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Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies. |
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#1
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Hits to down a bomber
When I was researching the 15th AF history, I found a site with part of a Lufwaffe ordnance report describing how many 20 and 30mm hits (randomly spread) could down a Viermot. AS I RECALL the figure was twenty for 20mm and perhaps five for 30 mike-mike. There are a few online references to 20mms but now of course I cannot find the document and would welcome referral to any source.
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#2
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
i remember three 30mm hits were sufficient, 20-25 AFAIK for 20mm
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#3
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
20 mm: 20 -25 hits
30 mm: 4 hits (one for fighters like Mustang) Source: Schliephake "Flugzeugbewaffnung", 1977 |
#4
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
Danke!
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#5
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
According to Alfred Price's 'The Last Year of the Luftwaffe', referring to the 30 mm cannon fitted to the Sturmbocks, 'on average three hits were sufficient to bring down a heavy bomber' (page 36). That's a secondary source, but it is consistent with three 30mm rounds being able to bring down a heavy.
Going from my memory (dangerous!) I recall a discussion of around twenty 20mm rounds being required to bring down a heavy in Hooton's 'Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe', based on analysis of gun camera films. I don't have this book to hand, but perhaps other forum members could confirm (or deny) whether my memory is correct. There might be one other issue to consider. It might be that the twenty 20mm and three 30mm numbers refer to strikes on B17s. Didn't the 15AF operate many B24s? I understand they were considered more vulnerable than the B17. Numbers applicable to the B17 might be overestimates for the B24. Cheers Don W. |
#6
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
It's likely that most people looking at this thread would be familiar with this vision, but there may be a few who haven't seen it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZyJbSIFJn8 I have seen this footage spliced together several different ways, but not in this version, with names and dates included. Anyway, hope that it is of some interest. Cheers Don W |
#7
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
Quote:
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#8
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
This is something I remember reading, but can not be sure, though I think it was Steinhoff.
The pilot went on an alert flight, claimed five kills and only expended 5 rounds 30mm confirmed by his ground crew. |
#9
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
Hi Don
Have seen footage of attacks on B-24's, which usually caught-fire in the outer reaches of the wings. I think the B-17 was rather like the He111 in sturdiness . But the B-24 though with skinnier wings does look less vunerable in the nose area. Have seen several photos with B-24's having had their wings severed, or even the rear fuselage severed. Should be easy enough to work-out which was easiest to bale-out from. I seem to remember Adolf Galland stating that the bomber he least liked the look off to attack was actually the B-26. Kind Regards Johannes P.S Regarding the five 30mm shells, I would think you would expend more than that just coughing. |
#10
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Re: Hits to down a bomber
Hi Guys
There were variations to the 30mm shell, one type didn't explode until it "smelt fuel" !........wonder what happened if it didn't find fuel, guess we can assume it just left a 30mm hole. I agree with the difference between the B-17 and B-24, B-24's burnt rather readily, B-17's seemed to have much sturdier wings and fuselage. Kind Regards Johannes |
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