How Many .50-Cal Bullets Does It Take To Shoot Down An Aircraft?

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During WWII, the US gathered different operational statistics to help them with their research and future engagement.

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The combat efficiency of a weapons platform is defined as the number of rounds per kill. The armament used for this comparison will be the Browning .50 caliber machine gun.

The Results

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On average, ships expended 28,069 50-caliber rounds for every kamikaze shot down. In comparison, the shipsโ€™ anti-aircraft 0.50-caliber machine guns expended 15,139 rounds to shoot down non-kamikaze attacking Japanese planes. ย 

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Also, for January through May 1944 when the Air Force most heavily engaged with the German Air Force, the average number of rounds needed to shoot down a German aircraft was 2,782 depending on the type and model. US fighters were armed with six or eight 0.50 caliber machine guns.

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Moreover, it took 8th Air Force bomber gunners an average of 10,222 rounds to destroy a German fighter.

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It would show that B-29 bomber gunners are seven times more combat efficient in dispatching enemy aircraft with their 0.50 caliber armament than Eight Air Force bomber gunners at 3,300 vs. 22,490 rounds per kill.

What do you think of the data? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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