Aircraft Gun List

The purpose of this page is to identify and lay out the basic details of every known aircraft gun developed by the Japanese military during WWII, of which there is often no data.

Table is incomplete. Sources for individual specs are being added.
Last Update MAY 2 2025

Army Machine Guns & Cannons

Gun Name	Format	Cartridge	Velocity	RPM	Weight	Full Length	Recoil	Feed	Ammo Pool	Design	Manufacture	Planned* or Fitted A/C	Notes
八九式旋回機関銃 Type 89 Flexible Machine Gun	Nambu-style gas-operated	7.7x58mmSR	810m/s⁽⁵⁾	1,400⁽⁵⁾⁽⁷⁾	28.0kg⁽⁵⁾	1,079mm⁽⁵⁾		Magazine (100 rnds)⁽⁵⁾	Type 89 Ball Shell⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾, Type 92 AP Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 92 Incendiary Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 92 Tracer Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 99 Special Incendiary Ball Shell (Ma-101)⁽⁶⁾		Kokura Army Arsenal, Nagoya Army Arsenal	Type 87 Heavy Bomber, Type 88 Recon Plane, Type 88 Light Bomber, Ki-1, Ki-2, Ki-3, Type 92 Recon Plane	twin barrel
八九式旋回機関銃（特） Type 89 Flexible Machine Gun (Special)	Nambu-style gas-operated	7.7x58mmSR	810m/s⁽⁵⁾	1,400⁽⁵⁾	31.9kg⁽⁵⁾	1,079mm⁽⁵⁾		Magazine (90 rnds)⁽⁵⁾			Kokura Army Arsenal, Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-32, Ki-48I	modification of magazine
八九式固定機関銃 Type 89 Fixed Machine Gun	Vickers-style recoil-operated	7.7x58mmSR	820m/s⁽⁵⁾	800⁽⁵⁾ 1,100⁽⁵⁾	12.6kg⁽⁵⁾	1,035mm⁽⁵⁾		Clip⁽⁵⁾			Kokura Army Arsenal, Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-21I Otsu, Ki-21II Kou, Ki-27 Kou, Ki-27 Otsu, Ki-43I Kou, Ki-43I Otsu, Ki-44I Kou, Ki-44II Kou, Ki-61I Kou	main Army fixed 7.7mm, domestic Vickers E
テ1・試製単銃身旋回機関銃 Te-1, Experimental Single-Barrel Flexible Machine Gun	Vickers-style recoil-operated	7.7x58mmSR		1,000⁽⁷⁾				Magazine				Ki-21I Kou, Ki-21I Otsu	flexible development of Type 89 Fixed MG
テ2・試製多銃身旋回機関銃 Te-2, Experimental Multi-Barrel Flexible Machine Gun	Nambu-style gas-operated	7.7x58mmSR											triple barrel development of Type 89 Flexible MG poor performance⁽⁷⁾
テ4・試製単銃身旋回機関銃二型 Te-4, Experimental Single-Barrel Flexible Machine Gun Mod.2	Nambu-style gas-operated	7.7x58mmSR	810m/s	730⁽⁷⁾	9.3kg	1,069mm		Magazine			Kokura Army Arsenal, Nagoya Army Arsenal		modified Type 89 Flexible MG with single-barrel
テ6・試製複銃身固定機関銃 Te-6, Experimental Double-Barrel Fixed Machine Gun	Nambu-style gas-operated	7.7x58mmSR								Nagoya Army Arsenal			easier to manufacture derivative of Te-4⁽⁷⁾
テ3・一式旋回機関銃 Te-3, Type 1 Flexible Machine Gun	BREN-style gas-operated	7.92x57mm	730m/s⁽⁷⁾ 810m/s⁽⁷⁾	1,500⁽⁷⁾ 2,200⁽⁷⁾	16.7kg	1,180mm		Magazine	Type 1 Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 1 AP Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 1 Incendiary Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 3 Special Incendiary Ball Shell (Ma-104)⁽⁶⁾		Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-48II, Ki-66	twin barrel
テ5・試製単銃身固定機関銃 Te-5, Experimental Single-Barrel Fixed Machine Gun	Browning-style recoil-operated	7.92x57mm	730m/s⁽⁷⁾	1,000⁽⁷⁾				Belt		Japan Special Steel			to replace Type 89 Fixed MG, but abandoned⁽⁷⁾ became Type 4 HMG for tanks
