About WW2 fighter aircraft firing power

[Harri Pihl]

Originally Posted by Tony Williams

It's worth considering the German and Russian experience. The Germans had two versions of the MG 151 from which to choose: the high-velocity 15mm and the medium-velocity 20mm. The 15mm would certainly have had a higher hit probability, but it was almost entirely dropped in favour of the 20mm which was far more destructive. The Russians similarly preferred the 20mm ShVAK over the faster-firing, higher-velocity 12.7mm UB.

Well, on other side, it's worth considering USAF experience; after all the M53 is by far the most succesfull fighter weapon of the WWII.

There is obviously differences how the Air Forces saw the benefits of the guns. The MG 151 is a good example because USAF did seriously consider to use it (15mm version) while the Germans went towards larger calibers.

In the Russia 20mm ShVAK was older weapon and, at least according to Finnish experience, less problematic than the Berezin.