Schwarzlose on AU recon planes

[Zif]

Hello scholars, another of my impossibru question on my never ending quest "wtf happened on June 19th 1918".

Austro-hungarian recon planes used to get a Schwarlose MG, such as

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansa-Brandenburg_C.I

On english wiki is not indicated, but on the italian wiki it says Hansa Brandeburg C.I was equipped with model M07/12.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansa-Brandenburg_C.I

I have realized that Schwarzlose MG was modified in 1916 with a version with a fire rate from 50% to 65% higher, which is actually quite ludicrous if true (Schwarzlose M 16). Not all planes by AU used to (apparently) equip this version, but on the wiki of Phonix C.I it is indicated that the recon plane was equipped with this last, more efficient, version:

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ph%C3%B6nix_C.I.

Now, my question is: since F. Baracca used to write in few letters, I think just two, that he was targeted with "fuoco celere" (more or less readable as "rapid fire") I was wondering if the ace was able to get if the MG firing at him was going at a rate of 400 rounds/pm or 600 rounds/pm, who knows.

And now the question: is it possible to get which MG version was installed on the Phonix C.I 121.17 which shot down Baracca? Could be that ALL AU planes were fitting the 600 rounds/pm version, or just some of them? It's almost impossible because the weapon was exactly the same, but with a stronger spring.

My suspect is that Baracca was targeted with a crapload of lead when he was shot down, maybe because the Phonix C.I of Flick 58/D had an updated weapon version (ahhhhaha a hard guess i guess) compared to the Hansa B. C.I/DFW he was facing lately OR some of them AU rascals had actually the M16 version, and those were the "rapid fire" opponents.

Anyway, if you have any source I would LOVE to get my hands on it, because if Barwig and Kauer were shooting at him at 600 rounds/minute instead of 400 rpm that would have made quite a difference, for many reasons.

Cheers!

[Von Banfield]

Hi! I certainly believe Baracca was shot down by the Austro Hungarian Phoenix C.I, as Austrian sources report that ground troops were not equipped with incendiary bullets. As for the Schwarzlose I have found no evidence of use of the Schwarzlose M 16 by the Austro Hungarian Army let alone the Air Force. I hope this helps!

[Zif]

Hello Von Banfield. I have found an interesting article, Schwarzlose was indeed evolved in 1916 to the M16 model.

https://smallarmsreview.com/the-schw...-aircraft-gun/

Despite few being produce (around 300 it seems) some of them was indeed installed on aircrafts, if you scout through AU two seater pictures there are at least two models of machine gun depicted. I would like to confirm that the Phonix C.I which shot down Baracca was mounting the M16, chech the MG shape.

That could mean that when Baracca recalled in his letters "rapid fire" he may be perceiving a higher rate from the observer. But it's almost a wild guess. It's an aspect which can be further investigated.





You think is it possible to tell just from the shape of the gun?

[Von Banfield]

Well, aircraft armament isn't my specialty, it's definitely something I should look into more. I trust your judgement on the subject, I have primarily been focusing on creating as comprehensive a list as possible of the aircraft tested and operated by the A.H. Navy, as well as a list of notable pilots and commanders of the K.u.K Seeflugwesen / K.u.K. Seefliegerkorps in chronological order. It looks like I've gone on long enough about a different subject, anyways, good luck on your quest to find out "wtf happened on June 19th 1918".