Ho-203 cannon

Ho-203 cannon
Type	Aircraft cannon
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
Wars	World War II
Specifications
Mass	89 kg (196 lb)
Length	1,532 mm (60.3 in)
Barrel  length	800 mm (31 in)
Cartridge	37 x 112R (475 g)
Calibre	37 mm (1.5 in)
Action	Long recoil-operated
Rate of fire	120 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	570 m/s (1,900 ft/s)
Effective firing range	900 m (3,000 ft)
Feed system	25-round drum

Ho-203 was a Japanese autocannon that saw considerable use during World War II. It was a long-recoil automation of the Year 11 Type direct-fire infantry gun. It was fed by a 25-round closed-loop ammunition belt. It was operationally used only as the nose gun of the Kawasaki Ki-45-KAIc and the Kawasaki Ki-102 heavy fighters of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. ^[1]

Specifications

• Caliber: 37 mm (1.45 in)
• Ammunition: 37 x 112R (475 g)
• Weight: 89 kg (196 lb)
• Rate of fire: 120 rounds/min
• Muzzle velocity: 570 m/s (1,870 ft/s)
• Effective range: 900 m (2,950 ft).

Similar ordnance designs

• 37mm Bordkanone BK 3,7 (Nazi Germany)
• Oldsmobile M4 cannon (United States)

See also

• Ho-5 cannon
• MK 108 cannon
• Ho-155 cannon
• Ho-204 cannon
• Ho-301 cannon
• Ho-401 cannon

References

1. Gustin & Williams, p. 183

Bibliography

• Gustin, Emmanuel; Williams, Anthony G. (2003). Flying Guns: The Development of Aircraft Guns, Ammunition and Installations 1933–1945. Marlborough, UK: Airlife. ISBN   978-1-84037-227-4.