How would a WW2 era canopy react...

[Kazaa]

...to being hit by a .50 cal round? In this case lets use the A6M5, reason being it's the plane I will be using in my next composite.

Would it either:

Leave a bullet sized hole and shatter the pane.
Fracture a chunk of the pane larger than the bullet hole, leaving minimal to no shattering.
Blow the whole pane in.

Cheers fellas.

[oakranger]

Was the canopy of Japan made of different composite material to that of the U.S.?

[Kazaa]

I have no idea. I'm praying that one of our distinguished history buffs will swoop in and save the day.

[oakranger]

I have no idea. I'm praying that one of our distinguished history buffs will swoop in and save the day.

I am going to say that there was.  Besides some AC, like the 109 had a think bullet proof glass plat in the back, i think there was a differences.  Even between fighters and bombers too.

[Wmaker]

A hit on the BW-372 (Worlds only original Brewster left) canopy plexiglas:

Photo (c) Harri Huopanen

http://www.pienoismallit.net/galleria/referenssi_3090/

Unfortunately, there's a good change that that hit came in 1998 and by a 9mil. But I think it's suits the purpose.

EDIT/Shows just the thumbnail for me for some reason. Check the link Kazaa./EDIT

[Kazaa]

My original feeling was that a .50 cal round to plexiglass would fracture a big chunk from the pane (see above). An armoured pane would shatter but still be intact.

[Wmaker]

My original feeling was that a .50 cal round to plexiglass would fracture a chunk from the pane (see above). An armoured pane would shatter.

Yeh, Aces High's A6M5 doesn't have any armored glass.

[mechanic]

What is it, direct hit, glancing blow, from head on, from chase....lots of different situations that would change stuff.

[Kazaa]

The situation would be from head on perspective.

[W7LPNRICK]

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[mechanic]

I don't know the answer, just thought we should clarify what type of impact you wanted.

[AirFlyer]

Yeh, Aces High's A6M5 doesn't have any armored glass.

It should, the front cabin window should be armored glass or whatever it's made out of.

[Kazaa]

The front glass doesn't look armoured.

[Pigslilspaz]

Photo of a Beaufighter, took a dead on hit by a Japanese 20mm.
No one was injured, just some glass splinters flying around in the cockpit.

[AirFlyer]

The front glass doesn't look armoured.

Can't say much there, cabin armor was actually an addition to the A5M5b to be exact though. I'm pretty sure it's only that panel directly in front of you though, none of the others were armored and the cage and such is mostly 3-ply wood so take your chances I suppose.