CorkyJr

[TwinBoom]

Any history on this cannon 51

[Airscrew]

I thought that verison was the A-36 Apache

[storch]

yup you are correct AS.  while I may not be corky maybe this will help.

http://www.vectorsite.net/avp51_1.html#5

[Treize69]

Says right on the site you linked its a Mustang IA/P-51 (no letter designator).

A-36 was concurrent with the P-51A, 4 wing mounted .50s (like the P-51B) and 2 more mounted under the engine.

Both had the same ordnance loadout as the P-51B- max of two 500 pound bombs and two 3-tube rocket launchers.

[Airscrew]

maybe not Storch,  might be a Mustang IA, P-51 ,  A-36 had 4 .50s in the wings and 2 in the nose


The Mustang's two nose machine guns were deleted, and the three machine guns in each wing were replaced by two cannon. The Hispano Mark II had been designed as a "motorcannon", fitting over the cylinder banks of an inline vee engine and with the muzzle sticking out the prop spinner. This meant the weapon was very long and its muzzles distinctively protruded well out in front of the wing of the P-51. Despite the hitting power of this heavy armament, no other major model of Mustang would feature it.

[storch]

yup I stand corrected.  the similarities were plenty between the allison mustangs be they A36s or MustangI/P51A.  I recall reading somewhere that some A36 were also armed with the hissoII but I could be mistaken or the writer could have been mistaken.

[Guppy35]

Not an A36 as Treize mentioned.  Just a P51 with no letter designator.  A few went to North Africa and flew with some Tac Recon units.  51A had the 4 50 cals.

A36 had dive brakes installed in the wings for the ground attack role.

[Airscrew]

actually that was me that started down the A-36 path, Treize corrected me about the same time was reading the link and correcting mine.  its kinda difficult for me to tell, it almost looks like a 20mm coming out of the wing but then it could just be a trick of light.   I dont know how visible the dive brakes would be if they arent deployed