Aircraft gun article

[Tony Williams]

I have posted on my website a new article concerning aircraft guns:

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/CannonMGs.htm (Cannon or machine guns in WW2)

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[Boandlgramer]

Very good article, Tony.
Thank you.

[John Vasco]

Tony,
Nothing in there about the 30 mm. MG101...

[Tony Williams]

True, but that really wasn't an air combat gun: the Bf 110C-6 seems to have been used for ground attack and, apart from that, it was only ever fitted to the Hs 129 and a few He 177 AFAIK.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[Josh Osborne]

Tony, can you explain this for me? In your article it is stated:

In May 1940 the Bf 109E-4 entered service with the modified MG-FFM gun, adapted to fire the new Mjnengeschoss (mine shell) ammunition which had very thin walls and a doubled capacity for high explosive (HE) and/or incendiary. As a bonus the shells were lighter, permitting a higher muzzle velocity.

I have read in other sources that the large mine shell used in the MK-108 was limited to low muzzle velocities by the thin walls of the projectile. The reason stated was that the thin wall would deform and jam in the barrel if to much propellant was used. So it seems strange that the MG-FFM would have higher muzzle velocity for the thin walled version than the regular. Am I missing something?

[Tony Williams]

I don't think it's true that the thin walls of the M-Geschoss shells limited velocity that much. Not only were the MG-FFM's shells fired by the more powerful MG 151/20, but (more surprisingly) the low-velocity MK 108's shells were also fired by the high-velocity MK 103. The base of the M-Geschoss shell was hemispherical, which is the best shape for resisting the pressure of firing, so made it stronger than the thin walls would suggest.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[Ludovico Slongo]

Dear Mr. Williams,
I've recently acquired copy of the book on W.W. II flying guns that you wrote with Dr. Gustin and I just wish to take opportunity to tank you for all your work. The scientific approach you were able to give to this topic is interesting to the extreme for an aviation enthusiast as I am.
I've been always interested in the syncro devices of the W.W II warplanes and in particular the Costantinescu gear that equipped the Gladiator and the Sicncronizzazione a tre rulli of all the Italian fighters but I was unable to find out details about them (how they worked -in some details-, how much they affected rate of fire, how reliable they were...) May be you can help showing me where to find these infos.
Kind regards,
Ludovico

[Tony Williams]

Hi Ludovico,

I'm pleased that you enjoyed the book!

Synchronisation systems are dealt with in the earlier volume of Flying Guns (1914-33) as there wasn't much development of them after that.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[Ludovico Slongo]

Dear Mr. Williams,
thank you for the fast answer; you've already sold another copy of one of your books.

Regards

Ludovico.