AN/M2 .50 cal Synchronization Issue (and proposed solution).

[QB.Shallot]

The issue:

The free-firing AN/M2 machine guns on the American aircraft in IL2 maintain perfect weapon synchronization throughout extended bursts. This is incorrectly modeled. 

 

In-game proof:

View the attached game track file, as well as the tacview file from the same test flight. If viewed at very slow speed (1/32 or 1/16) the perfectly synchronized nature of the .50 caliber guns through an extended burst can be observed. 

 

The solution:

Have the free firing AN/M2 machine guns experience a slight variation in their rate of fire after the initial round is fired. The AN/M2 machine gun does not perfectly maintain its rate of fire during a burst, and as such, the .50 caliber machine guns will quickly go out of sync. This will work in favor of the pilot, allowing a more continuous stream of fire onto the target. The current nature of the AN/M2's perfect synchronization leads to inconsistent hits on target, sometimes even allowing an aircraft to pass through a stream of fire undamaged. Fixing this will greatly improve the feel of the weapons. 

 

Historical backing/context:

The P-51 as shown in the attached image, along with its other American contemporaries:, the P-38, P-40, and P-47, all used solenoid type triggers, which used an electric impulse.

This meant that all the guns began firing simultaneously. IL2 models this properly, as when the trigger is pulled, all of the machine guns fire simultaneously. However, IL2 makes the assumption that the AN/M2’s will remain perfectly synchronized after the first burst. This assumption is incorrect, as the AN/M2 will experience slight variations through its burst that will put the .50’s out of sync almost immediately. 

This phenomenon can be observed in the following videos:

 

P-47 gun harmonization. At 0:22, if slowed down, the unsynchronized nature of the guns can be observed:

Note: It is easiest to observe if the video is slowed down to a .25x playback speed.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvS4NdzEBB0

The same stands for the following video, showing a P-51 firings its guns as well (1:11): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJ82YCiuYU

 

Similar phenomena can be seen on non aircraft mounted AN/M2’s in the linked videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_TaK0WZj2k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRWNoJkDYZ8

 

The following is the source for the P-51’s use of solenoid triggers, which can be found on page 38.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/P-51D-manual-5april44.pdf

.50_Caliber_Issue.rar