So the bf190F-4 holds 120 or 150 20mm rounds?

[qtStamphth]

I could never find this out since it always seems to be 120/150.  Wunder if the bf190G-2 has less room for ammo since the plane was heavier from more features added to it compared to the F4 version.  Since the F2 version used 15mm would that mean more ammo could be carried relative to F4?  I read somewhere that the 15mm had better penetration than the 20mm cause the 20mm was a special explosive munition that the Germans thought was in general more effective at damaging aircraft then the armor piercing 20mm shells.   

 

Cheers !

Edited May 21, 2014 by qtStamphth

[qtStamphth]

One more thing, even though the bf109 F series had less firepower then the E series, it at least had the same amount of 20mm ammo which is nice since one 20mm thru the spinner is enough firepower in some respects if the amount of ammo remains unchanged compared to the E series. 

Edited May 21, 2014 by qtStamphth

[JtD]

I carried up to 200 rounds. 15mm and 20mm. The 20mm cartridge is not larger than the 15mm cartridge. This is unchanged between F and G.

[Finkeren]

Nope wrong on all counts.

 

The F-4 and all subsequent MG 151/20 armed 109 carried 200 rounds for the bordkanone. The F-2 also carried 200 rounds for the 15mm MG 151/15. The reason is, that the ammunition for the two calibers is virtually identical. The larger charge relative to projectile size gave the 15mm AP rounds higher muzzle velocity and thus greater penetration than the 20mm, but the 20mm carried some of its ammo as powerful "minengeschoss" HE shells, which were quite deadly, and that's why it was used from the F-4 onward. Apart from the barrel the 2 guns were practically identical and could easily be converted from one to the other in a matter of minutes.

 

And no, the change from 2 wing mounted MG FFs on the E to the 1 MG 151 on the F was not generally seen as a downgrade in firepower (one notable exception was Adolf Galland who had 2 MG FFs installed in his preproduction Friedrich)

The MG 151 had more total ammo, much much longer firing time, higher rate of fire and a better placement of the gun.

[ShamrockOneFive]

Not to mention that the MG151/15 and 151/20 had higher muzzle velocities. The MG-FF/M has a fairly slow muzzle velocity making it harder to hit targets with and requiring a closer range to target.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Finns loaded 150rds of MG151/20 rds to the Bf109G-2 and G-6 in operational use.

[Kurfurst]

Nope wrong on all counts.

 

The F-4 and all subsequent MG 151/20 armed 109 carried 200 rounds for the bordkanone. The F-2 also carried 200 rounds for the 15mm MG 151/15. The reason is, that the ammunition for the two calibers is virtually identical. The larger charge relative to projectile size gave the 15mm AP rounds higher muzzle velocity and thus greater penetration than the 20mm, but the 20mm carried some of its ammo as powerful "minengeschoss" HE shells, which were quite deadly, and that's why it was used from the F-4 onward. Apart from the barrel the 2 guns were practically identical and could easily be converted from one to the other in a matter of minutes.

 

And no, the change from 2 wing mounted MG FFs on the E to the 1 MG 151 on the F was not generally seen as a downgrade in firepower (one notable exception was Adolf Galland who had 2 MG FFs installed in his preproduction Friedrich)

The MG 151 had more total ammo, much much longer firing time, higher rate of fire and a better placement of the gun.

 

 

Agree with what JtD and Finkeren said, all Mauser armed versions (F-4, G series) had 200 rounds for the 15/20 mm cannons. The 20 mm round had roughly the same dimensions, since the 20mm shell was fitted into the (bottled out) 15mm cartridge. The two guns could be even converted into each other.

 

Also keep in mind re: reduced firepower compared to the E that the first F series, the F-1, had only a single MG FF/M cannon with just 60 rounds. This is probably the reason behind comments of reduced firepower - and it was certainly true for the first variant.

[Finkeren]

 

Also keep in mind re: reduced firepower compared to the E that the first F series, the F-1, had only a single MG FF/M cannon with just 60 rounds. This is probably the reason behind comments of reduced firepower - and it was certainly true for the first variant.

True. I had completely forgotten about that.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Finns received 2 recon versions of the Bf109G, marked Bf109G-8. The only difference to normal G-6's were the windows for cameras on the G-8 fuselage. The planes were used as ordinary fighters.

[Finkeren]

IIRC the G-8 was the only dedicated reconaissance version of the Bf 109, and its performance was sufficient, that it was never deemed necessary to reduce its armament.

[JtD]

There were R3 variants of several G models which were used for recon. These were equipped with extra fuel and oil tanks as well as cameras, and had the machine guns removed.