How did the Rüstsatz system work?

[Broncazonk]

Greetings Alfred,

The Maru Mechanic, No. 50, Bf109/Fw190 (1985) provides shocking clarity in this matter. On page 93, is an illustration of the cannon ammunition protection upgrade of the A-8/R8. The armor was comprised of a 4mm top plate, a 4mm bottom plate, and a 20mm face plate. No rearward protection was included. Furthermore, the 4mm top and bottom plates were TOTALLY ineffective against the .50-cal. armor-penetrating/armor-penetrating-incendiary ammunition used by USAAF aircraft. (I've personally witnessed .50-cal. armor penetrating rounds pierce 40mm of steel armor plate at 500 meters.)

Defensively, the R8 cannon ammunition protection "upgrade" was a disaster. No rearward protection was provided, and the top and bottom protection was totally ineffective. Even the face plate, being 20mm, was marginal protection. And all of it added weight.

The installation of cannon, and high explosive 20mm and 30mm ammunition boxes in the outboard stations of the Fw-190 killed A LOT of pilots. The boxes could not be properly protected, and a hit in the box detonated the entire box. It was like a box of dynamite going off in the wing.

Bronc