B-25 Mitchell Side Guns Install
The side gun packs on the B-25H and B-25J Mitchell bombers were a significant feature that enhanced their ground attack capabilities. These packs typically consisted of single units mounted in pairs on each side of the forward fuselage, allowing the aircraft to deliver devastating strafing fire with multiple .50-caliber machine guns.
Details on Side Gun Packs:
Common Configuration: The most common arrangement featured gun packs on both sides of the aircraft, providing balanced firepower. Some B-25H and B-25J models, however, were equipped with these gun packs only on the right side of the fuselage. This asymmetrical setup was less common but still part of certain production runs.
Reinforcing Plates: To mitigate the stress and potential damage caused by the muzzle blast from these powerful machine guns, reinforcing plates were added to the fuselage structure. These plates were crucial in preserving the integrity of the aircraft during repeated strafing runs.
Gun Pack Covers: The gun packs were typically enclosed with covers to protect the barrels and mechanisms. However, these covers could be removed, as seen in some photographs, exposing the guns for maintenance or inspection. In the image referenced, the gun pack cover has been removed, revealing the structure of the gun installation.