Any ideas on a WW2 era AC-47

I've got some ideas on featuring an AC-47 equivalent in my WW2-Cold War TL, specifically on the Pacific Front around 1943-44. I'm thinking of a gunship with a quad-mounted .50 cal and a cannon of either 20mm or 40mm calibre, perhaps loaded with incendiary shells.
I know the South Africans put cannons on their AC47s.

Anyone else got ideas? I'm not so knowledgeable on what's possible to cram into a C47.
 
I've got some ideas on featuring an AC-47 equivalent in my WW2-Cold War TL, specifically on the Pacific Front around 1943-44. I'm thinking of a gunship with a quad-mounted .50 cal and a cannon of either 20mm or 40mm calibre, perhaps loaded with incendiary shells.
I know the South Africans put cannons on their AC47s.

Anyone else got ideas? I'm not so knowledgeable on what's possible to cram into a C47.

B-25G and H models already did this kind of thing. They had a 75mm cannon as well as 8 more forward facing 50 caliber machine guns.

Torqumada
 
The original Vietnam AC-47 had 10 Browning 30 cals. You're not going to fit cannons on a plane as small as the DC-3. The whole point of these planes was sustained fire, and they're too small to carry enough cannon shells. There's a reason AC-47s never used 50 cals.

If you just want a few short bursts of cannon fire, why not use a B-25/26 with nose cannons?
 
Yeah, while the AC-47 was great against the Viet-Cong (who were often operation forward of any significant reserves), against the Germans or Japanese in WW2 you'll want something with some more punch, like maybe a B-17/24 with side-mounted Bofors 40mm autocannons (as is equipped on the AC-130 nowadays).
 
I think it's worth remembering that gunship designs can only operate in areas where there's basically no air defenses of any sort. You might be able to arm a C-47 or B-17 with side-firing weapons, but German regular formations will probably be able to knock it down even if the Luftwaffe doesn't interfere. I don't think they're a very good idea in the European theatre.
You might have more luck in the Pacific, Japanese troops were generally more lightly armed I believe.
 
I think it's worth remembering that gunship designs can only operate in areas where there's basically no air defenses of any sort. You might be able to arm a C-47 or B-17 with side-firing weapons, but German regular formations will probably be able to knock it down even if the Luftwaffe doesn't interfere. I don't think they're a very good idea in the European theatre.
You might have more luck in the Pacific, Japanese troops were generally more lightly armed I believe.
Yeah, I think .50 call M2s are more than enough for the Pacific. I've read about how US Marines put them to good use on the ground (though sparsely, as it's just not that mobile); they could even damage Japanese light tanks, and damage enemy bunkers and thick bamboo structures.

Again, thanks for all the input, chaps!
 
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