Vickers 11mm Balloon Gun

Omega · 16 February 2006, 05:23 PM

Can anyone tell me which aircraft used this gun? Would they have been fitted to Camels? What is the going price on such a weapon?

16 February 2006, 06:14 PM

The balloon gun, as I understand it, was a modification tried out near the end of the war as an alternative to the limited numbers of anti-balloon rockets that could be carried and less effective .303 rounds of the "stock" Vickers. The Vickers 11 mm was reasonably effective and the weight differential was nominal.

There seems to be a sensible discussion of the Vickers 11 mm at this site, about mid way down the page.

http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v2/v2n1/hd1for.html

Hope this information is helpful.

":O) Willis

Omega · 16 February 2006, 06:42 PM

Willis,
Thank You! That is a helpful site. I wonder if they were ever tried on Camels? I often see replicas with this type of gun or at least the cooling jacket. They seem to imply it was a rare gun yet most replicas have them. What is one worth compaired to a stock Vickers?

Koz

TomVrille · 4 March 2006, 08:37 PM

The 11mm Vickers balloon gun was a French development, and the principal users were the French and US air services. The gun was most common on SPADs, although some Nieuport 28s were also outfitted with the weapon. The British air services had relatively few 11mm Vickers, availability of both guns and ammunition being a serious constraint.

RAGIII · 4 March 2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomVrille

The 11mm Vickers balloon gun was a French development, and the principal users were the French and US air services. The gun was most common on SPADs, although some Nieuport 28s were also outfitted with the weapon. The British air services had relatively few 11mm Vickers, availability of both guns and ammunition being a serious constraint.

Belgian Balloon Ace Willy Copens also used this weapon on a Hanriot HD1.
RAGIII