Author Topic: Mosquito FB.MkVI ammo load and ordanance load. (Read 1876 times)

Karnak · « **on:** April 30, 2001, 03:30:00 PM »

I am trying to find how much ammo was carried by the Mosquito FB.MkVI.

I have only found two sources that even given an ammunition count and they don't agree with one another.

The two ammunition claims I have found are:

4 .303 Browning machine guns: 2000 rounds each, total of 8000 rounds
4 20mm Hispano MkII cannon: 300 rounds each, total of 1200 rounds

Or:

4 .303 Browning machine guns: 750 rounds each, total of 3000 rounds
4 20mm Hispano MkII cannon: 150 rounds each, total of 600 rounds

To me the first one seems a bit heavy on the 303 ammo, although I find the cannon ammo load to be believable. The second seems a bit light for an aircraft the size of a Mosquito.

Can anybody tell me what the ammo load on the Mosquito FB.VI is?

Thanks

The ordanance loadout options seems to be:

Bomb Bay:2 250lb bombs or 2 500lb short finned bombs
Under Wing: 2 250lb bombs, 2 500lb bombs, 8 60lb rockets or droptanks.

It isn't clear if the rockets are on a separate mount from the bombs/droptanks. If they are that would help the Mosquito's versatility.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Spitfire F.MkXIVc to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

AG Sachsenberg · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2001, 03:36:00 PM »

Nope 9200 ounds total is what I see as a option as well.

------------------

[This message has been edited by AG Sachsenberg (edited 04-30-2001).]

[This message has been edited by AG Sachsenberg (edited 04-30-2001).]

Replicant · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2001, 03:43:00 PM »

Hi Karnak

I'm certain it's the first choice you stated (8000rds .303 load).

Check with Snafu, he has the Mosquito AP/pilot notes.

Regards

Nexx

Karnak · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2001, 03:43:00 PM »

I got the first number from one of my books (all my other books gleefully inform me that it has 4 .303s and 4 Hispano 20mm cannon, but don't say anything about the ammunition) and found a site on the internet with thos numbers as well, but they looked to be copied verbatum from the book I have, so I disregarded that as a source.

The source for the 2nd, lower ammount of ammunition was WarBirds 2.77.

BTW, If I had the book here, I'd have posted its title, author and publisher, but I am at work. (Things are FUBARed here today)

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Spitfire F.MkXIVc to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

ra · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2001, 04:31:00 PM »

Even in short bursts I'd be suprised if the .303 Browning could fire 2000 rounds without jamming.

ra

Karnak · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2001, 04:34:00 PM »

ra,
If the 2000 rounds per .303 is the correct number, and that seems to be the direction everybody is leaning, I would highly doubt if any Mosquito ever fired ALL of its .303 ammo on a combat sortie.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Spitfire F.MkXIVc to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

[This message has been edited by Karnak (edited 04-30-2001).]

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2001, 06:52:00 PM »

Mosquito with guns, my second favorite plane after the P47 bubble.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2001, 07:09:00 PM »

8000 rounds of .303, utterly amazing, tho I must honestly ask what the hell are all they for? Arent 1200rds of 20mm enough?

juzz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2001, 01:04:00 AM »

One mossie could probably de-ack the entire map with that ammo load...

snafu · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2001, 04:20:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Replicant:
Hi Karnak

I'm certain it's the first choice you stated (8000rds .303 load).

Check with Snafu, he has the Mosquito AP/pilot notes.

Regards

Nexx

Hi Karnak,
Sadly the Pilots notes tell me how to fly the thing (Useful next time I'm up in a mossie and the pilot is taken ill)

but give no reference to loadouts. I understand the original spec of the FB VI series II was for a 2,000 Bomb load but usually only the loadout you mention was actually carried and the front portion of the bombay was used to carry ammo for the .303's & hispano's The only ammo loads I have seen are the higher of the 2 in your post.

If you want to start a Mosquito for AH club tell me where I send my subscription

TTFN
snafu

AG Sachsenberg · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2001, 06:48:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ra:
Even in short bursts I'd be suprised if the .303 Browning could fire 2000 rounds without jamming.

ra

Irrelevant in AH do to guns not jamming.

------------------

Verkaaft's mei Gwand `I foahr in himmel!
Sell my clothes I am going to Heaven!

[This message has been edited by AG Sachsenberg (edited 05-01-2001).]

Replicant · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2001, 01:19:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GRUNHERZ:
8000 rounds of .303, utterly amazing, tho I must honestly ask what the hell are all they for? Arent 1200rds of 20mm enough?

The .303s were tracer rounds and were used to assist aiming the 20mm cannons against ships/boats and ground targets such as soft targets/troup columns etc.

Regards

Nexx

Flitze · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2001, 08:47:00 PM »

Mosquito FB VI serie i (FB=fighter bomber):
4x .303 MGs (no info about ammo load)
4x 20mm Hispano (also no info about ammo load)
2x 250 lbs. bombs internal
external:
2x 250 lbs. bombs or
2x 227 l droptanks

Mosquito FB VI serie ii:
4x .303 MGs
4x 20mm Hispano
internal and external bomload doubled (1000 lbs internal and 1000 lbs external)
alternative external load:
2x 455 l droptanks or
2x 4 rockets

Bomber versions had no guns

Fastest war-time Mosquito:
NF XXX (NF=nightfighter) 682 kph, radar instead of .303 MGs

FB XVIII Tsetse:
FB VI with 1 Molins 57mm cannon (25 rounds), 4 .303 MGs and 8 rockets

Hammer Head · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2001, 09:33:00 PM »

Karnak,

According to a book on Mosquitos in Australian service, the FB.VI has the following armanent:

Four 20mm Hispano cannon with 150rpg
Four 0.303 Browning Mk.II mg with 500rpg

two 250lb or 500lb bombs in bomb bay
or
eight 60lb rockets or two 250lb or 500lb bombs under wings
or
drop tanks in lieu of underwing armanent.

Hope this helps

[edited to correct my numerous typos]
------------------
"That was some of the best flying I've seen yet, right up until the point where you got killed."

[This message has been edited by Hammer Head (edited 05-01-2001).]

Karnak · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2001, 12:50:00 AM »

Hammer Head,
Hmm. That's interesting. You're the only one to post lower numbers. Not saying you're wrong, just coming with different info.

Your ordinance seems off according to Snafu's pilot handbook for the Mosquito 6, it makes reference to having both droptanks and rockets. Says not to fire the rockets while tanks are attached or for 1 minute after they are dropped.

I do have trouble believing that an aircraft the size of the Mosquito only carried 150 rounds for each 20mm cannon while the F4U-1C and N1K2 carry 231 per cannon and 225 per cannon respectively (ammo loads averaged). I also have some trouble believing that the Mosquito carried 500 rounds of .303 for 4 guns in larger bins than the P-38 carried 500 rounds of .50 ammo for 4 guns.

It could be correct, but as somebody who hopes to fly the Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2 I sure hope it has the larger ammo load.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2 to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak