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Rifle Caliber Machine Guns -
These light weapons in the .30 caliber (7.62mm) range do minimal amounts of damage
to planes and no damage at all to tanks. Only the early war Spitfires and Hurricanes
rely on RCMG for their offensive firepower. The only advantage of RCMG is that they
can carry an enormous amount of ammunition.
The worst of these guns is the British .303 and the best is the Soviet ShKAS.
Heavy Machine Guns -
Guns in the .50 caliber (12.7mm) range do far more damage than RCMG, but are
still incapable of damaging tanks. Most US fighters of WWII used 6-8 HMGs mounted
in the wings, while some cannon armed planes used a pair of HMGs as secondary
weapons. The HMG provides a good balance of moderately heavy firepower and a
large ammunition load. The worst of these guns is the German MG-131, while the
best is the Soviet Beresin design.
Light Cannon -
Guns in the 15mm to 20mm range of calibers vary considerably in effectiveness.
Simple weapons of the Oerlikon design such as the German MG-FF were limited by
a poor rate of fire, low muzzle velocity, and small ammo load. At the other end
of the spectrum were very capable guns such as the British/French Hispano Mk.V
and the Soviet ShVAK and Beresin designs. These guns can always damage planes,
but only the better designs should be used for anti-tank work.
Heavy Cannon -
The large-bore 23-30mm guns are capable of dealing incredible
amounts of damage to planes, buildings and tanks. An exception to this is the
German Mk.108 design, which because of a low muzzle velocity and thin-walled
explosive shell, was ineffective against tanks. Gauging which gun is best often
depends on how it is installed, but the (best)German Mk.103 is probably
the best with the (worst)Mk.108 being the worst.
Anti-tank Guns -
Several planes are equipped with large bore guns for use in an anti-tank role.
These include the US Oldsmobile 37mm found in the P-39, the German 37mm flak
guns mounted on the Ju-87G, the 37mm Ho-204 found on the Ki-44, and the huge
Moulins 57mm gun in the nose of the Mosquito Mk.XVIII. Two to four hits from
one of these guns will take out even the best tank.
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