Beaufighter: why isn't the rear observer position usable?

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by _RAAF_Firestorm

Interesting, didn't know that. Were those to replace the 303's or additional to them?

Replace.

I am not a beaufighter expert and do not have any books or other references on the aussie Beaufighters so I am only going on web references.

The reference to the testbed planes is from ADF serials for DAP Beaufighters (A8 series):

http://www.adf-serials.com/2a8.shtml

Note that ADF serials also show quite a few Mk 21 as operational under Bristol Beaufighters (A19 series):

http://www.adf-serials.com/2a19.shtml

Further googling around revealed web sources generally classify the mk21 as having 0.50 cal wing guns not 0.303


Wikipedia says this:

Beaufighter Mk 21
The Australian-made DAP Beaufighter. Changes included Hercules CVII engines, four 20 mm cannon in the nose, four Browning .50 in (12.7 mm) in the wings and the capacity to carry eight 5 in (130 mm) High-Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVAR), two 250 lb (110 kg) bombs, two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs and one Mk 13 torpedo.

Which agrees with History of war. (http://www.historyofwar.org/articles..._variants.html)

Mk 21
Engine: Two Bristol Hercules VIII radial engines
Horsepower: 1,720
Speed: 323 mph
Ceiling: 26,500 feet
Range: 1,500 miles
Armament: Four 20mm cannon under the nose and four .50in Browning machine guns in the wings.

so both those references state 0.50 cal was fitted to the Mk 21

If a variant ever existed with 0.50 cal in the wings and a tail gun as well that would be a great plane to have ingame.

The other interesting variant is the mkV tested a Bolton Paul power turrent with 4 x 0.303 however only two of these were made.