That's one extremely deadly and accurate weapon.

It will penetrate just under 3" armour at 500 metres.

(This is what I mean. Why do they need they other thing?) 

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Well I'll be buggered! Aussie eh? Well That doesn't surprise me, really. We've been responsible for hundreds of modern inventions in the last 100 years or so. 

The article also answers my question with regard to it's purpose. It says it would offer a "defensive curtain" against missiles etc.
Well at least there is a reason for it other than to waste money and kill more people quicker.

Defensive stuff is OK. 

I was very surprised to read that the tests showed that the Spit IVX had a tighter turning circle than the Mustang MkIII (P51D).

The Sims certainly do not reflect this. Even in the 1% planes. I have found that the Spits, all of them, have a rather wide circle when compared to the P51 B & D, Hurri (Of course - which would be my choice for the tightest) and even the American Navy F4F anf F6F.

I fight a turning dogfight almost all the time. I can judge the right place to put rounds so that a turning enemy will run into them. I'm far better in that area than in any other part of dogfighting. So, consequently, the tight turn is what I look for. It's how I attack when I can and it's how I like to escape. (That's why the P51d shortcoming which is the great bleed off of speed when you turn too tightly, never suited me).

Anyhow..........................

Extremely interesting, Hagar.

I know the plane being discussed is the Spit 14, I just got my X's and V's around the wrong way..............lol.

Although I did have in my mind the P51D, especially as the test date given was Feb '44.

Your last quotes about the P51 B/C and D are interesting to me, to say the least.
I've always considered the B to be a better all round fighter. I know it was faster in it's original form. I know it handles better than the D. It has the same manoeuvrability as the D without that terrible 'bleed off' of speed in a tight turn.
I will always use it in preference to a D model. 

It's strange that they always have the P51B in the Sims, with 6 x .50's, which I've always known is wrong. Even the avhistory 1% planes have the 6 guns (I'm quite sure at least).
The funny thing is they still only represent the 4 gun ammo load of around 1800 instead of the 2400 of the D model. I think something's gone awry somewhere! 

I also don't know why the B didn't have the 6 guns fitted. It would seem to be the same wing as the D and the weight wouldn't be a factor, not with the power available in that plane. Mystery to me! 

Of course the D was the choice of the day because of it's range, which the B didn't have, although it was a little more than the Spit 14.

I just don't see this tight turning circle that everyone talks of when referring to the Spit (any model), to me they seem not to turn as tight as most of the planes of the time (except the P47 which was pretty useless turning wise, and the FW190, which, with all it's advantages, IMO, didn't turn very tightly either.

Of course all this is based on my own Sim experience, which is really all anyone here has as a 'personal' guide for their opinions. I do use the 1% fighters in all the models available and I think that the 'relative' differences in turn, roll, climb, speed etc are all much the same when compared to the 'default planes' in CFS1 & 2. They are just less responsive, or 'touchy' on the stick, which I believe is the more realistic representation.
Only a WWII pilot (or someone with a good amount of experience in warbird flying of different types) could really argue one way or another, an they are all over 75 - 80 years old and their experience is 60 years old. 

As I've said, my dogfight is a turning fight, if I've got anything to do with setting the pace and the scene. This being the case, I would defeat "myself" flying a P47, Spit, Fw190, P38, Me109G and even a P51b if I was in a Hurricane. I would out-turn 'myself' every time..........lol.

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That's a pity. My link now seems to be dead so I can't check  this out. ???
I'm sure it was mentioned in the article that many P-51B/C Mustangs were retro-fitted with the 6 x .50 cal layout of the later P-51D.

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This goes back to my old argument that what you get in the sim is not necessarily too realistic. Performance of a particular type is restricted by the M$ flight model, compounded by the skill & knowledge (or lack of it) of the FS flight dynamics gurus. The most reliable information available for WWII aircraft must be based on official reports of the period. All new aircraft (new types & modifications to existing types) were carefully evaluated by experienced service test pilots at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE) before being accepted for RAF & FAA service. The AAEE was originally based at RAF Martlesham Heath & later moved to RAF Boscombe Down. This was the home of the famous & much respected Empire Test Pilot's School (ETPS). The restrictions on these former secret reports have since been lifted making a source of valuable material available to researchers.

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Thanks for that link Hagar pal, some interesting reading there.

I'm sure it was just the later D model and the H (pacific long range model) that had the tank behind the pilot. I'm certain this was not included in early D's or in the B/C model.
I only have two P-51's that are not D models for CFS2. One is a Mustang MkII (Alison) and the other a Mustang Mk III. The MkII is a bit twitchy and the MkIII I'm sure has the flight model from a D because it flys just the same and stalls out in a tight turn. Shame because it would be nice to know what a correct flight model was like.