Author Topic: Forward Firepower (Read 284 times)

Tranix · « **on:** July 14, 2002, 10:39:35 AM »

Since forward firepower seems to be on everyones want/need list Lets bring in the succesor to the Havoc, the A26.

Depending on the variant it had probably the most (in terms of individual guns, including the 2 from the turret, a total of 16 .50's ) forward firepower of any aircraft in the war.
Original production models were built with 6 gun noses and provisions for 4 underwing gun pods each containg 2 .50 cal's fed by magazines in the wings. Additionally the upper turret was designed to be locked in the forward position and slaved to the pilots trigger. Later models had 8 gun noses, but by then it had been determined that the pods created too much drag and were eliminated in favor of 6 .50's internally mounted in the wings like those of most fighters.
Furthermore the Invaders' interchangable nose section was capable of being outfitted with a variety of armaments of the day including the 75mm cannon that became associated with the B25

Tranix · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2002, 10:44:41 AM »

Another image

Tranix · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2002, 10:45:40 AM »

The original pods

KG45 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2002, 11:52:36 AM »

oh. yeah. 'vaders.

we used to love these in AW. couple guys in my squadron could dogfight in them. 4 or 5 could kill a field and keep it capped till goons arrived. no escorts needed.

they would be uber.

you'd have to perk them.

HoHun · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2002, 03:23:29 PM »

Hi Tranix,

do you have any idea what the central aperture in the nose of this Invader is? (I'd guess a gun camera.) It's not depcited in the drawings you posted, though, and I don't know if the Warbird I photographed is entirely original in this respect:

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

BenDover · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2002, 04:07:32 PM »

damn, imagine all the spraying and praying, and complaints about the 'defiant' (got a nick for it all ready

)

BenDover · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2002, 04:11:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by HoHun
Hi Tranix,

do you have any idea what the central aperture in the nose of this Invader is? (I'd guess a gun camera.) It's not depcited in the drawings you posted, though, and I don't know if the Warbird I photographed is entirely original in this respect:

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Salesman, "Uh, it's a speed hole, Mr. Ho"

Imp · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2002, 06:30:57 PM »

Mr. Ho: SpeedHole hey?

Salesman: It makes the plane go faster.

whgates3 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2002, 09:49:54 AM »

i wonder if they ever put the gun pods on an A-26 that had the
3 x 0.50s in each wing...if it one did that on one of the models that had the top turret that could fire straight foward (i dont think this could be done on later Invaders, as cockpit roof was not flat)...8 + 4 + 4 +3 + 3 +2 = 24 x 0.50 firing foward...what is that in rounds per second - about 400?

Spritle · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2002, 10:29:38 AM »

I'm not sure if the gun pods could be installed on a wing with the internally mounted .50's. Also NONE of the cannon configurations were ever produced. There were a few aircraft that were moded in the field with 20mm in the nose however they jammed so much that they were removed in favor of the much more reliable .50's.

Here is a great site for Invader pictures and info.

http://www.13thbombsquadron.org/index1.html

Check out the Planes section and also read some of the combat stories. Most of this site is dedicated to the Korean war.

Spritle

Yeah I would take 8x.50 in the nose, 6 in the wing, and 2 on top though! That and it had the same bomb load as a B-17 plus a 420mph diving speed.

superpug1 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2002, 02:28:13 PM »

i want I WANT!!!!!!:mad:

Tranix · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2002, 08:08:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Spritle
I'm not sure if the gun pods could be installed on a wing with the internally mounted .50's. Also NONE of the cannon configurations were ever produced.

Actually no. The pods were fed their ammo from magazines in the wing, these were reworked to feed the the internal models so there was simply no way to feed both. As to the cannon models
Ahem...(see image)

Just kidding, this is a picture of the prototype. (as evidenced by the large spinners which were eliminated for cooling reasons) Though interestingly the 8 gun nose came about when Douglas produced a mockup that had BOTH the 6 gun horizontal arrangement AND the 8 gun vertical arrangement - 14 .50's in the nose alone!! The switch was made to the 8 gun arrangement for the obvious benefit of two additional guns and because it looked better than the asymetric 6 gun (4 on the right 2 on the left) nose