How did guns behind propellers work?

Machine guns were mounted on the top of the fuselage, directly in front of the pilot, but that position placed the gun directly behind the propeller. The gun had to be designed to fire through the propeller without hitting it, which was not an easy task.

How did ww2 planes shoot through propellers?

A synchronization gear (also known as a gun synchronizer or interrupter gear) was a device enabling a single-engine tractor configuration aircraft to fire its forward-firing armament through the arc of its spinning propeller without bullets striking the blades.

Why did countries start marking their planes under the wings?

When the war first started, the planes were just regular planes without any military markings. Eventually, countries began to mark their planes under the wing so that they could be identified from the ground.

How did WW2 planes not shoot their propellers?

The aircraft had a mechanical linkage to prevent the gun(s) from firing when the propeller blade would be in the bullets’ path. The use of metal “armor” on the propeller blade was dropped when machine guns changed to fire larger bullets with more force/mass/velocity, like the . 50 caliber (0.5 inch diameter) bullets.

Did ww1 planes have guns?

At first most aircraft were unarmed, although some pilots did carry weapons with them including pistols and grenades. These were of limited use, however, as the body of the aircraft itself made it difficult and dangerous to fire any weapons. At the same time crude attacks were made on troops on the ground.

Did ww2 planes have guns?

In World War II, fighter aircraft carried machine guns and cannons mounted in the wings, engine cowlings, nose, or between the banks of the engine, firing through the propeller spinner. Night fighters sometimes utilized guns firing upwards as well.

What weapons did ww2 planes have?

Army aircraft

• Mauser MG 151/20 20 mm cannon.
• Ho-1 20 mm cannon.
• Ho-3 20 mm cannon.
• Ho-5 20 mm cannon (based on Browning)
• Ho-155 cannon (aka Ho-105) 30 mm cannon (based on Browning)
• Ho-155-II 30mm cannon.
• Ho-203 37 mm cannon.
• Ho-204 37 mm cannon (based on Browning)

Why did they paint targets on planes?

That is called a “roundel”, and is the insignia of the RAF, painted on planes to identify friend from foe. Early in WW2, the US used this. They then changed to this, for the Pacific Theater. Every nation has their own markings, so that in the sky, you don’t shoot down one of your own planes.

What was the significance of WW2 in aircraft gun armament?

The Second World War stimulated an important advance in aircraft gun armament. The fighters of most combatant nations began the war with a few The Second World War stimulated an important advance in aircraft gun armament.

How did machine guns stop propellers from hitting the front?

Machine guns were a logical complement to aircraft, but there was one problem: how to stop the gun from hitting the big propeller in the front. Machine guns were mounted on the top of the fuselage, directly in front of the pilot, but that position placed the gun directly behind the propeller.

How did airplane maneuvering tactics change during World War II?

As you can imagine, beforehand a plane had a gunner in the back of the plane firing independently at other planes. The introduction of a weapon that was stored internally and could be fired straight changed air maneuvering tactics to a great extent. During World War II, those tactics were improved on even more.

Where are machine guns mounted on a plane?

Machine guns were mounted on the top of the fuselage, directly in front of the pilot, but that position placed the gun directly behind the propeller. The gun had to be designed to fire through the propeller without hitting it, which was not an easy task.