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Old 04-10-04, 19:06
Neil Ashley Neil Ashley is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Trowbridge, England
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Default Hispano-Suiza 20mm Guns

Regarding the use of these guns by the RAF, the Book 'The RAF Regiment at War' published in 2002 (ISBN 0-85052-852-6), records that Hispano guns were used on Ground Mounts in the anti-aircraft role. The mounts shown in the pictures appear to be the standard type used for other 20mm guns featured else where in this thread. This obviously must have allowed for standardization within the RAF on ammunition and spares.

The book goes on to record that when the guns were in use on Sciliy, the use of ball rounds led to more casualties to personnel and aircraft on neighbouring airfields than did the enamy air attacks (what goes up must come down!). I assume ammunition types were changed later.

Regarding the use of 20mm Guns by the Army, am I correct in saying that every Machine Battalion had a platoon of 20mm Guns untill shortly after D Day? I was under the impression that they were withdrawn at the same time as the as the tank mounted version's due to allied air supremacy.
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