New "M3" model .50 cal introduced late in WW2 on P47N?

[GRUNHERZ]

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!"

[bj229r]

Only thing I can contribute is N, D40, D25, D11 all have same ammo load

[Krusty]

And this makes the bullets when you pull the trigger different how?

[Karnak]

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?

[Oldman731]

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

[DPQ5]

or did it 
 

[Pyro]

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.

[Pyro]

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.

[Pannono]

the F-86 was equipped with the M3 IIRC, cant recall it being used in a fighter in WWII

[Cthulhu]

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

[Pongo]

The Bearcat had 4 M3s. with the extra rate of fire its weight of fire was the same as the 6 X M2 Hellcat.

[Redlegs]

Imagine a 47N with 8 of the M3s.  Same firepower as 12 M2s. 

[splitatom]

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

[Widewing]

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

[nimble]

If the P47N had the M3 maybe it would justify it's eny