[Graham Boak]

The Russians did it too. The technology was entirely reliable, and was preferred because of the increased accuracy of the weapons and agility of the aircraft. Wings distort under flight loads, particularly in hard turning combat, which means that the guns would not necessarily be pointing in the same direction as the sight. The additional weight of the guns and ammunition increased the inertia of the aircraft in roll and yaw, whilst taking up space that could be used for fuel for extra range.