Re: New Video of Rear Guns

Tom Moungovan Wrote:
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> On the subject of .30 cal Brownings mounted on
> aircraft, didn't
> the TBM/TBF have fixed .30s on the wings? The
> rear gunner had a
> single .50 in a turret.

Earlier TBF's had a single fixed .30 in the upper nose. Later TBM's--the vast majority--deleted the cowling gun and instead had a .50 fixed in each wing (for two total), mostly to give improved firepower for strafing. Rear defensive armament for both types consisted of a .50 mounted in the upper turret, and a flexible .30 in the ventral position which could be operated by the radio man. You don't read too many accounts of Avengers scoring fighter kills because it was a huge, heavy airplane (about 50% heavier than the SBD) with somewhat sluggish controls. It was stable and forgiving, but wasn't something the pilot could readily toss around the sky.

The .50 heavy machine gun was a fine weapon for use against Japanese A/C. A single .50 round fired into the back of a Zeke or Val could penetrate the tail structure, through the back of the cockpit, through the pilot or oxygen bottles, through the instrument panel and lodge in the engine.