The inadequacies of 0.50 cal became really clear by Korea.
You only have to compare the effectiveness of the 6 x 0.50 cal in the USAF Sabres with the pair of 30mm Aden (a UK revolver cannon which was a direct copy of the WWII German Mauser MG 213C) which were fitted to the Aussie built CAC Sabres to get the idea.
Its actually curious the Germans did not pursue the 20 mm MG213 and 30mm MG213c revolver cannon route during the war as the MG213 was fully developed quite early (circa 1942) and had excellent rate of fire for a 20mm cannon.
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Originally Posted by NukeItFromOrbit
A bit off-topic but did any P-38 variants with the 37mm cannon see combat? Considering the tally I've gotten in IL2 with the 37mm cannon on the P-39, I'd be interested to learn what pilots and engineers thought of this weapon.
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The 37mm equipped P-38 was the P-38D.
A quick google reveals at least one victory in combat ... Lt. Eliza Shahan of the 27th FS in a P38D shared in the destruction of an Fw200 off the coast of Iceland on August 14th 1942. However it appears that none of the operational P38D were ever actually fitted with the 37mm.
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Originally Posted by www.historyofwar.org
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_P-38D.html
The P-38D was not fully combat ready. It was meant to be armed with four .50 calibre machine guns and one 37mm cannon, but none carried the cannon. However it did carry self sealing fuel tanks, armour around the cockpit and a low pressure oxygen system, and was officially recognised as suitable for combat.
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