Thread: Aerial Weapons Used During WWII

At the beginning of World War II, aircraft design had far outstripped the design of aircraft weapons. During the Battle of Britain, the famous Spitfire and Hurricane were equipped with eight .303-caliber Browning machine guns. The same .303 calibre gun that was used in the First World War. The British soon discovered that the .303 calibre machine gun, while reliable and accurate, lacked the necessary punch. After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire's armament was increased to include two 20mm cannon and four .303 calibre machine guns. German and Japanese fighter armament also increased. As the bomber offensive against the Axis grew, Allied bomber crews were confronted with enemy fighters armed with 20mm and 30mm cannon. To defend themselves, American gunners relied on the hard hitting .50 calibre machine gun, while the British soldiered on with the reliable but light.303 calibre machine gun.


The reliable .303 calibre (7.7 mm) Browning Machine Gun. This weapon was standard armament on all British heavy bombers.

The famous .50 calibre (12.7 mm) Browning Machine Gun. This weapon was standard equipment in all American fighters and bombers.

The German 7.92mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 Machine Gun. Fw 190 pilots were not impressed with the gun's penetrating power and disparagingly described it as a ‘door knocker’

The Mauser mg 151 20mm cannon. The Fw 190 was armed with four such cannon. Later versions of the Bf 109g carried one firing through the spinner with provision for two under wing gondolas.

A pair of German Mauser mg 81 7.92mm Machine Guns. The mg 81 was the first aircraft machine gun to be installed by the Germans in twin mountings. Rate of fire was 1200 to 1500 rounds a minute.

A Japanese copy of the hand-held German rheinmetall mg 131 13mm Machine Gun. This weapon is unusual in that the cartridges are ignited electrically instead of by a mechanically operated firing pin.

The Japanese 7.7mm type 97 fighter mounted Machine Gun.. This small calibre weapon was almost useless in trying to shoot down the more heavily armed B-17 and B-24.

Shells Left to right: 7.92mm, 13mm, 50 calibre, 20mm.