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Old 15th January 2006, 00:13
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George Hopp George Hopp is offline
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George Hopp
Re: A question RE: an odd looking German AA Gun...

Quote:
Franek, the MG C/30L was no ordinary aircraft gun: it was chambered for the same very powerful 20x138B ammo as the German Flak 30 and Flak 38 guns. It was intended for engine mounting in fighters, but only one prototype He 112 carried it, in action in Spain. It turned out to be too big, heavy and slow-firing to be of much use, so was converted to the AA role.
As noted in "The Condor Legion" by Ries/Ring, about He 112 V4: "The He 112 had been in action with 1. Staffel for several weeks. Flown by Uffz. Schulz, ... it specialized in hunting Red tanks. On account of its good success the aircraft was jokingly dubbed "Dosenoeffner" (can opener). Unfortunately, in July the aircraft was written off in a crash." It appears that Schulz had popped 3 tanks with the a/c. And, it also sounds like he was more than satisfied with it. So, where did you find the contrary info?

Earlier, the following was stated about the He 112: "Fips" Radusch was selected to test the sole cannon-armed He 112. The machine was the He 112 V4 in which a 20mm MG C/30L engine-mounted cannon had been installed for trial purposes. Otherwise the fighter was unarmed. The few fighter pilots in Spain fortunate enough to fly the He 112 said great things about the He 112, and everyone wanted to qualify the fly the aircraft."
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