
 

On another board there is a member that believes the 109K was armed with MG151/15s and the MK103 cannon. He lists several references, books (coffee table variety) and the Internet, as reliable reference sources. He has a hard time understanding that his Internet sources are 'copy and pasted' from his coffee table books and other Internet sources.

He says he is too busy to register here and ask, but writes long posts on the other board.

Could I ask a favour of the members here to take some of their valuable time to tell him about the armament of the 109K.

Thank you.

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

Kutscha,

Wow, sounds like a desperate lad, eh? Onto more important matters, what's the temp like where you are? Is it YOW? According to my sources, it's minus 16 and counting. Ha, ha, ha.

Stephen

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

I have that strange discomfiture of walking into a joke trap, but...what board is your source-challenged friend registered on and under what name?

BTW, I recall William Green was the only major author claiming that the Bf 109K had two cowling-mounted MG 151/15 cannon. All other books and references that did not cite Green as a primary source seem to state that the 109K cowling-mounted guns were MG 151/13 machine guns.

Kenneth

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

I think, Kenneth, that you mean MG 131 13mm machine guns.

Alfred Price also stated that the Bf 109K used the MG 151 cowling guns.

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

Thanks guys.

Yes Sephen, just down the road from YOW so will have the same temperature as you, and George. ;)

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

What is it like in the great white north today? Yesterday we had a bit of snow, and a temperature of -4 (ca. 25F). Then the wind began building up, so that by early this morning we had a wonderfully clear sky, but with high winds and a temperature of -21C (-6F) and a wind chill of -31C (ca. -24F)! I can hardly wait for winter.

Just like summer,
George

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

Thanks for the correction, George, you are absolutely correct, of course, regarding the MG 131 machine guns.

My error also about Alfred Price, I must have overlooked his reference to the Bf 109K guns.

Kenneth

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

Hi,

Yes the K did have the Mk103...but only as an experiment (only a handful). it was too big and heavy, so they nixed the idea. Closest config. to what your friend is referring to is a Mk103 in the nose and 2 Mk108's in the wing root...which was set up for the K-10 I believe. Also, the Me109H was to have this configuration as standard as well.

Of course...as the Me109K experimented with the Mk103, it is also true they could have experimented what it was like to have the 20mm or 30mm gondolas under the wings...so in a way your friend is somewhat correct...but not from a production side...experimental only.

Mike

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

It seems very unlikely that any 109 wing could take two guns in the root - this was a feature of the 155/209 wing so may be appropriate for the H, with its 209 features and new inner wing, but not for a K variant.

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

Hi Graham,

I have a wartime WerkPhoto from Messerschmitt AG Showing a drawing of an Me109K with 1 Mk108 in each wing. But they are located OUTSIDE the wheel well...not the same place as the Emil. Wing is the same as the normal K. I also have an Me109H drawing of the same type, again showing a Mk108 in each wing, but with the 208 wing type. Again outside the wheel well.

Both drawings are stamped Messerschmitt AG on the reverse and dated.

Mike

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

OK, I've seen those drawings too - but that's not in the root.

Re: Guns on the 109K
 

The Me 309 was meant to carry wing-root guns, but then it had an inward retracting main gear. And, perhaps later versions of the 109H, but of that one I am not certain.