High explosive 20mm Shells and convergence

[Winger]

Hello folks.

Could anyone please tell me if its important that the target i shoot at with my 20mm rounds is in perfect range. In other words: Do the shells also explode on impact leaving it no diffrence if i am at 10m range and score a hit or at just the range at wich the shells explode themselves (like 200m?)?
If it is important to be at the right distance then: Is there a way to somehow "adjust" my bullets to explode at a certain distance?

Thanks!

winger

[Strike]

Even if they didn't splode, 20mm is quite a slug

[Winger]

So that means that firing 20mm shells at higher range is ineffective since there is no way to tell the shells to not at all explode before impact?
Well theyre pretty inaccurate because of the small barrel length anyways.

Winger

[Triggaaar]

Originally Posted by Winger

So that means that firing 20mm shells at higher range is ineffective since there is no way to tell the shells to not at all explode before impact?

No, they will explode on impact, whatever your distance. Gun convergence will allow bullets from each wing to hit the same area maximising damage, or if shooting from the nose, a correctly set sight will allow you to aim properly.

[Chips86]

Originally Posted by Triggaaar

No, they will explode on impact, whatever your distance. Gun convergence will allow bullets from each wing to hit the same area maximising damage, or if shooting from the nose, a correctly set sight will allow you to aim properly.

I think he's talking about the fact that the shells seem to explode a few hundred yards in front of you or so...I was wondering about this aswell, because I didnt realise they did that.

[ParaB]

Originally Posted by Chips86

I think he's talking about the fact that the shells seem to explode a few hundred yards in front of you or so...I was wondering about this aswell, because I didnt realise they did that.

The 20mm HE ammo from spring of 1940 (don't know the exact date) on used a "zerleger"-fuse in addition to the impact fuse, so the round would detonate after a specific distance. This was to eliminate the danger of rounds hitting civilians or own troops and had nothing to do with air-to-air effectiveness, it was basically a timed self-destruct mechanism.

[DayGlow]

Originally Posted by Strike

Even if they didn't splode, 20mm is quite a slug

Won't knock a train off the tracks though.

[Strike]

Originally Posted by DayGlow

Won't knock a train off the tracks though.

If the bullet hits the train operator, the train may enter the station at way too high speed, thus crashing and knocking it off the tracks