The devastating power came with the mine-shell, afaik.
So, when we have the Bf109E4.

+1

If you put a firecracker on top of a lunchbox, will the lunchbox explode? No. Put the firecracker inside the lunchbox and it might indeed explode if the hinges don't give way first. That's the mineshell in a nutshell. It's delayed fuse would blow up parts of the aircraft instead of scorching the surface :)

Realy? And your sources are?

I would say that is the authors interpretation influenced by a heavy dose of national pride.

Simply count the number of fighter aircraft that had all rifle caliber machinguns for primary armament by the wars end.


Here is a good article on the debate:

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

You can compare the effectiveness of the Bf-109 to the Spitfire armament here too:

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

If you understand the physics and run the math, you will quickly see that cannon's far outstrip rifle caliber machineguns in terms of ability to destroy enemy aircraft and they tend to be lighter in weight!

The German decision to go with cannon probably had nothing to do with trying to copy British fighter armament of the day.

The wings on the BF109 were to thin to house more than one gun, it's also the reason the landing gear opened towards the fuselage,hinged at the wing root, no room. As the power output of AC increased so did the weight and fire power. After sorting out the bugs later model 109's had the cannons firing through the nose thus loosing inboard wing guns.
In the Pacific Theater there was little need for the Americans to use larger slower firing rounds as Japanese planes had little to no armor and no self sealing fuel tanks. Fast firing rifle and incendiary rounds in sort bursts was enough to light up Jap AC's.

IMHO the absence of wing guns was to better the rolling inertia (decreased). The motor-canon was not ready at early stage of the war. Hence the assisted starter trough spinner was mounted instead.

@Kongo-Otto who said " Realy? And your sources are?" speaking about 109 with wing's canons belt fed mechanism : you can buy a copy of "Le fana de l'aviation" issued 3 or 4 month ago.

Have a good read ;)

Sorry "Really? And your sources are?" was not meant as an insult or personal attack. :);)
I have heard about experiments about an electrical belt feed MG/FF but, afaik that was for Nightfighters and wasn't issued to the Geschwaders.
But in an regular issue BF 109 i've never heard about it.

Pleas get me a link for an order of that book, you woke my interest. :)

I am packing away but will unfold the box with that particular issue inside. Although I will appreciate any french reader giving the info.

~S!

Hi Kongo Otto,

I was wrong myself. I might hve miss read you with the MGFF standing for Machine Gun despite you specifically mentioned the E1.

I am sorry for the induced useless bit of chatting. That's what happen when cats try to bark. ;-)

The Fana de l'avation issue I was referring to was the december 2009 on pg 31.

~S!

the germans in WWII called everything till 20mm caliber MaschinenGewehr , above it became a MaschinenKanone