Ho-103 machine gun
Encyclopedia
The 12.7mm Type 1 was a Japan
ese aircraft machine gun
widely used during World War II
and also known as the Ho-103. The Ho-103 was actually a fixed gun and the Ho-104 a flexible gun. It was based on the American
.50-caliber M1921 aircraft Browning machine gun
but achieved a higher rate of fire by using a smaller, lower velocity Breda
(Vickers) cartridge, intermediate in length between the WW II German 12.7mm calibre MG 131
's 64mm length cartridge, and the long 99mm cartidge of the veteran American M2 Browning .50 calibre gun. Because of this, the gun was frequently loaded with explosive or incendiary ammunition in an attempt to increase terminal effects on aircraft.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese aircraft machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
widely used during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and also known as the Ho-103. The Ho-103 was actually a fixed gun and the Ho-104 a flexible gun. It was based on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.50-caliber M1921 aircraft Browning machine gun
Browning machine gun
Any of the following designs by John Browning, a prolific weapon designer, may be referred to as a Browning machine gun:*M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun*M1917 Browning machine gun, a family of water-cooled machine guns in .30-'06...
but achieved a higher rate of fire by using a smaller, lower velocity Breda
Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Breda Meccanica Bresciana, widely known simply as Breda, is a large Italian manufacturer of small arms and ammunition located in Brescia.-History:...
(Vickers) cartridge, intermediate in length between the WW II German 12.7mm calibre MG 131
MG 131 machine gun
The MG 131 was a German 13 mm caliber machine gun developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig and produced from 1940 to 1945...
's 64mm length cartridge, and the long 99mm cartidge of the veteran American M2 Browning .50 calibre gun. Because of this, the gun was frequently loaded with explosive or incendiary ammunition in an attempt to increase terminal effects on aircraft.