Cannon Fighter-Bomber: Mosquito with 57mm Autocannon

[18tangles]

GREAT PLANE AND A GREAT RECORD OF SERVICE HARD TO GO PAST IT AS THE BEST GROUND ATTACK PLANE OF THE WAR. iMAGINE WHAT THE 57MM WOULD HAVE DONE TO GERMAN TANKS.

[horatio50000]

What documentary is this exert from?

[90magor]

beast



[seafirepilot]

Excellent!

[mosquito1958]

Interesting fact they managed to only sink 1 submarine with this weapon , rockets were much better.

[navnig]

@mosquito1958 that's right, but there were only 8 or 9 of this variant built or converted

[Postie218]

Why I remember when Squadron Leader Snuffles and myself were pounced on by two Jerry 109's back in '42. We fought like badgers, I must say, and boffed those wankers back to Old Adolf. We unfortunately ran out of fuel on the way home, and had to wait for a tow back to HQ by a passing Lancaster. We could stay airborne you know even without our Merlin's running, we merely engaged the sky hooks. Good old British ingenuity don't you know. Jolly good days what ?

[Thunda65]

@Postie218

Yeah, hilarious............

[malakiblunt]

sure the rockets were destructive except you couldnt hit a barn door with them, the 6pounder was much more acurate -33% hit rate on tank sized targetsw compared to 5% for rockets.

[falchion49]

@malakiblunt Agreed. Just look at 2.28. He's hitting with 20mm cannon and MGs but the entire rocket salvo drops short. Different ballistics. Training with the 6lb must have been easier too, not requiring specialist drill rounds or dummies, similar ballistic profiles and hang fires don't lead to assymetric flight. Clearing a stoppage on the 6lb would have been a bitch though :-)

[oswiu1]

@falchion49 The tactic used for aiming was to fire the cannons until the shells were seen to be approaching the vessel, this was the correct time to release the rockets. The streamlined J-type warhead (25lb) gave the pilot greater range, more accuracy and allowed an increase from 75 to 180ft under the water.

This tactic is why it seems that the rockets always seem to miss, the pilots are trying to hole the ship below the waterline.

[pitbull73]

That is total bad-ass! It has bad news written all over it! Love the Mosquito!