九八式旋回機関銃 Type 98 Flexible Machine Gun	Rheinmetall-style recoil-operated	7.92x57mm	730m/s⁽⁷⁾	1,100⁽⁷⁾	7.2kg	1,078mm		Magazine			Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-48II	domestic MG15
ホ101・試製十二.七粍固定機関砲一型 Ho-101, Experimental 12.7mm Fixed Machine Cannon Mod.1	Gas-operated⁽⁷⁾	12.7x81mmSR							Type 1 Ball Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 1 Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Ma-102⁽⁶⁾, Ma-103⁽⁶⁾, Ma-105⁽⁸⁾, Ma-106⁽⁸⁾	Kokura Army Arsenal			Type 89 Fixed MG with increased caliber poor performance⁽⁷⁾
ホ102・試製十二.七粍固定機関砲二型 Ho-102, Experimental 12.7mm Fixed Machine Cannon Mod.2	Breda-style ⁽⁷⁾	12.7x81mmSR										BR.20	Breda-SAFAT copy⁽⁷⁾ too heavy⁽⁷⁾
ホ103・試製十二.七粍固定機関砲三型・一式十二.七粍固定機関砲 Ho-103, Experimental 12.7mm Fixed Machine Cannon Mod.3, Type 1 12.7mm Fixed Machine Cannon	Browning-style recoil-operated	12.7x81mmSR	780m/s⁽⁷⁾	900⁽⁷⁾	23kg⁽⁷⁾	1,267mm		Belt		Central Mfg.	Nagoya Army Arsenal, Central Mfg.	Ki-21II Otsu, Ki-43I Otsu, Ki-43I Hei, Ki-43II, Ki-43III Kou, Ki-44I Kou, Ki-44I Otsu, Ki-44I Hei, Ki-44II Kou, Ki-44II Otsu, Ki-44II Hei, Ki-45 Kai Kou, Ki-45 Kai Otsu, Ki-48II Hei, Ki-61I Kou, Ki-61I Otsu, Ki-61I Hei, Ki-61I Tei, Ki-61II Kai, Ki-67I, Ki-67II, Ki-100I, Ki-100II, Ki-109	main Army 12.7mm, also installed in flexible mount for bombers etc.
ホ103II Ho-103II	Browning-style recoil-operated	12.7x81mmSR						Belt					Ho-103 with decreased weight and improved functions, failure⁽⁷⁾
ホ104・試製十二.七粍旋回機関砲 Ho-104, Experimental 12.7mm Flexible Machine Cannon	Gas-operated	12.7x81mmSR								Kokura Army Arsenal
ホ105 Ho-105		12.7x81mmSR											no record, presumed to exist
ホ106 Ho-106		12.7x81mmSR											twin barrel
九四式旋回機関砲 Type 94 Flexible Machine Cannon	Oerlikon-style Recoil-operated	20x99mmRB	680m/s⁽⁵⁾⁽⁷⁾	280⁽⁵⁾ 380⁽⁷⁾	54.0kg⁽⁵⁾⁽⁷⁾ (/w mag)	1,965mm⁽⁵⁾		Drum Mag (15 rnds)⁽⁵⁾	Type 94 HE Shell⁽⁵⁾ Type 94 Tracer Shell⁽⁵⁾			Ki-20
ホ1・試製二十粍旋回機関砲 Ho-1, Experimental 20mm Flexible Machine Cannon	Nambu-style gas-operated	20x125mm	820m/s⁽⁷⁾	400⁽⁷⁾	32.63kg	1,735mm		Magazine	HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Substitute HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, HE Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Substitute HE Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 2 HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 2 Substitute HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 2 HE Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 2 Substitute HE Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 2 AP Tracer Shell⁽⁶⁾, Ma-201⁽⁶⁾, Ma-202⁽⁶⁾, Ma-205⁽⁸⁾, Ma-206⁽⁸⁾	Japan Special Steel, Giken	Kokura Army Arsenal	Ki-49I, Ki-49II
ホ2・試製二十粍固定機関砲 Ho-2, Experimental 20mm Fixed Machine Cannon
ホ3・試製二十粍固定機関砲二型 Ho-3, Experimental 20mm Fixed Machine Cannon Mod.2	Nambu-style gas-operated	20x125mm	846m/s	400⁽⁷⁾	45kg	1,740mm		Magazine		Japan Special Steel, Giken	Kokura Army Arsenal	Ki-45 Kai Kou, Ki-45 Kai Hei	Ho-1 derived fixed version with increased lifespan⁽⁷⁾
ホ4・試製二十粍旋回機関銃四型 Ho-4, Experimental 20mm Flexible Machine Cannon Mod.4	Nambu-style gas-operated⁽⁷⁾	20x125mm								Japan Special Steel			improved functions over Ho-1 and Ho-3⁽⁷⁾
ホ5・試製二十粍翼内固定機関砲・二式軽量二十粍固定機関砲 Ho-5, Experimental 20mm in-Wing Fixed Machine Cannon, Type 2 Lightweight 20mm Fixed Machine Cannon	Browning-style recoil-operated	20x94mm	735m/s⁽⁷⁾	800⁽⁷⁾	37kg⁽⁷⁾	1,444mm	0.8t⁽⁷⁾	Belt		Central Mfg.	Kokura Army Arsenal, Nagoya Army Arsenal, Hitachi	Ki-43III Otsu, Ki-45 Kai Tei, Ki-46 Otsu, Ki-46 Otsu+Hei, Ki-61I Tei, Ki-61II, Ki-67I, Ki-67II, Ki-83, Ki-84 Kou, Ki-84 Otsu, Ki-84 Hei, Ki-93, Ki-100, Ki-102 Kou, Ki-102 Otsu, Ki-102 Hei, Ki-201*	main Army 20mm
ホ5II Ho-5II	Browning-style recoil-operated	20x94mm	800m/s⁽⁷⁾	700⁽⁷⁾	35kg⁽⁷⁾	1450mm⁽⁷⁾		Belt					lightened Ho-5 with improved functions and fire rate, failure⁽⁷⁾
ホ6・試製二十粍翼内固定機関砲 Ho-6, Experimental 20mm in-Wing Fixed Machine Cannon	Gas-operated	20mm								Kokura Army Arsenal
ホ7・試製二十粍旋回機関砲 Ho-7, Experimental 20mm Flexible Machine Cannon		20mm								Nagoya Army Arsenal
ホ10 Ho-10		20mm
ホ11 Ho-11		20mm
ホ12 Ho-12		20x125mm	900m/s	600	54.9kg	2,009mm		Belt					velocity increased Ho-1/Ho-3⁽⁸⁾
マウザー Mauser	Recoil-operated	20x82mm	700m/s	800	42kg	1,766mm		Belt		Mauser	Mauser	Ki-61I Hei	MG 151/20
ホ式二十五粍機関砲 Type Ho 25mm Machine Cannon	Gas-operated	25mm											failure
ホ51 Ho-51	Browning-style recoil-operated	25x115mm	692m/s	400	55kg					Central Mfg.			miniaturized breech⁽⁸⁾
ホ52 Ho-52	Browning-style recoil-operated	25x150mm
ホ151 Ho-151		30mm							Ma-301⁽⁸⁾				30mm machine cannon based on Type Ra 37mm⁽⁸⁾
ホ152 Ho-152		30mm											push-through belt⁽⁸⁾
ホ153 Ho-153	Bofors-style recoil-operated⁽⁸⁾	30mm											Bofors-style⁽⁸⁾
ホ154 Ho-154		30mm											no record, presumed to exist
ホ155I・試製三十粍固定機関砲 Ho-155I, Experimental 30mm Fixed Machine Cannon	Browning-style recoil-operated	30x114mm	700m/s⁽⁷⁾	600⁽⁷⁾	50kg⁽⁷⁾	1,930mm	1.5t⁽⁷⁾	Belt		Nagoya Army Arsenal	Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-83, Ki-94II, Ki-102 Hei
ホ155II・試製三十粍固定機関砲 Ho-155II, Experimental 30mm Fixed Machine Cannon	Browning-style recoil-operated	30x114mm	700m/s⁽⁷⁾	500⁽⁷⁾	50kg⁽⁷⁾	1,510mm	1.5t⁽⁷⁾	Belt		Nagoya Army Arsenal	Nagoya Army Arsenal, Kokura Army Arsenal	Ki-84I Hei, Ki-200, Ki-201
ホ156 Ho-156		30mm											velocity increased Ho-155
九八式三十七粍戦車砲 Type 98 37mm Tank Cannon		37mm							Type 94 HE Shell⁽⁶⁾ Type 94 Substitute AP Shell⁽⁶⁾			Ki-45 Kai Otsu
ホ201・試製三十七粍旋回機関砲一型 Ho-201, Experimental 37mm Flexible Machine Cannon Mod.1	Gas-operated	37mm							Type 4 HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 4 Substitute HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 4 AP Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 4 Substitute AP Shell⁽⁶⁾, Type 4 Special Incendiary Shell (Ma-351)⁽⁶⁾⁽⁸⁾	Kokura Army Arsenal
ホ202・試製三十七旋回機関砲二型 Ho-202, Experimental 37mm Flexible Machine Cannon Mod.2	Recoil-operated	37mm								Nagoya Army Arsenal
ホ203・試製三十七粍旋回機関砲三型 Ho-203, Experimental 37mm Flexible Machine Cannon Mod.3	Recoil-operated	37x111mmR	570m/s⁽⁷⁾	100⁽⁷⁾	80kg⁽⁷⁾	1,500mm	0.7t⁽⁷⁾	Magazine		Japan Special Steel	Japan Special Steel, Nagoya Army Arsenal, Kokura Army Arsenal	Ki-45 Kai Hei
