Either remove or upgrade Ju 88 frontal machine gun

[LLv44_Damixu]

Many Ju 88s was equiped with bottom gun condola MG FF cannon 20 mm either directed by bombardier or locked in and slaved by pilot's forward shooting cannon via targeting sights.
Right now we have  absolutely worst of the case: 1) Tiny calibre machine gun blocking practially forward view and thus navigation, 2) not been able to shoot on pilot's position via targeting sight, 3) useless calibre againgst any threat or target. Unfortunately I do not have the numbers of how may of Ju 88 A-4s had this 20mm condola and how many had this annoying MG. I am sure some of our community has researched the numbers of these to back my plea up.

Please either remove forward Ju 88 MG on to gain at least view to navigate  or put it in on downward condola as bombardier free control/pilot sight slaving 20 mm cannon like it was on many Ju 88 A-4s. Pretty please because this was the historical way of operating and having a forward firing gun on Ju 88. Now it is just an useless annoyance.

Even though allowing to have a 20mm cannon on front of Ju 88, it does not transform this huge sized beast to straffing monster to obliterate all living matter on the gound on choosing. Nobody on sane mind will try to straffe AA defenened locations with this big target.

EDIT: Perhaps the 20mm Foward Firing 20 mm cannon could be an option to choose in the future

 

Edited March 29, 2018 by LLv44_Damixu

[SCG_OpticFlow]

Yes, visibility is really terrible thanks to that MG. I usually take off from the navigator seat for that reason.

[Porky]

Yes, I heard in this documentary, a JU 88 pilot saying that they had a "cannon" in front, but that they usually removed it to give more room for the navigator. It'd be really nice if we could have a modification to remove the gun or alternatively make it a 20mm cannon. 

[xvii-Dietrich]

 

On 29/03/2018 at 7:49 AM, LLv44_Damixu said:

Please either remove forward Ju 88 MG on to gain at least view to navigate  or put it in on downward condola as bombardier free control/pilot sight slaving 20 mm cannon like it was on many Ju 88 A-4s.

 

I'm guessing you are thinking of this (especially given you have Lentolaivue 44 tags):

 

 

As far as I know, this is a Finnish modification. I have not seen such an installation on Luftwaffe aircraft (although I may well be wrong). I would certainly be interested to see an example of such a thing in German markings.

 

I am also not certain how this would affect the level-bombing capabilities. Obviously the FiAF Ju 88 pictured is carrying bombs, but I am not sure if these where level-dropped from altitude of were used in a dive-bombing capacity.

 

Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with the forward MG in the Ju 88 A-4... although the sights are incorrect (see the discussion in  this thread ). Yes, it makes visibility problematic, but the Ju 88 was well known for having a cramped and awkward cockpit.

[SCG_OpticFlow]

Found some unidentified photos without the upper MG on the internet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, having cannons in the gondola deletes the bomb sight, so I'd rather not have them. I just want that horrible obstruction gone (as a mod). Also I'd like a mod that removes the diving brakes, I don't need those for level bombing. Also taking off with 2x1000kg bombs should remove the 2 unused under-wing pylons.