But in so doing B
comes within the firing arc of A (position 9). To minimise this
danger B ascends to a higher level to obtain the paramount
position.
If, however, B were equipped with an astern gun the aeroplane A
would be within the fire of B when the forward gun of the latter
could not be used. Similarly if A were also fitted with an
astern gun it would be able to attack its pursuer the whole
time B was to its rear and in this event, if its gun-fire were
superior, it would be able to keep the latter to a safe distance,
or compel B to manoeuvre into a superior position, which would
entail a certain loss of time.
An astern firing gun would be valuable to B in another sense.
Directly it had passed A or brought the latter within the zone of
its astern gun it could maintain its fire at the most
advantageous range, because owing to its speed it would be able
to dictate the distance over which shots should be exchanged and
if mounted with a superior weapon would be able to keep beyond
the range of A's guns while at the same time it would keep A
within range of its own gun and consequently rake the latter.
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