MLD PBY Catalina Armament (Y-38 thru Y-73)

[Tommy Wo!]

Hello!

Can anyone tell me how MLD PBY Catalinas (Y-38 - Y-72) were armed in the early months of the Pacific War? I've seen photos of dual machine guns mounted in each blister. Were these .30-caliber, 7.9mm or some other weapon? The guns I've seen in photos are much too small to be .50-caliber. Also, what type and caliber were in the nose and ventral positions? The MLD Catalinas were delivered from the Consolidated aircraft plant without weapons. They were armed once they reached Java in late 1941. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards...
Tom

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Hallo!

Kan iemand mij vertellen hoe MLD PBY Catalinas (Y-38 - Y-72) bewapend waren in de eerste maanden van de Pacific oorlog? Ik heb foto's gezien van dubbele machinegeweren gemonteerd in elke blister. Waren dit .30-kaliber, 7.9mm of een ander wapen? De geweren die ik op foto's heb gezien zijn veel te klein om .50-kaliber te zijn. En welk type en kaliber zaten er in de neus- en buikposities? De MLD Catalina's werden zonder wapens geleverd door de Consolidated vliegtuigfabriek. Ze werden bewapend toen ze eind 1941 Java bereikten. Alle hulp zou zeer op prijs worden gesteld.

Groeten...
Tom

[Rob B]

The guns are 7.7 mm (.303 ")

RobB

[Tommy Wo!]

Thanks Rob! Were all all the positions equipped with a 7.7mm weapon? (i.e., no .50-caliber in the nose turret?)

[Rob B]

Correct, all 4 positions were 7.7's

Rob B

[Tommy Wo!]

Great, thank you!