Bf 109 G6/U4 + MK 108 gondolas planned for BoBP?

[sevenless]

Dunno if you guys are already on it, however it would be a nice addition to a late G6 or G14.

 

Bf 109 G6 "Kannonenboot" /U4 with two additional MK 108 in gondolas (R IV variant), like the R VI MG 151/20 variant. 

 

They flew, amongst other units, with JG 53 (see here: http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/biijg53.html)

 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by sevenless

[LukeFF]

U4 was the name for the 30 mm nose MK 108. I've not seen any evidence that the MK 108s were ever used operationally as gunpods.

[sevenless]

22 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

G-6/U4 could mean either the MG 151/20 gunpods or the MK 108 gunpods. I've not seen anything that says the MK 108 gunpods were ever used operationally.

 

Well since they are in the manual it is the same as having 21mm rockets on the 190Ds. They were obviously there. Why not have them in the game? I´m still wonderíng if those underwing carrying 109s also had a MK108 firing through the spinner or if that was a 20mm. According to the manual it was a 109 G6 which carried a MK 108 in the spinner as per the U4 nomenclature.

 

Let´s see if someone has some additional information about this "bomber killer" which carried three MK 108s.

 

I have the whole manual here, from june 1944. They didn´t crank out manuals for non used weaponry did they?

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by sevenless

[LukeFF]

4 hours ago, sevenless said:

I have the whole manual here, from june 1944. They didn´t crank out manuals for non used weaponry did they?

 

Yes, they had a tendency to write up manuals to cover every single possible weapon combination - see the example of the Fw 190 D-9 carrying BR21 rockets - there is zero evidence of any D-9s ever carrying that loadout. I dare say more Me 262s carried BR21s than did D-9s.

 

4 hours ago, sevenless said:

I´m still wonderíng if those underwing carrying 109s also had a MK108 firing through the spinner or if that was a 20mm.

 

It was both. 

 

Also, the image in your first post is of a testbed aircraft - it has its Stammkennzeichen applied on the fuselage sides, which was done at the factory. That lettering wasn't used on frontline aircraft.

Edited December 16, 2018 by LukeFF

[sevenless]

10 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

Also, the image in your first post is of a testbed aircraft - it has its Stammkennzeichen applied on the fuselage sides, which was done at the factory. That lettering wasn't used on frontline aircraft.

 

It may very well never have been operational and only in testing in Rechlin, but later on discarded for operational use. Wasn´t able to dug out one single pic of a operational unit with those 30mm gondolas. As for designation: /U4 really meant only the central motorcannon. Gondola modifications were according to Lynn Ritger, SAM Publications 2007 designated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by sevenless

[sevenless]

Addendum:

 

Maybe the explanation for not seeing MK 108 gondolas at operational level is this:

 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=5459&highlight=108+cannon

 

The file is National Archives HW5/464 and the document is CX/MSS/T 147/39.

On 31 March 1944, 7. Jagddivision ordered that "In view of the present shortage of 3 cm ammunition MK 108, the units must help each other out. ZG 76 is to surrender to (Roman) I./JG 5 1000 rounds. The units will arrange for handing over between themselves."

British Intelligence added this note: "An order for setting up a Sturmstaffel on 20/11 stated that the MK 108 in the Me 109 had not been very successful (T 9/53). Other mentions of this weapon in e.g. T 19/82 (Test unit 25 Achmer fitting it obliquely in Me 110) and R 66 (B) 26 (to be adapted to engine DB 605 A 1)."

So there were problems with the MK108/Bf 109 combination.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by sevenless