Which WW2 plane had the most gunner positions?

[KatieLuna]

And by extension, which plane had the most guns?

[Aap]

My guess is B17.

[Yardstick]

YB-40 must be up there.  Heavy escort version of the B-17F with the chin turret later adopted in the 'G' and a second dorsal turret. 

[-SF-Disarray]

Well, the B17G had 13 .50 cal guns in 8 or so positions, and that is a lot. I found a German design with 6 turrets, the FW TA 400, but I don't know that any were actually built or used. I thought I read about a German flying boat that had lots of gun in-placements on it, some of them were built into the back of the engine nacelles, but I can't recall the name of it.

Edited March 6, 2018 by Disarray

[MAGNUM_PT]

For the plane with the most guns (not counting pods, turrets, etc.), my guess goes to the Hurricane Mk. II with 12 .303 machine guns (6 on each wing).

[Zippy-do-dar]

18 minutes ago, Disarray said:

Well, the B17G had 13 .50 cal guns in 8 or so positions, and that is a lot. I found a German design with 6 turrets, the FW TA 400, but I don't know that any were actually built or used. I thought I read about a German flying boat that had lots of gun in-placements on it, some of them were built into the back of the engine nacelles, but I can't recall the name of it.

 The german flying boat is Blohm voss BV238 i only know as its in WT

 

And don't forget the Sunderland flying boat that's very heavily armed 16 or 18 guns I'm not sure how there configured

[Stryker07]

Figuring in the cheek mounts on the YB-40 I think that might take the cake for highest number of manned gun mounts. I seem to recall the B-36 had a large number of remotely operated twin 20mm gun turrets, 6 plus one twin in the nose and tail. 

[Finkeren]

14 minutes ago, MAGNUM_PT said:

For the plane with the most guns (not counting pods, turrets, etc.), my guess goes to the Hurricane Mk. II with 12 .303 machine guns (6 on each wing).

 

The solid-nosed version of the B-25J has it beat with a potential 16 forward firing .50cals and a grand total of 20 guns when you include defensive positions.

Edited March 6, 2018 by Finkeren

[-SF-Disarray]

2 minutes ago, Zippy-do-dar said:

 The german flying boat is Blohm voss BV238 i only know as its in WT

 

And don't forget the Sunderland flying boat that's very heavily armed 16 or 18 guns I'm not sure how there configured

 

That is the boat, thanks for the name. I don't know that it should count, there were only ever three of them and two of those were never finished. It also only had 6 turrets.

[=362nd_FS=RoflSeal]

Notable mention for the modified B-17E known as Old 666

 

Quote

 

It is true, according to Zeamer, that it was his photographer/side gunner, George Kendrick—who had served with the 8th Photo prior to joining the 403rd—who brought Zeamer's attention to the aircraft when it came into the 65th. By then Squadron Executive Officer, Zeamer had '666 towed to a revetment where he and his crew, nicknamed the "Eager Beavers" for their constant volunteering for missions, upgraded the aircraft to suit their own purposes. Interested in increasing their mapping work, Zeamer wanted a fast and formidable aircraft. To that end, he and his crew stripped over two tons of weight from the interior of the plane, replaced all four engines, and installed sixteen .50 caliber machine guns in the aircraft, including a pilot-controlled .50 mounted to the bombardier's deck in the nose inspired by his good friend Ken McCullar's "Black Jack." (References to nineteen .50s include the spare guns that Zeamer carried for replacing any .50s that jammed in combat. It was easier, faster, and therefore safer to dump a jammed gun than attempt to free the jam in the heat of battle.) While the sheer number of guns on '666 was notable, what made it truly unique was the crew's installation of twin .50s in both waist positions, a fact corroborated by three other members of Zeamer's crew. Notoriously difficult to engineer, no other B-17 in the Pacific is known to have been so equipped.

 

[xvii-Dietrich]

1 hour ago, Disarray said:

Well, the B17G had 13 .50 cal guns in 8 or so positions, and that is a lot. I found a German design with 6 turrets, the FW TA 400, but I don't know that any were actually built or used. I thought I read about a German flying boat that had lots of gun in-placements on it, some of them were built into the back of the engine nacelles, but I can't recall the name of it.

 

The FW TA 400 (6 x 20mm & 6 x 13mm) and He-277 (12 x 20mm) would have had a lot of guns but they were only designs and were never built.

 

Still, these bombers would have been less-gunned than the YB-40, which was equipped with 14 to 16 x .50cal as standard, but had the capacity to go to 18. According to Wikipedia, it could have more, but this is questionable and may apply just to concept/ideas only.

 

<Achtung! - pet topic alert ahead>

 

Mounting guns in the back of the engine nacelles was done in several German seaplane designs. The stocky BV-138 had a maximum of 6 guns, including a gunner position in the nacelle of the centre engine (that must have been noisy!). The late versions of the He-115 had remote-controlled guns mounted in the engine-nacelles and controlled by the rear gunner/observer... but the He 115 was overall lightly armed.

 

Of the large German flying boats, the BV-222 was heavily armed with 3 x 20mm and 5 x 13mm. The BV-222 type saw action and both shot down enemy aircraft, as well as being shot down itself. Still not as many guns as the strategic Allied bombers though.

 

For the British, the Mk III variant of the Short S.25 Sunderland flying boat was fitted with 16 to 18 guns, and saw extensive service in the Battle of the Atlantic. From an operational perspective this would be my candidate for the most-gunned-aircraft in common use.

 

However, the other German behemoth was the BV-238. It was very impressive with 2 x 20mm and 20 x 13mm. As far as I know, this was technically the most numerously-gunned aircraft of WWII produced, however there was only a single operational BV-238, seeing only limited use. It was strafed at its moorings at the end of the war.
 

 

[Guest deleted@126158]

How many weapons did the Me 323 E-2/WT Waffenträger carry?

[Poochnboo]

As far as mass produced airplanes go, I can't believe that noone has mentioned the B-29 Superfortess. It had four powered turrets, one of which contained no less than 4 fifty caliber machine guns. And early versions of the bomber had two fifties in the tail, along with a 20 mm cannon! The cannon was eventually done away with it because it was prone to jamming. 

[Avimimus]

Most firing positions might be Me-323WT (not 100% sure it was built though)).

 

Most guns would be a field mod for the  Tu-2 (with PPSh).

 

Edited March 8, 2018 by Avimimus

[wtornado]

Don't forget the PE-8 that had a crew of eleven and at least 6 guns.

[Avimimus]

23 hours ago, Avimimus said:

Most firing positions might be Me-323WT (not 100% sure it was built though)).

 

Most guns would be a field mod for the  Tu-2 (with PPSh).

 

 

Me-323e2/WT had >24 gunner positions... although it may have had less as built:

 

 

Tu-2 has 88x9mm submachines guns in the bomb bay + 5 normal guns for a total of 93 guns.

 

I've confirmed that both were built.

 

So, yes - please - if you can top those let me know! :D

 

Edited March 9, 2018 by Avimimus

[216th_Jordan]

Pe-8

7 hours ago, SCG_wtornado said:

Don't forget the PE-8 that had a crew of eleven and at least 6 guns.

 

I was always amazed by the gunners in the gear nacelles! Inredible..

 

Edited March 8, 2018 by 216th_Jordan
gear not engine nacelles