[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

And if what you say it true to your point in that many attacks took place inside the convergence wouldn't then each round have a greater muzzle velocity therefore inflicting more damage per round

Totally agree with your point on Nazi bombers, many did indeed come home riddled with holes; the battle of Britain kill claims for the RAF was highly inflated due to the fact many bombers looked crippled following attacks, but then actually limped home to fight another day. But the argument that .303 was ineffective is only half true, you can argue that it became effective (to degrees) when propperly harmonised. The RAF adopted 8 .303's on hurris and spits not because a .303 was crap, and therefore 8 crap weapons might be less crappy, but because tests in the late 30's suggested that, when propperly harmonised, the .303's could inflict sufficient damage.

The whole point of convergence is that all the bullets strike the same general area and create a large hole and more damage, as could be achieved by a single cannon blast. I'm not saying that QED .303's are the way to go, nor that they are better than cannon but that they can be quite damaging when employed right, and in the battle of britain, they generally weren't.

The argument you seem to be giving is that due to the greater muzzle velocity of .303's up close, it is more effective to riddle the bomber with rounds all over. No, that does not stand. All the bullets will strike and go through (unless they have the happy fortune to hit something vital). The whole point of convergence is that all the bullets strike the same general area and create a much larger hole and therefore cause more serious damage, as could be achieved by a single cannon blast. My argument isn't to only attack where the guns are harmonised (ie 400yards away) but that they should have been re-harmonised much closer in the first place. British Fighting Area Attacks essentially dictated that pilots sweep in, open fire at 400 yards and continue unti they fly over the target. But this meant that you lose the lethal density achieved by attacking when the gunfire converges almost straight away; as such you riddle the bomber with shot but do bugger all that is actually serious. The guns should have bene harmonised far closer.