Armed Ceremonial Fly-Past

[GoneToTheCanner]

Some of the manufacturing tolerances of the American models didn't match the British and there were differences in things like heat treatments and hardness of parts, so, in effect, they were not compatible.
regards
GttC

[hptmurphy]

Sounds like the American built oerlikons.

[GoneToTheCanner]

The same.Hispanos tended to differ either by minor internal differences or by how they were fed, ie, left or right, drum or belt. American and British Hispanos were interchangeable by mount but could not always swap individual parts.

regards
GttC

[Rhodes]

Whats the bottom 20mm weapon?

Its a Hispano, looks like a Mk II and the top one a Mk V but not 100% sure.

[hptmurphy]

Whats the bottom 20mm weapon?

[Tempest]

Couple more to illustrate. This is a Vampire FB5 at RAF Cosford museum.

[Tempest]

I think this pic makes the point clearly if anyone wasn't sure.

[Tempest]

Thanks GTTC for clearing that up, I've been trying to get that answer for years without sucess! Obviously been asking the wrong people

[GoneToTheCanner]

The muzzles didn't protude at all. The cannon were fitted permanently and were rearmed thru access panels under the belly. The cannon barrels had their own access panel.
regards
GttC

[Tempest]

That's what I was saying, presumably the muzzles just barely protruding? Also, presumably when canon were mounted a cover plate/door would be removed?

[GoneToTheCanner]

The Vampires' cannons were internal. The only external ordnance was rockets.
regards
GttC

[Tempest]

Thanks for the replies. I've never seen footage of vampires doing ceremonials from a side or front view, it would probably have been difficult to tell if they had canons mounted unless you could see close enough from a suitable angle?

[GoneToTheCanner]

They had 7.62 stamped on the top of the feed cover. Even though they have quite a different shape, either gun could fit the Fouga's mounts. Apart from that, is the French 7.5 round the old long round for the Lebel or a short equivalent to the 7.62 X 51?
regards
GttC

[Goldie fish]

Ah, that makes sense, I thought all the AAT52s were 7.5mm.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi there
They had both the GPMG and AAT-52, in 7.62mm and used both, but there were only two of the French guns available and they were rarely used.
regards
GttC