HS.404,The of the truly nasty Hispano-Suiza 20mm cannons

[brady]

 Does anybody know what types of ammo this weapon fired in the may 1940 battle of France? Interesting how the terror cannons on the C hog came from a french man by the name of Mark Birkigt.
 http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/8217/fgun/fgun-pe.html

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[This message has been edited by brady (edited 05-14-2001).]

[Tony Williams]

I believe they used both HE and AP.  The RAF subsequently used the French HE design but didn't like it because the fuze was too sensitive so the shell burst on the aircraft skin instead of penetrating, so they just used plain steel projectiles until they could develop better fuzes.

I know that the French used AP because they reported that the cannon could knock out tanks (presumably the light Pz I and II) if they were attacked from the rear.  As a result of that, the British converted several Lysander army co-operation aircraft into emergency tankbusters in 1940 in case the Germans invaded, fitted with a pair of Hispanos (I kid you not....).

Tony Williams
Author: Rapid Fire - The Development of Automatic Cannon, Heavy Machine Guns and their Ammunition for Armies, Navies and Air Forces.
Details on my military gun and ammunition website: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~autogun/  

[Vermillion]

Hey Brady, did you ever get your order? Mine came in, and I just need to make some copies.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure

[brady]

  Ty Mr. Williams, does your Book cover it?


         I need to order it  err I am ordering it!


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[This message has been edited by brady (edited 05-15-2001).]

[Tony Williams]

Not in any great detail, no.

How on earth have you survived without my book for so long?  

Tony Williams
Author: "Rapid Fire: The development of automatic cannon, heavy machine guns and their ammunition for armies, navies and air forces"
Details on my military gun and ammunition website: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~autogun/index.htm