In message , Kevin
Brooks writes
"Paul J. Adam" wrote in message
...
How come the F8F Bearcat was designed and built with four 20mm guns,
then?

Paul, the F6F was MG armed.

First flight in August 1942.
The Bearcat did not enter operational
service during the war

First flight August 1944.

Can you name any successful 20mm air-to-air engagements by
USN fighters during WWII?

The F4U-1C served in WW2 and the F4U-5 in Korea with a 20mm armament.

And yet you remain convinced that they went into "wholesale" use in
the USN during WWII?!

Remind me where I said their _use_ was wholesale?

I said that the USN switched its preferred armament from .50 to 20mm in
1944 or thereabouts, which is clearly reflected in subsequent design and
procurement decisions. The war ended before that decision filtered
through to the front line.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk