Dev Update #22

[NineLine]

Don't forget, IF they have managed to get some electrical system drawings from the weapons.

Then they can also easily find out if it was indeed possible to limit the number of guns firing by pulling Circuit Breakers.

 

Though, if this is indeed the case i would expect the following to happen.

Instead of having two key binds available in the options, only as in real life.

 

But if you decide to pull the right Circuit Breaker in flight, then only guns XYZ will fire.

 

So this way DCS is still going by the blue prints, AND we got our unofficial field tweak.

 

The Circuit Breaker box is right next to the pilot, there is no reason to think that it cant be made clickable and usable. If so, it should act as the real world breaker panel did, there for if you interact with it, it should disable the guns as expected. It doesnt need to be a special feature or anything, if thats how the electrical functioned, then it should be modeled if they do the aircraft to similar levels as the P-51, which is what we are all expecting.

[NineLine]

Actually reading though some manuals I an reading that it was "desired loading" to only arm 6 of the eight guns, and the two remaining guns were an alternate load. SO I would imagine the pilots would be familiar with how to disable those two extra guns, that definitely adds verification to the thought that they might disable two of the guns for back up later....

 

Something to note as well is that it says when only six guns were armed that the desired round count was 300 per gun and when all eight were used 200 rounds per gun. (maximum load is 425 rounds per gun)

 

I wonder if that means they generally only too ammo for 6 guns maybe when they were packing 500lbs or 1000lbs bombs...

Edited December 13, 2013 by NineLine

[NineLine]

Looks like only one circuit breaker in diagrams, it sure would save a lot of ammo though...ground crew probably rewired to separating toggle switch's

 

Looking at it further, that is what I am seeing now as well, only one breaker and it is for Gun SIght, Gun Camera and Gun relay, I don't see a separate breaker for separate guns.

[NineLine]

Looking at it further, that is what I am seeing now as well, only one breaker and it is for Gun SIght, Gun Camera and Gun relay, I don't see a separate breaker for separate guns.

 

ALthough is that a row of 4 breakers at the bottom of the breaker box? If so I havent see anywhere that lists what they are... hmmm

[NineLine]

Anyone tired of me posting yet? I know I am :) ... this is taken from a P-47D-25 thru 35 Manual (by this manual it does look like they had control over each individual pair by circuit breaker, in theory):

[SlipBall]

Anyone tired of me posting yet? I know I am :) ... this is taken from a P-47D-25 thru 35 Manual (by this manual it does look like they had control over each individual pair by circuit breaker, in theory):

 

 

hmmm..the plot thickens ...maybe yo yo will pop in here

[NineLine]

hmmm..the plot thickens ...maybe yo yo will pop in here

 

I asked him to :)

[msalama]

I asked him to :)

 

All sensors tuned & patiently waiting then ;)

[Yo-Yo]

The Circuit Breaker box is right next to the pilot, there is no reason to think that it cant be made clickable and usable. If so, it should act as the real world breaker panel did, there for if you interact with it, it should disable the guns as expected. It doesnt need to be a special feature or anything, if thats how the electrical functioned, then it should be modeled if they do the aircraft to similar levels as the P-51, which is what we are all expecting.

 

Confirm.

[Silver_Dragon]

Confirm.

 

The new Electrical API is working in near future, Yo-Yo?

[SlipBall]

Confirm.

 

So can you tell us what option the pilot had to use or limit the guns use...could just 2 guns be used if the pilot desired to? I ask you because you probably have the literature on this. I can't find much on the web about it

Edited December 14, 2013 by GT 5.0

[NineLine]

So can you tell us what option the pilot had to use or limit the guns use...could just 2 guns be used if the pilot desired to? I ask you because you probably have the literature on this. I can't find much on the web about it

 

They might not be at a point in development to clearly state this right now. They have to understand the electrical system and how it all works. I would expect this answer closer to release...

[SlipBall]

They might not be at a point in development to clearly state this right now. They have to understand the electrical system and how it all works. I would expect this answer closer to release...

 

yes you are of course right on this

[Winfield_Gold]

I hope the tail warning radar works...

Direct quote from the Pilot Training Manual

 

"From the N-5 on, the plane is equipped with a tail warning radar (AN/APS-13)"

 

Regarding the guns Directly quoted from the Pilot Training manual

"The maximum load is 500 rounds per gun, but usually with 8 guns only 267 rounds are carried. Find out how many you have before takeoff.

The guns can be charged only on the ground to fire."

 

This manual differs to Sithspawns source and I make the assumption that this may be for an earlier model maybe and holds less ammunition. The source that SithSpawn has uploaded the pictures from is also found on the link below to compare the 2 available.

 

It does not mention anything regarding choosing 6 or 8 guns or anything to do with the conservation of ammunition.

 

EDIT: Found this as well from military trials related to the P-47

 

ARMAMENT CHARACTERISTICS

41. Armament characteristics were reported to be satisfactory by the U.S.A.A.F., and only short check flights were carried out at this Unit.

 

Gun Installation

 

42. The installation allows for eight .5 guns, all situated in the wings. The guns are fired by electric solenoids operated by a trigger on the front of the control column in the standard American fashion. There is no selector switch for the pilot, to that all guns must be fired together, but there is a safety switch on the port side of the cockpit which is marked distinctively. For operational flying the ammunition capacity is laid down to be 300 rounds per gun, but there is in fact extra room for more ammunition should it be required.

 

Hamonisation

 

43. All guns can be harmonised very easily. The method for adjusting the guns is the best that has yet been seen at this Unit and consists merely of two controls which can be turned by hand, one for lateral and one for vertical adjustment. The aircraft was received at this Unit with the six guns harmonised to a pattern originally drawn up for the eight guns, which was not considered to be quite adequate. Alternative schemes were therefore suggested to which the guns can be harmonised giving a 1 degree spread either for six or eight guns. Discussions are in progress with VIII Fighter Command, U.S.A.A.F., to agree on a suitable pattern.

 

 

Information can be found here

 

Pilot Training Manual

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rwh06nf53fjhrmf/P-47%20Thunderbolt.pdf

 

 

Pilot Flight Operating Instructions

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4jga39zxzzmof1/P-47B%2CC%2CD%2CG.pdf

 

P-47 Tactical Trials

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/p-47/p-47c-afdu.html

Edited December 23, 2013 by Winfield_Gold

[Barrett_g]

The P-47N-5 was built some time after the -28, -30, and -40 model P-47's.... But you do bring up a good point about the tail radar. I have read instances of early tail radars being implemented in the -40 models.... Maybe some in the -30 models as well... I'll have to do more research.

[NineLine]

It does not mention anything regarding choosing 6 or 8 guns or anything to do with the conservation of ammunition.

 

From the sounds of it, the choosing of guns by "popping" fuses was a field thing, and not an official tactic. That said, it each pair of guns was on its own breaker in the newer models, that leads you to believe it was atleast possible to do.