P38 Multiple Canons?

[Mongoose]

Was there any plans to change the gun package on the P38 during initial design or any later variants like f4u1c experiment?  Something like 3 Hispanos in the nose without the fifties.

I assume the final design was what they could stuff in the nose and CG of the plane.

  I remember reading one design that was considered was four 20mm.  But clustering the four 50's and single 20mm in the nose turned out to give it plenty of firepower.

[Randy1]

Randy,


  Check out the XP49,it's debatable if it's an evolution of the 38 or not but it shares many common traits.One difference is the extra 20mm cannon to go with those 4 50cals!



   

Got some really good replies on the cannons in the 38.  I thank you all for the information.  I learned a great deal from the thread.

Wow and 24 cylinders to boot.  Looking up the engine gave me the impression, engine design problems stopped the advancement of the XP49.