How did the automatic turrets on the B-29 work?

Question

I'm not sure what 'automatic' means in this context. Does it mean that there was a fire control radar of some sort?

Answer 1

they were remotely controlled by a gunner. Automatic means that they were not crewed directly, like those top and side utrrets of the B 17 for example.

other example of these remotely controlled turrets were the ones of Me 410, which had two turrets each equipped with dual 20 mm cannon Mg 151. the turrets were remotely controlled by the gunner who was placed in the cockpit, flying backwards aiming these weapons with a virtual weapon, whose aim was turned into the electirc signals that were carried to the gunnery computer or direct to the turret.

this means if there was a gunnery computer, it was able to calculate the gunnery inputs, so the gunner only placed the mark onto the target and corrections were made by the computer. if it was a direct link, then the corrections had to be made by the gunner.

Answer 2

The turrets on the B29 Superfortress weren't individually manned as per earlier model bombers such as the B17 Flying Fortress.  Instead, they were controlled by a fire controlled "computer".  It was an electro-mechanical device which calulated angles and distances.   The gunner sat in the forward fuselage of the aircraft and had controls at various sighting points where he could control one or many turrets at once.

Answer 3

No radar!! It hadn't long been invented. "Automatic" meant powered, either electrical or hydraulic, rather than pedal power.

Answer 4

There were either Hydro or air and auto means that they were drivin. The ones that I have seen were like a joystick. You point the gun and it moves to that point. I hope this is clear as mud.