Starboard Gun Bay – September 1956
This photo depicts the starboard gun bay of a Mk5 Sabre at the 416 Squadron dispersal in September 1956. Each side of the F-86 housed 3 x .50 calibre M3 machine guns capable of firing 1200 - 1400 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 2730 - 3450 feet per second. The adaptations on the side of the guns are air operated "gun chargers". These chargers allowed the pilot to "cock" or "load" the guns from the cockpit, and to clear a jammed round if that occurred. The wire chutes (2 of 3 are visible) carry the belt linked ammunition from the 3 boxes located directly below the gun bays on each side of the aaircraft to the weapon. Spent cartridges and links are ejected into a holding bay, also below the guns, and were emptied when the aircraft landed.