Re: NNG-Rare SBD Dauntless in Flight-G. Scholl

Greg,

A minor correction. The Dauntless (at the time of the Midway battle) was not armed with rear facing twin .50 cal M2's. The rear facing guns were actually a pair of modified Model 1919 .30 cal Brownings. The full designation was: Browning Machine Gun, Cal .30, M2/AN Aircraft. It was confusing since the same M2 designation was used for both Brownings, .30 cal and .50 cal.

The "normal" 1919's had a cyclic firing rate of 400-600 rounds per minute. The aircraft versions 1200-1500 rounds per minute. The difference was due to lightened parts in the aircraft version. The .30 cals were phased out starting in 1943, so later on, the Dauntlesses may have been refitted with M2 .50 cals. The Dauntlesses were replaced with the Helldiver starting in 1944.

As a former armor crewman, I got to fire the M2 .50 cal quite a few times. It was a beast. Love that weapon.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2014 10:44AM by jgunning.