Georges Guynemer

mikebrn · 15 June 2006, 01:14 AM

Can someone tell me if it is true that

Georges Guynemer used 37mm cannon at some point in WWI?

If so, did he score any kills with it? How were they mounted - was it just a "simple" job of replacing the MGs or were they fixed differently?

Intrigued as I naively assumed a WWI airframe might not sustain the shock of it firing etc but perhaps it okay.

Many thanks,
MIKE

retread · 15 June 2006, 03:23 AM

This was the Spad XII.Ca.I, which mounted a 37mm Hotchkiss cannon which fired through the propellor hub, as well as mounting a single Vickers on the cowling. The Hotchkiss was single fire and the pilot had to reload by hand after each shot. Guynemer is credited with originating the idea of mounting a cannon on a Spad and is supposed to have suggested it to Spad's lead designer. Guynemer was also involved in the development process and test flew the aircraft while it was under development.
The Spad XII was flown by a number of France's top pilots although it was considered nose heavy and difficult to fly. Fonck achieved the most in this type with 11 victories.

mikebrn · 15 June 2006, 05:08 AM

I never knew anything was developed in WWI which fired thru' the hub. Learn summat new every day. Loading shell by shell must have been a worry!!

Did he bag anything down with it, do you know? I suspect one hit and the target disintegrated..........

MIKE

mikebrn · 15 June 2006, 05:10 AM

Ahh, I've just chanced upon the Aces section which states he got two.

Thanks,
MIKE

stephen · 15 June 2006, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebrn

Can someone tell me if it is true that

Georges Guynemer used 37mm cannon at some point in WWI?

Yes, Guynemer flew the cannon-armed SPAD XII from its inception in July of '17 until his death on Sept 11 1917. Although he was flying the XIII on the day he died, Guynemer did fly the XII intermittently with the XIII up until his death.

Quote:

If so, did he score any kills with it?

Guynemer scored his 49th - 52nd kills in the SPAD XII.

Quote:

How were they mounted - was it just a "simple" job of replacing the MGs or were they fixed differently?

As retread explained, the cannon was mounted through the propellar hub. Yes, the shell actually passed through the center of the engine when it was fired. (Clarification: between the V of the cylinders). Weird, huh?

Quote:

Intrigued as I naively assumed a WWI airframe might not sustain the shock of it firing etc but perhaps it okay.

That was not the XII's main problem. The big trouble was the vibration from the already-gear-driven Hispano engine, plus the near impossibility of aiming correctly and reloading.

A short article on the SPAD XII is here, featuring just the basics of how the a/c performed.

EdStevens · 15 June 2006, 07:04 AM

IIRC, there was also a problem in that when the breech was opened to remove the spent shell casing and insert another, the air pressure down the barrel pushed the smoke from the fired shot into the cockpit where it was held by the competing air pressure rushing along the open cockpit. Not very pleasant.

The British also experimented with cannon-firing aircraft, including such oddities as the Supermarine P.B.31E quadraplane for anti-airship duty, incorporating a 1-1/2 pdr Davis non-recoil gun and a searchlight, the Vickers F.B.7 with a 1-pdr Vickers quick-firing gun, and a number utilizing the C.O.W. (Coventry Ordnance Works) 37mm cannon.

Taz · 15 June 2006, 07:25 AM

The French also equipped the Voisin 10 with a 37 mm quick-fire Hotchkiss 37mm cannon, the aircraft becoming the Voisin 10 Ca2. VB 110 converted to Voisin Canon aircraft in the summer of 1915 and became VC 110. These Canon aircraft were continuously improved with more powereful engines and were not replaced until early 1918, when VC 110 became F 110 with new Farman 50s.

http://memorial.flight.free.fr/Voisin10uk.html

Taz
Terry Phillips

Cigogne · 15 June 2006, 07:28 AM

The British didn't just experiment with it, they used it at No. 100 Sqdn. in specially modified F.E.2bs that had side by side seating and a modified nose. The 1 pdr. Pom-pom gun was in the left side of the shortened nose. It was used in attacks on airfields and railyards and other targets.

Also the French used cannon in a number of aircraft as quoted above, mostly two-seat Voisin types normally used in the bomber role.

The Germans also used the 20 cm Becker cannon in the Albatros J.I and AEG G.IVk aircraft and others. They experimented with it for quite a while, but it did see some service. The Austro-Hungarians were experimenting with the Skoda cannon in the Hansa-Brandenburg G.I bomber.

Lovamo · 15 June 2006, 07:46 AM

To whom it may concern ... If you're interested in WW I aircraft armament, I can recommend Harry Woodman's book 'Early Aircraft Armament, The Aeroplane and the Gun up to 1918.', Arms & Armour Press 1989,
ISBN 0-85368-990-3, the most complete work on that matter.
Lovamo

mikebrn · 15 June 2006, 08:27 AM

Thks to all - I really had no idea about use of the cannon. There was I thinking it was WW2 only.

MIKE