RAF airacobra with 37mm cannon in UK july 41

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Just been reading a report on effectiveness of aircraft as anti tank weapons.
About july '41, a trial was carried out on various a/c, one was an airacobra equipped with 37mm cannon.
Any ideas which serials for the RAF airacobras had 37mm cannon...........
Seems I thought wrongly that all RAF aircaobras had 20mm cannon....
Cheers
Jerry

[Stig Jarlevik]

Jerry

This was I believe DS173 which arrived on Sep 9th 1941 to A&AEE at Boscombe Down. She was an ex P-39C 40-2981 and had been errected in July 1941. She carried 15 37mm rounds. Trials with her gun was made but complete trials were not possible to make due to shortages of spares.
The gun was considered suitable for ground attack but not for air-to-air combat. Complications with maintenace made the aircraft unsuitable for general services.

Later trials between Jan 8th and Feb 12th 1943 with a 37mm M4 gun was made after an 8th AF request. My source does not specifically say so, but that test was quite possibly done on AH701

Source: Air Britain/Jim Halley

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,

I am not sure but these three may have been from the original French order that became named the Caribou. I think that their a/c were to have the 37mm cannon.

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Good point Alex

The French ordered 200 during the Spring of 1940 while Britain made an order of 650 before the beginning of the BoB.

I possibly have somewhere in other files the exact transfer between contracts....

Cheers
Stig

[brewerjerry]

Hi Stig / Alex
Sorry for my delayed reply, i have been away a few days.
Thanks for the replies & info, interesting the 37mm was in the UK around mid 41.
Cheers
jerry