Ho-401 was a Japanese aircraft
autocannon
An autocannon, automatic cannon or machine cannon is a automatic firearm, fully automatic gun that is capable of rapid-firing large-caliber ( or more) armour-piercing, explosive or incendiary ammunition, incendiary shell (projectile), shells, ...
that saw limited, if any, use during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It was a large-caliber version of the 37 mm
Ho-203 cannon. The cannon was used on the
ground-attack
Close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires d ...
,
Kawasaki Ki-102
The Kawasaki Ki-102 or was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Kawasaki Ki-45, Ki-45 ''Toryu''. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102 Kō day Fighter aircraft, fighter, Ki-102 Otsu Attack aircraft, ground ...
b
heavy fighter
A heavy fighter is an historic category of fighter aircraft produced in the 1930s and 1940s, designed to carry heavier weapons or operate at longer ranges than light fighter aircraft. To achieve performance, most heavy fighters were twin-engine ...
of the
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF; ) was the Military aviation, aviation force of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Its primary mission was to provide tactical close air support for ground ...
.
[Gustin & Williams, p. 183]
Specifications
*Caliber: 57 mm (2.25 in)
*Ammunition: 57 x 121R (1,550 g)
*Weight: 150 kg (330 lb)
*Rate of fire: 80 rounds/min
*Muzzle velocity: 495 m/s (1,624 ft/s)
Citations
Bibliography
*
External links
The Pacific War Encyclopedia
Aircraft guns
Autocannon
Machine guns of Japan
57 mm artillery
{{Machinegun-stub