WWII German Mk-108 30mm Auto-Cannon Combat Effectiveness Against US Bombers and Fighters

The intent of this video is to review the impact the of the Germans adopting the mk-108 30mm autocannons as the preferred WWII bomber interceptor armament. As WWII progressed the Germans continually up sized their bomber interceptor armament to combat the US (B-17 and B-24) and British heavy bombers. Combat data showed it only took 3 to 5 Mk-108 30mm autocannon rounds to destroy a US bomber, if they could get close enough for the cannons to be effective.

The companion 20mm Video is here:

[JK-rvtp]

You're providing WW2 history technical nerds with a product no one else seems to be doing. Great work!

[bjorngrewe]

Excellent video 👌🏻👍🏻
The chart with the incredibly low numbers of planes damaged by 30mm projectiles is a textbook example of survivors bias - what these low numbers actually mean is that it was next to impossible to return home if you'd been hit by one of these bullets...

[altenburg]

My grandfather used the Mk.108 in his 109 K4, shooting, the whole little 109 was skaking, but the excellent ammo did the job. He said, what you hit went down, no matter how supposed to be sturdy. His best was 4 P47 in March 45 near Leipzig, chasing civilians...

[dapsapsrp]

Superb well-organized video that illustrates how lethal the Mk-108 really was. I was really impressed with the British testing against different types of aircraft. Its amazing what one single round could do.

[TheSpoon]

Ive always wanted Ian from forgotten weapons to do a video on those German 30mm cannons

[katiesaucier]

I can’t get enough of listening to a truly smart person speak on personally researched, evidence based, facts. While considering variables and controls.

[Zolrender]

@11:00 the chart clearly shows that if you were hit by a 30mm mine round, you were not coming home. A very well presented, thought out and well researched video. Keep them coming.

[emjay]

This got to be the most informative technical review of the air war in Europe on You tube. Excellent content and very well presented. WW2 nerd heaven!

[johanjanssens]

At least someone who does not uses the word "Nazi" five times in every sentence and gives a neutral comment about materiel and events. Bravo !

[jiyushugi]

Excellent summary. Had no idea the 30mm was such a devastating weapon.
The early Hayabusa had a bad habit of sometimes shooting themselves down when the 20mm rounds exploded in the gun when fired.

[dennisfox]

As usual, excellent content. Thank you for tracking down and sharing these contemporary reports and providing context as well.

[kennethreese]

I continue to be impressed by your videos and have been spreading the word. Honestly you have surpassed most of the Youtube makers in quality of info.

[jtmachete]

99% of aircraft getting hit by a 30mm didn't make it back

[AuthenticNicholasMeyer]

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen in a good long while. I want an Mk-108 now. Thank you, sir.

[Vallhallen_]

great video! impressive to see the scale of the 30mm versus the 20mm and the explosive yield! I had seen pictures of the results of the Spitfire test firing but the Blenheim clip was the icing on the cake haha.

[cmmittlererminenwerfer]

It would be better to write it as MK 108, as the Germans did, because it represents the word Maschinekanone. I would do this to avoid confusion with the British Mk- designation, which was an abbreviation of "Mark" and is the source of a very common mistake made by English speakers when referring to the MK 108.

[jamesa]

11:03 is a good example of survivor bias. Given how remarkably low the amount of damage caused by 20mm, 30mm and rocket fire was on returning bombers, it is quite likely that these rounds were significant contributors to the damage sustained by bombers that did not return.

[Blasphemie]

and in Hollywood films, pilots simply flew on injured after being hit by Me 262 30 mm projectiles

[taeketuinstra]

Thanks for this. I always guessed that a WW2 autocannon fired explosive rounds, but never knew before what the exact effect was. Now I know it :). Also a great example, like you said of Survivor Bias. Almost no bombers that got hit by 30mm, ever returned!

[kiwidiesel]

That pilot of that spitfire got as close as you could ever get to being the recipient of that cannon round behind the cockpit. Bet that woke him up a little when it went bang. Legend!