Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: GRUNHERZ on July 21, 2008, 07:32:45 PM

Title: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: GRUNHERZ on July 21, 2008, 07:32:45 PM
I saw this on forum somewhere - any validity to it?


"The M2 was the standard gun. The M3 was introduced very late in WWII. Apparently it was only used for the top front turret on a few B-29's and the P-47N. Years ago I tracked the shipments of the approximately 18,000 M3's deployed during WWII to 3 bases, one of which was Iwo Shima, which only fielded P-47N's in any significance. The P-47N was ideal for the M3 because of its huge ammo supply of 500 rpg, and I believe it had a power assist belt feed. I believe the F-86 also sported the M3 in Korea, but aside from that it has only been used on helicopters. The jam rate probably did increase, but given that the M2 had a Jam rate of only about 1/3rd the rate of the Hispano or MG151/20, how is this relevant? Also, steralite lined barrels and other improvements to the M3 design would mitigate the increase in jam rate. And evidence from the use of the "nickle trick" is that it did not significantly increase jam rates, but that it did tend to wreck guns by cracking the reciever after a dozen or so sorties - but usually these guns were still working when the cracks were found by the armorers!"
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: bj229r on July 21, 2008, 07:40:05 PM
Only thing I can contribute is N, D40, D25, D11 all have same ammo load
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Krusty on July 21, 2008, 11:46:14 PM
And this makes the bullets when you pull the trigger different how?
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Karnak on July 22, 2008, 12:47:35 AM
And this makes the bullets when you pull the trigger different how?
More bullets?  Didn't the M3 .50 cal have a higher rate of fire compared to the M2 .50 cal?
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Oldman731 on July 22, 2008, 07:33:18 AM
Apparently it was only used for the top front turret on a few B-29's and the P-47N.

I'm pretty certain that the P-47N didn't have a top front turret.

- oldman
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: DPQ5 on July 22, 2008, 09:41:31 AM
or did it 
 :noid
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Pyro on July 22, 2008, 10:40:50 AM
According to Vol III of The Machine Gun, the Army Air Force requested standardization of the T25E3 as the M3 in April of 45.  By the end of September 45, approximately 2400 guns had been made. 

I've never heard of them used in WWII but that scenario seems possible.   His WWII production numbers are much higher though.
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Pyro on July 22, 2008, 10:52:35 AM
From the book "The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War, published by the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.

"Unfortunately, few M3's saw action in World War II, as only some 2,400 were completed before September 1945."

No mention is given as to how the "few" saw action.
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Pannono on July 22, 2008, 03:58:06 PM
the F-86 was equipped with the M3 IIRC, cant recall it being used in a fighter in WWII
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Cthulhu on July 22, 2008, 04:23:31 PM
More bullets?  Didn't the M3 .50 cal have a higher rate of fire compared to the M2 .50 cal?
M2 = 750 - 850 rds/min
M3 = 1150 - 1250 rds/min
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Pongo on July 23, 2008, 10:22:28 PM
The Bearcat had 4 M3s. with the extra rate of fire its weight of fire was the same as the 6 X M2 Hellcat.
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Redlegs on July 23, 2008, 11:26:57 PM
Imagine a 47N with 8 of the M3s.  :eek: Same firepower as 12 M2s.  :O
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: splitatom on July 31, 2008, 01:30:19 AM
The Bearcat had 4 M3s. with the extra rate of fire its weight of fire was the same as the 6 X M2 Hellcat.
the bearcat had 4 or 6 i forget 20 in the wings
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Widewing on July 31, 2008, 08:26:31 AM
the bearcat had 4 or 6 i forget 20 in the wings

F8F-1 had four MGs, F8F-2 had four 20mm...


My regards,

Widewing
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: nimble on August 04, 2008, 06:29:37 PM
If the P47N had the M3 maybe it would justify it's eny
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: Dragon on August 05, 2008, 02:44:24 PM
Imagine a 47N with 8 of the M3s.  :eek: Same firepower as 12 M2s.  :O


<------ walks away drooling
Title: Re: New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?
Post by: FlyGhost on August 06, 2008, 04:30:22 AM
true dat nimble   :aok