ホ204・試製三十七粍旋回機関砲四型 Ho-204, Experimental 37mm Flexible Machine Cannon Mod.4	Browning-style recoil-operated	37x144mm	710m/s⁽⁷⁾	400⁽⁷⁾	130kg⁽⁷⁾	2,460mm⁽⁷⁾	1.3t⁽⁷⁾	Magazine		Central Mfg.	Central Mfg., Nagoya Army Arsenal, Kokura Army Arsenal	Ki-46III Otsu+Hei, Ki-102 Kou, Ki-108, Ki-108 Kai
ホ205 Ho-205	Browning-style recoil-operated	37mm											velocity-increased Ho-204⁽⁸⁾
ホ206 Ho-206		37mm											reduced scale Ho-204⁽⁸⁾
ホ301・試製四十粍固定機関砲 Ho-301, Experimental 40mm Fixed Machine Cannon	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	40mm	220m/s⁽⁷⁾	400⁽⁷⁾	40kg⁽⁷⁾	1,520mm⁽⁷⁾	0.8t⁽⁷⁾	Magazine	HE Shell⁽⁶⁾, Substitute HE Shell⁽⁶⁾	Central Mfg.	Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-44II Otsu, Ki-45 Kai Bo
ホ251 Ho-251		47mm	700m/s	250	350kg	2,667mm				Kokura Army Arsenal			to research firing rate of large-caliber guns⁽⁸⁾
ホ401 Ho-401	Recoil-operated	57x121mmR	500m/s⁽⁷⁾	80⁽⁷⁾	150kg⁽⁷⁾	1,980mm⁽⁷⁾	1.0t⁽⁷⁾	Magazine	Substitute Shell⁽⁷⁾, HE Shell⁽⁷⁾, AP Shell⁽⁷⁾	Japan Special Steel	Japan Special Steel, Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-102 Otsu
ホ402 Ho-402	Recoil-operated	57x477mmR	700m/s⁽⁷⁾	80⁽⁷⁾	400kg⁽⁷⁾	4,500mm⁽⁷⁾	1.5t⁽⁷⁾	Magazine			Nagoya Army Arsenal	Ki-93*	velocity increased Ho-401⁽⁸⁾ for killing tanks
ホ403 Ho-403		57mm	700m/s		340kg	2,794mm				Kokura Army Arsenal			fire-rate increase⁽⁸⁾
ホ3057 Ho-3057		57mm	500m/s⁽⁷⁾	400⁽⁷⁾									Ho-301 derived rocket gun⁽⁷⁾
ホ3157 Ho-3157		57x187mmRB	600m/s⁽⁷⁾	300⁽⁷⁾									Ho-301 derived rocket gun⁽⁷⁾
「キ109」搭載砲 ‘Ki-109’ Mounted Cannon		75x497mmR	720m/s	20	740kg	3,312mm	4.8t	Manual				Ki-109	Type 88 7cm AA, to kill stratbombers
ホ501 Ho-501		75x185mmR	500m/s⁽⁷⁾	80⁽⁷⁾	450kg⁽⁷⁾							Ki-93*	uses Type 41 Mountain Gun cartridge
ホ502 Ho-502		75mm											velocity-increased Ho-501⁽⁸⁾
ホ503 Ho-503		75mm											no record, presumed to exist
ホ504 Ho-504		75mm											no record, presumed to exist
ホ505 Ho-505		75mm											recoilless
ホ506 Ho-506		75mm											no record, presumed to exist
ホ507 Ho-507		75mm											rocket gun
ホ3057 Ho-3075		75mm	450m/s⁽⁷⁾	300⁽⁷⁾									larger Ho-3057 plan abandoned
ホ3157 Ho-3175		75mm	500m/s⁽⁷⁾	200⁽⁷⁾									larger Ho-3157 plan abandoned
ホ601 Ho-601		120mm	300m/s⁽⁷⁾										for attacking small vessels
ホ701 Ho-701		150mm											larger Ho-601 plan

Navy Machine Guns & Cannons

Gun Name	Format	Cartridge	Velocity	RPM	Weight	Length	Recoil	Feed	Design	Manufacture	Planned* or Fitted A/C	Notes
九二式七粍七旋回機銃一型 Type 92 7.7mm Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1	Lewis-style gas-operated⁽¹⁾	7.7x56mmR	745m/s⁽¹⁾	700⁽¹⁾	8.2kg⁽¹⁾	967mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (97 rnds)⁽¹⁾		Toyokawa Navy Arsenal, Yokosuka Navy Arsenal	F1M2⁽¹⁾, D3A2⁽¹⁾, D4Y1⁽¹⁾, B6N2⁽¹⁾, Q1W1⁽¹⁾, E13A1⁽¹⁾, E14Y1⁽¹⁾,E15K1⁽¹⁾, E16A1⁽¹⁾, H8K2⁽¹⁾, H8K3⁽¹⁾
九二式七粍七旋回機銃一型改一 Type 92 7.7mm Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1 Kai 1	Lewis-style gas-operated	7.7x56mmR
