- Six .50 caliber machine guns mounted in the wings, with 250 rounds per gun.
- Up to 2,000 pounds of bombs or rockets, carried on external hardpoints under the wings or fuselage.
- Four 5-inch HVARs (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets), carried on external hardpoints under the wings or fuselage.
The P-51's armament was designed to give it the firepower to engage enemy aircraft in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. The .50 caliber machine guns were effective against both enemy aircraft and ground targets, while the bombs and rockets could be used to destroy enemy installations and fortifications. The HVARs were a particularly effective weapon against ground targets, as they could be launched from a distance and were accurate enough to hit specific targets.
The P-51's armament was a major factor in its success as a fighter aircraft. The Mustang was one of the most effective fighter aircraft of World War II, and its armament played a key role in this success.
