The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71054 Message #1216610
Posted By: Gareth
29-Jun-04 - 07:19 PM
Thread Name: War Mongering Songs
Subject: RE: War Mongering Songs
Somewhere in the back of my mind there is a vague song about this "9 Yards" but where and when I do not recall.
But a bit of Maths - US of Fghters WWII (Persuit =P) fired an 0.5 inch round, given the chamfer on the cartridge casing, and the joining links I would suspect One inch or possibly less per cartridege
Thus 1 yard = say 40 rounds.
9 yards = 360 rounds
Now a quickish Internet search Click 'Ere and scroll sugests that the P47 had an amunition capacity of 350 Pounds per gun.
Mathematics suggests that 8 x 360 = 2880 pounds or nearly 1.25 imperial tons. Hmmm ! I dont think so, this represents a substantial percentage of the aircraft weight.
Cut and paste from link -
empty weight 2,600 kilograms 5,730 pounds
loaded weight 3,540 kilograms 7,800 pounds
Leaving no weight for Pilot, Gasoline, Oil, Oxygen etc
But 350 rounds suggests about 9 yards.
I do not claim that this origin of the phrase is correct. But it's room for thought.
Gareth