LA-7 3 gun package only weighs 5 pounds more than 2 gun loadout?

[GScholz]

The ballistics are identical at 750-770 m/s. Both guns even use the same ammo.

[Reaper90]

The ballistics are identical at 750-770 m/s. Both guns even use the same ammo.

Really? I thought I had read they used different cartridges. Just did a bit of reading and it appears you are correct, I was mistaken. 

Still, 50% greater hitting power, just aim a bit better and you can use a shorter burst. 

[GScholz]

Yup... It's definitively a better gun package. However, in real life the B-20 had reliability problems and a very short barrel life, but that doesn't affect us in AH.

[Tilt]

Yup... It's definitively a better gun package. However, in real life the B-20 had reliability problems and a very short barrel life, but that doesn't affect us in AH.

B20 barrel in the La7 was the same as the Shvaks. One of my references suggest it was used with various barrel lengths for various roles.

[bozon]

If the 3*B20 was so much better than 2*Shvaks, why then only a tiny fractions of the La7s had 3 guns?

[artik]

If the 3*B20 was so much better than 2*Shvaks, why then only a tiny fractions of the La7s had 3 guns?

Because B-20 wasn't production ready at the time when La-7 production started. First Berezin powered La-7 were produced only in January 1945...

[icepac]

The unfired bullets weigh 183 grams or .4 pound each.

The 3 gun plane has 50 more rounds than the 2 gun plane.

20 more pounds.

I also feel that not all the gun firing mechanisms and other necessary peripherals of 3 guns vs 2 is being accounted for.

[Karnak]

The unfired bullets weigh 183 grams or .4 pound each.

The 3 gun plane has 50 more rounds than the 2 gun plane.

20 more pounds.

I also feel that not all the gun firing mechanisms and other necessary peripherals of 3 guns vs 2 is being accounted for.

So, what, maybe 50lbs more for the three 20mm cannon version?  Now, it should be corrected, but if somebody thinks that would have changed the outcome of their loss to an La-7, or change the gun choice for La-& drivers, they are in a fantasy world.

[bozon]

Because B-20 wasn't production ready at the time when La-7 production started. First Berezin powered La-7 were produced only in January 1945...

From January 1945 till wars end was more than half if the wartime La-7 production. Less than 400 La7s were delivered before that and the total by war's end was about 2000. If I recall correctly, less than 300 had the B20s, but maybe I am wrong about that number. Perhaps they suffered from a shortage of B20 cannons?

[pervert]

2 guns package 400 rounds LA7 full fuel 7385 lbs

7178 lbs with no ammo

207 lbs ammo

0.5175 g per round

3 guns package 450 rounds LA7 full fuel 7390 lbs

7157 lbs with no ammo

233lbs ammo

0.5177 g per round

Does the LA 7 not eject spent cartridges? 

approx 0.51 lbs per shell??

Doesn't seem that much to haggle over 5lbs, suppose you could ask HT for the specs used in weight but I have a feeling they will add up anyway.

Where did you get the 183g figure from? The only place I could find that figure on google was a post on this bbs a long time ago...

183 grams per round!

Matt

[icepac]

The difference in the plane in game is 5 pounds but it's a bit more than that in real life.

Sure, 30 pounds doesn't make much a difference but it is 30 pounds.

Projectile weights here.

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/WW2guneffect.htm

No, I did not get killed by a LA7 but rather noticed it flying my second ever la7 sortie in the hangar.

[FLOOB]

So a 3 gun la7 could be lighter or heavier than a 2 gun la7 depending on the weight of the pilots.

[icepac]

Yeah......a LA7 with you in it would likely weigh considerably more than a LA7 with me in it but the 3 gun plane by itself would weigh at least 30 pounds more than the two gun plane.

30 pounds is more than 5 pounds.

[FLOOB]

Is it your contention that 30lbs would be a perceptible difference?

[Tec]

As an LA7 dweeb I couldn't possibly care less which way this one goes.  30 pounds is around 5 gallons of gas, which the LA eats up in no time, and is completely negligible to performance.