Ho-5 cannon

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Ho-05 cannon
Type-97 ho-103 ho-05 cannon.jpg
Type-97 (top), Ho-103 (middle), Ho-05 cannon (bottom) in Royal Thai Air Force Museum.
TypeAircraft autocannon
Place of originEmpire of Japan
Service history
Used by Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Wars World War II
Specifications
Mass37 kg (82 lb)
Length1,444 mm (56.9 in)[ citation needed ]
Barrel  length900 mm (35 in)

Cartridge 20×94mm
Calibre 20 mm (0.79 in)
Action Short recoil-operated
Rate of fire Early version: 820 rounds/min
Later version: 700-750 rounds/min
500 rounds/min (synchronized)
Muzzle velocity 735 m/s (2,410 ft/s)
Feed system150-round Belt

The Ho-5 (Army Type 2) was a Japanese aircraft autocannon used during World War II. Developed from the Ho-103 machine gun, it was a version of the American Model 1921 Browning aircraft machine gun. It replaced the Ho-1 and Ho-3 (Army Type 97) in general service. The Ho-5 was belt-fed using typical Browning-style steel disintegrating links. The cartridge used was a shortened version of the Allied 20 x 110mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404.

Contents

The Ho-5 was used mostly as wing mounts in late-war fighters but saw limited cowl-mounted use in fighters and as flexible-mounted defensive armament (retrofit) in bombers.

Specifications

See also

References