- Yes
- No
Hello! And welcome to my next suggestion for North American Mustang in UK service, today I bring a unique modification to the AM106 airframe armed with two 40mm Vickers S cannons under the wings, similar to the Hurricane Mk.IV.
History
Spoiler
In 1941 the First Mustangs began making their way into RAF service, but it didnt jump straight into dogfighting operations, armed with 4 7.7mm and 2 12.7mm machine guns but lacking at power at altitudes where combat occured over europe, the Mustang was used more for reconnaissance and low level strike in RAF service, something it excelled at due to its high speed and good performance at sea level, outrunning every Axis fighter at the time.
This was also at the same time that the RAF began using a new weapons in North Africa, the 40mm Vickers S cannon, on aircraft. Designed to tear open fuel tanks and cripple even the newer Panzer 3 and 4 tanks making their way onto the battlefield. They were initially mounted on Hurricanes, dubbed the Mk.IID (later improved to Mk.IV) and whilst formidable, it was lacking in performance and speed, making it vulnerable to enemy aircraft and AA fire alike.
This is where AM106 comes in, it was one of several Mustangs dedicated to Stores testing, experimenting with Extra Fuel tanks, Zero Length Rocket launchers and, most importantly, 40mm cannons. Whilst on paper the Mustang was ideal for the role, having far greater performance than the Hurricane, to my knowledge the RAF never adopted them into any Mustang squadrons leaving AM106 as the sole Mustang armed with the cannons.
Images
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AM106 at an Airfield in the UK, note the “G” designation on its serial meaning it would have had to been kept under Armed guard at all times
AM106 on the ground outside of a Hangar in 1943
Underside of AM106 in flight
The Mustangs Vickers S with their covers removed
Another angle in front of the Hangar
Another Mustang with experimental Fuel tanks equipped, I am lead to believe they are the same model fitted to AM106
Specs/Armament
Spoiler
Performance
Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Engine: Allision V-1710-39, 1,220hp
Max Speed: * Max Speed: 382mph at 4200m
Length: 9.80 m (32.15 ft)
Width: 11.29 m (37.04 ft)
Height: 3.72 m (12.20 ft)
Weight: 2858 kg (6300 lbs)
Max. Combat Weight: 4808 kg (10600 lbs)
Ceiling: 9144 m (30,000 ft)
Max. Range: 2755 km (1712 Miles)
Armament
Guns:
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2 x 40mm Vickers S cannons
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2 x 12.7mm Machine guns in the nose, possibly another two in the wings
Rockets:
- up to 8 x RP-3 rockets (on experimental launchers)
Any more armament is unkown, more info greatly appreciated
Place In game
Spoiler
I feel this could come to game around 3.0 to provide a goood Anti tank aircraft that would bridge a Gap between the Hurricane Mk.IV at 2.0 and Tempest (Vickers P) at 3.7, providing a challenging yet dangerous armament that could be brutal against tanks and aircraft alike.
This could also be a good and unique event/battlepass vehicles providing gameplay not often seen in the game compared to regular bombing, it would play effectively like a more powerful Hurricane Mk.IV, being able to equip either AP or HE belts or a mix of both, also being able to trade its cannons for a number of RP-3s at a great loss of offensive capabilities.
Sources