Waffenbehälter - how common on 109s?

[Eisenfaustus]

Hi gents - I don't find any reliable information how common the use of wingmounted cannons in 109s from the F onward were. 

 

Has anyone the answer or a good reading hint?

 

I read in Gallands autobiography that Hitler at one point in 1942 ordered all 109s to be outfitted with wingcannons. He further stated the order was widely ignored due to performance loss accompanying the gun pods - and if I look at photographs of Fs, Gs and Ks I seldom see gunpods. And German Experten in interviews and books usually state they never used them because of performance. 

 

This seems to suggest they were rarely used.

 

On the other hand are aircraft of these Experten propably the favourite motives for German photographers in WWII - and for someone without acelike marksmanship firepower seems important, especially if he is to bring down fortresses or il2s. And in 1943 fighter opposition in the east only slowly started to become more competent On a broad base and could often be ignored in the west due to short range of escorts - thus the performance impact doesn't seem to outweigh the additional firepower. Especially when bnz tactics are applied. And for someone less successful ignoring orders by Hitler doesn't seem smart. 

 

This would change in 1944 with long range escorts in the west and vvs getting more professional outside of guard units (who already were beforehand)

 

So it would seem logical that gunpods were quite common at least for some time. But again - I don't find information. 

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by Eisenfaustus

[5th_Barone]

That's sure an interesting question. Neither I found lots of documentation of gun pods on 109s used on the battlefield.

Surely there were interesting solution ( like the Galland F type with MGFF/M in the wings or the F type with MG131 in the below photo).

 

 

[cardboard_killer]

Anecdotal from 1943. I suspect that if they were used often it was during 43-44 anti-strategic bombing. But that's not based on actual evidence of use, just gut feeling.

 

 

 

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

In an interview with a Soviet fighter pilot that fought during Battle of Kuban he said during that period the 109s with 5 guns were common, iirc he said around 3 out of 4 had the gunpods mounted, but later on they weren't that common anymore.

Edited October 19, 2019 by -=PHX=-SuperEtendard

[Bremspropeller]

It depends on the mission.

The installation of a Rüstsatz isn't usually down to pilot's discretion.

 

II./ JG 53 over Germany.

 

Spoiler

I.JG 27 over Belgium/ Netherlands

 

Both were obviously in Reichsverteidigung duties and the Rüstsätze gave them additional firepower against Viermots.