Japanese Army 37mm aircraft guns

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genkideskan

Airman 1st Class
The Ho 203 was with a length of 1,50m and a weight of 89 kg a very compact weapon.It fires the 37 x 111 R cartridge.The cage is fixed to the gun and holds an 15 shot belt. Rate of fire was 120 rd/ min.

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Ho 203 is written to the cartridge case and the projectile is shorter and lighter than the original load for the Type 11 (1922) army infantry gun.

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It was used in the nose of the Kawasaki Nick fighter and trials where made in Dinah rec. planes in the night fighter role. To that the Ki - 45 Nick used 2 x
20mm Ho - 5 guns firing up and forward. Big flashhiders prevent the blinding or dazzling of the pilot


Nick.gif


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Hi genkideskan,

Little more history about the gun that I have.

In Service 1943-1945
Cartridge: 37 X 111R
Muzzle Velocity 1,890 ft per second
Effective Range 900m (2,950 ft)
Weight 89kg
Length 1.52m
Developer Japan Special Steel
Known Makers: Japan Special Steel: Kokura and Nagoya Army Arsenals.
 
Japanese Army 37mm Ho 204 aircraft gun


Annother Army 37mm gun was the Ho 204. A belt feed Browning system gun.

37mmHo204.jpg



The gun weights about 130 Kg at a length of 2,47 meter, muzzle velocity 710m/sec and a rate of fire 400 rds/min. The design was started as an airborn anti tank gun in wing pods or in fuselage installation. The 37 x 145 cartridge was a new developement.

37x145Ho204.jpg



It was used f.e. in the Ki 46 III Dinah. I still look to find more fotos.

DinahHo204.jpg



DinahHo2042.jpg



DinahKi-46III.jpg




SUCCESS :) I just found a Ki 102 Randy with a Ho 204 in a nose mount

Ki102Randy.jpg



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I must correct my post. The Ki 44 never used wing mounted 37mm Ho 203 guns.
Discussing it with T. Bradstreet and regarding to posts of T. Williams, it is fact that regarding to jpn. documents the Ho 203 gun was never used in Ki 44. The gun was too bulky and the cage is part of the feed mechanismus and cant be removed withou major modifications.

The guns pictured must be Ho 301.
 

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