九七式七粍七固定機銃三型改二 Type 97 7.7mm Fixed Machine Gun Mod.3 Kai 2	Vickers-style recoil-operated⁽¹⁾	7.7x56mmR	745m/s⁽¹⁾	860⁽¹⁾	13.3kg⁽¹⁾	1,033mm⁽¹⁾		Belt	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾, Japan Steel Works⁽⁴⁾	D3A2⁽¹⁾, D4Y1⁽¹⁾, F1M2⁽¹⁾, A6M1⁽¹⁾, A6M2⁽¹⁾, A6M2-N⁽¹⁾, A6M5⁽¹⁾, J1N1-R⁽¹⁾, J2M2⁽¹⁾, N1K1⁽¹⁾, N1K1-J⁽¹⁾, E16A1⁽¹⁾	left or right feeding
一式七粍九旋回機銃一型 Type 1 7.9mm Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1	Rheinmetall-style blowback-operated⁽¹⁾	7.92x57mm	785m/s⁽¹⁾	1,000⁽¹⁾	6.9kg⁽¹⁾	1,080mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (75 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾, Tagajō Navy Arsenal, Yokosuka Navy Arsenal	C6N1⁽¹⁾	domestic MG15
二式十三粍旋回機銃一型 Type 2 13mm Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1	Rheinmetall-style recoil-operated⁽¹⁾	13.0x64mmB	750m/s⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾	900⁽¹⁾ 936⁽³⁾	17.1kg⁽¹⁾ 17.148kg⁽³⁾	1,169mm⁽¹⁾ 1,167mm⁽³⁾		Belt⁽¹⁾		Toyokawa Navy Arsenal	R1Y1⁽¹⁾, M6A1⁽¹⁾, G7M1⁽¹⁾, G8N1⁽¹⁾	domestic MG131
三式十三粍固定機銃一型 Type 3 13mm Fixed Machine Gun Mod.1	Browning-style recoil-operated⁽¹⁾	13.2x99mm	800m/s⁽¹⁾	800⁽¹⁾	28kg⁽¹⁾	1,330mm⁽¹⁾		Belt		Suzuka Navy Arsenal, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal
三式十三粍旋回機銃一型 Type 3 13mm Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1	Browning-style recoil-operated	13.2x99mm	800m/s	800	34kg	1,550mm			Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾, Suzuka Navy Arsenal, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal	G4M3⁽¹⁾, G7M1*⁽¹⁾
十四試十四粍固定機銃一型 Trial-14 14mm Fixed Machine Gun Mod.1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	14.5x100mmRB	970m/s	630	28kg	1,640mm		Magazine
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃一型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	450				Magazine	Great Japan Weapons
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃一型改一 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.1 Kai 1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	450				Magazine	Great Japan Weapons			modification to shell ejection port
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃一一型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.11	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	520				Magazine	Great Japan Weapons
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃一一型改一 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.11 Kai 1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	520				Magazine	Great Japan Weapons			modification to shell ejection port
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃一一型改二 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.11 Kai 2	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	20x72mmRB	600m/s⁽¹⁾	535⁽¹⁾	23.2kg⁽¹⁾	1,360mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (30/45 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons		P1Y!⁽¹⁾, G4M1, G4M2⁽¹⁾, G4M3⁽¹⁾, H8K2⁽¹⁾, H8K3⁽¹⁾
九九式二十粍一號旋回機銃四型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Flexible Machine Gun Mod.4	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	535				Magazine	Great Japan Weapons		G4M2⁽¹⁾, H8K2⁽¹⁾, H8K3⁽¹⁾	Fixed Mk.1 Mod.3 used with a powered mount
