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Originally Posted by zapatista
the hurricanes were initially mainly tasked with engaging enemy bombers because there were only 2 fighter planes available that were fast enough to catch up to the bombers and engage them. of the 2 available planes, the hurricane was the weapon of choice because:
- it was a more stable gun platform
- it had heavier gun armaments at the start of BoB compared to the spitfire
- it could stand (slightly) heavier damage then the spitfire from german bomber defensive guns
- it was less fast and less agile then the spitfire, so significantly less competitive with the 109's, so by default it was relegated to the bomber interception role (out of the 2 choices the RAF had)
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- it had heavier gun armaments at the start of BoB compared to the spitfire
just one point zapatista, both aircraft had the same eight Browning 0.303" machine guns from the start. The Hurricane was a more stable gun platform because it reacted less to the recoil. It had the guns grouped close together in the more solidly constructed wings, four in each wing about 1/4 the wing length from the fuselage. The Spitfire was a less stable platform due to its guns being spread along the wings and its outer wing reaction to recoil or aileron forces. This mean that any flexing or twisting of the wings would slightly move/twist the aim point of the outer guns.