Angry Catalina

[Smollet]

I have a soft spot for the PBY5 as my dad used to fly them. I was intrigued by the firepower this one had added.

[ecsrobin]

Think it was the PBY-5A that had all the guns.

[Smollet]

ecsrobin said:

Think it was the PBY-5A that had all the guns.

This is 162 (BR) Canso A 11066.

[ecsrobin]

Smollet said:

ecsrobin said:

Think it was the PBY-5A that had all the guns.

This is 162 (BR) Canso A 11066.

A Canadian built 5A.

Edited by ecsrobin on Saturday 18th February 10:05

[Smollet]

ecsrobin said:

A Canadian built 5A.

Yup. A bit more info.
Some 162 (BR) Squadron aircraft were fitted with the so-called Ryan ‘eyeball’ turret in the bow with twin guns – indeed, aircraft 11066/O had the ‘eyeball’ turret with two guns and four fixed bow guns was shown although this combination was never tested in action.

[Simpo Two]

They look fairly small calibre, little use against a sub's pressure I'd have thought. What was the intended target?

[Smollet]

Simpo Two said:

They look fairly small calibre, little use against a sub's pressure I'd have thought. What was the intended target?

Sub gun crew I guess. As you say not big enough calibre to cause much damage to a hull.

[IanH755]

A great violent distraction to the sub crew who maybe shooting back at you with their AA stuff during your depth charge/bombing run.

[Simpo Two]

IanH755 said:

A great violent distraction to the sub crew who maybe shooting back at you with their AA stuff during your depth charge/bombing run.

For the fixed forward-firing guns, would there be a conflict between aiming the guns and aiming to drop DCs (in terms of deflection)? Guns are virtually immediate, DCs take somewhat longer to go off.