The chief armament of the P-39 Airacobra model aircraft was the 37-mm (1.46-in.) M4 cannon, fed by a belt-type magazine holding 30 rounds. British Airacobras had a 20-mm (0.79-in.) cannon instead.
The pilot sat in an extremely well-protected cockpit, surrounded by armor to protect him from bullets. This was especially useful in the ground attack role.
In addition to the main canon, the Airacobra model aircraft had a pair of 12.7-mm (.303 cal.) machine-guns in the top of the forward fuselage. The P-39 could carry two more 12.7-mm guns in under wing pods.
Due to the cannon and engine installation, Bell had to design a tricycle undercarriage, the first in an operational fighter.
The engine was mounted immediately behind the pilot's seat, and a long shaft ran under the seat, through the cockpit to a gearbox below the propeller shaft.
A large percentage of the 9,558 Airacobras built wore the Soviet red star. Those were usually assigned to the elite Guards regiments.
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