Originally Posted by
draken55
Another point worth mentioning is that some heavy nighfighters like the Me110 weighed down with radar and cannon had a heck of a time catching Lancs. Greater speed may have been more of a defence than four 0.303 Brownings.
Very true. As for Schrag Musik, I'm not sure when they knew about it, certainly I hadn't until Alf Price mentioned it. One problem was, I imagine, the lack of survivors.
The other problem with a ventral turret, it would also vie for space with the bomb bay. If it was sited futher back, like the ASV on the Shack, it would have had to be retractable like the B17 which would also increase weight and, as you say, reduce speed.