AH Lanc III rear turret guns?

[Rolex]

I have always wondered if the AH Lanc III has 2 x .303's or 2 x .50's in the rear turret. They don't seem like .50's when I'm firing them. ( ) and I don't see .50's listed on the webpage chart.

I have no information other than pretty extensive internet searches and it all points to Lancaster III's having 4 x .303's with 2500 rounds for each gun. I did find some information that a few later versions were modified with 2 x 50's mounted in dorsal position, but they were removed after a short trial. I've not been able to find any Mk III version with 2 of anything in the rear turret.

[frank3]

4 x .303 with 2500 rpg sounds abit....much...

But our Avro build bomber has indeed got 2 x .50 machine guns in it's rear turret.

A long time we had still got 2 x .303's in the rear, but after some complaining and proofing there should be at least 4 x .303's or 2 x .50's HiTech changed it to 2 x .50's.

Oh, and the machine gun indication in the hangar is never right, for many aircraft.

[Pyro]

Originally posted by frank3
A long time we had still got 2 x .303's in the rear, but after some complaining and proofing there should be at least 4 x .303's or 2 x .50's HiTech changed it to 2 x .50's.

That's incorrect.  The Lanc in AH has always had dual .50s in the tail.  There were arguments that the quad .30s should have been used instead, but that's a separate issue.

[Replicant]

Originally posted by Rolex
I have always wondered if the AH Lanc III has 2 x .303's or 2 x .50's in the rear turret. They don't seem like .50's when I'm firing them. ( ) and I don't see .50's listed on the webpage chart.

I have no information other than pretty extensive internet searches and it all points to Lancaster III's having 4 x .303's with 2500 rounds for each gun. I did find some information that a few later versions were modified with 2 x 50's mounted in dorsal position, but they were removed after a short trial. I've not been able to find any Mk III version with 2 of anything in the rear turret.

Difference between Lancaster I and Lancaster III is Parkard Merlins instead of Rolls Royce Merlins.

Some Bomber Groups within Bomber Command experimented with a 2 x .50 cal rear turret (which is featured in AH).  Some Lancasters (mostly Canadian) had an Upper 2 x .50 cal turret (but 4 x .303s in rear).  1 Group Bomber Command still had some Lancasters with the belly 2 x .303s still but they were removed on the majority of other Lancasters.

[frank3]

Originally posted by Pyro
That's incorrect.  The Lanc in AH has always had dual .50s in the tail.  There were arguments that the quad .30s should have been used instead, but that's a separate issue.

That's odd, I remember having 2 .303's in the rear a long time ago.

...ofcourse that's been a long time ago

[Replicant]

Originally posted by frank3
That's odd, I remember having 2 .303's in the rear a long time ago.

...ofcourse that's been a long time ago

Nope, never had .303s in the tail.  I remember the confusion when the Lanc first came into AH because the rear .50 cal turrets were rare and some didn't know that they had them.

[Rolex]

Thanks for the info, Pyro.

[WilldCrd]

Pyro how come the rear guns have the least amount of ammo? 90% of attacks come from the rear I would think they would have more ammo

[Pei]

Originally posted by WilldCrd
Pyro how come the rear guns have the least amount of ammo? 90% of attacks come from the rear I would think they would have more ammo

.50 cal browning rounds are much bigger and heavier than .303 rounds.

[Replicant]

Originally posted by WilldCrd
Pyro how come the rear guns have the least amount of ammo? 90% of attacks come from the rear I would think they would have more ammo

As Pei mentions, the .303 is much smaller.  See the image below, we have:-

.303 - .50 - 20mm Hispano

[airbumba]

Avro Canada Inc. Lancaster, 303's top gun






Avro Canada Inc. Lancaster, 303's rear gun.





Avro Canada Inc. Lancaster, 50's top gun.




Wohoo, my first pics posted, woohoo.

[Adogg]

Originally posted by Replicant
As Pei mentions, the .303 is much smaller.  See the image below, we have:-

.303 - .50 - 20mm Hispano

Ouch that hispano wouldn't half-hurt

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Adogg
Ouch that hispano wouldn't half-hurt

You're right, that would TOTALLY hurt...

[MiloMorai]

Lancaster turrets

upper: FN50(2x.303 - 1000rds ea.) or Martin(2x.50 - Cdn production)

front: FN5(2x.303 - 1000rds ea.)

tail: FN20(4x.303 - 2500rds ea.) replaced by FN121(4x.303 - 2500rds ea.) or  Rose(2x.50 rds ??? )

ventral: FN64(2x.303 - 750rds ea.) when fitted(H2S displaced it)
6 Group(Cdn) also mounted a single manual operated .303 or .50

FN = Fraser-Nash not Fabrique Nationale(sp??)

More info http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/airgunners3.html
this one is good http://www.lancaster-archive.com/Lanc-Turrets.htm

[Furball]

Lancaster B. Mk VII late in the war could also be fitted with the Bristol B.17 Top turret with 2 x 20mm hispano cannon.  These were intended for the 'Tiger Force' to fight in japan.  Used by No. 9 Squadron based Salibani, India