九九式二十粍一號固定機銃二型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.2	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s⁽³⁾	520⁽³⁾	23kg⁽³⁾	1,331mm⁽³⁾		Magazine (60/100 rnds)⁽³⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal
九九式二十粍一號固定機銃二型改一 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.2 Kai 1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	20x72mmRB	600m/s⁽¹⁾	535⁽¹⁾	23.3kg⁽¹⁾	1,360mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (60/100 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal
九九式二十粍一號固定機銃三型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.3	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	20x72mmRB	600m/s⁽¹⁾	535⁽¹⁾	23.3kg⁽¹⁾	1,360mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (60/100 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal	N1K1⁽¹⁾, A6M2⁽¹⁾, A6M2-N⁽¹⁾, J2M2⁽¹⁾	electrical firing, otherwise prev
九九式二十粍一號固定機銃四型 Type 99 20mm Mk.1 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.4	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x72mmRB	600m/s	550	27.2kg	1,331mm		Belt	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal	J2M3⁽¹⁾	change to belt feed
九九式二十粍二號固定機銃三型 Type 99 20mm Mk.2 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.3	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	20x101mmRB	750m/s⁽¹⁾	480⁽¹⁾	33.5kg⁽¹⁾	1,890mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (100 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Tagajō Navy Arsenal	J1N1-S⁽¹⁾, J1N1-R⁽¹⁾, A6M5⁽¹⁾, G4M2⁽¹⁾, G4M3⁽¹⁾, H8K2⁽¹⁾, H8K3⁽¹⁾	electrical firing
九九式二十粍二號固定機銃三型特 Type 99 20mm Mk.2 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.3 Special	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x101mmRB	750m/s	480	33.5kg	1,890mm		Magazine	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Tagajō Navy Arsenal		pneumatic charging pump
九九式二十粍二號固定機銃四型 Type 99 20mm Mk.2 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.4	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	20x101mmRB	750m/s⁽¹⁾	500⁽¹⁾	30kg⁽¹⁾	1,888mm⁽¹⁾		Belt⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Tagajō Navy Arsenal	J2M3⁽¹⁾, N1K2-J⁽¹⁾, A7M1⁽¹⁾, A7M2, J4M1⁽¹⁾, J5N1⁽¹⁾, J6K1⁽¹⁾, P1Y2-S⁽¹⁾, G7M1⁽¹⁾, S1A1⁽¹⁾	change to belt feed
九九式二十粍二號固定機銃四型 Type 99 20mm Mk.2 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.4	Oerlikon-style API-blowback	20x101mmRB	750m/s	620	38kg	1,885mm	1.5t	Belt	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Tagajō Navy Arsenal	J2M3⁽¹⁾, N1K2-J⁽¹⁾, A7M1⁽¹⁾, A7M2, J4M1⁽¹⁾, J5N1⁽¹⁾, J6K1⁽¹⁾, P1Y2-S⁽¹⁾, G7M1⁽¹⁾, G8N1⁽¹⁾, S1A1⁽¹⁾	fire-rate improved in production
九九式二十粍二號固定機銃五型 Type 99 20mm Mk.2 Fixed Machine Gun Mod.5	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽²⁾	20x101mmRB	750m/s⁽²⁾	750⁽²⁾	38kg⁽²⁾	1,840mm⁽²⁾	2.5t⁽²⁾	Belt⁽²⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons, Tagajō Navy Arsenal	A7M3*	fire-rate improved
十八試二十粍固定機銃 Trial-18 20mm Fixed Machine Gun	Gas-operated⁽²⁾	20x98mm	750m/s⁽²⁾	700⁽²⁾	42kg⁽²⁾	1,950mm⁽²⁾	1.5t⁽²⁾	Belt⁽²⁾	Kūgishō		J6K1*
十七試二十五粍固定機銃 Trial-17 25mm Fixed Machine Gun	Recoil-operated	25x163mm	900m/s	400~450	75kg	2,240mm			Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾		based on Type 96 25mm MG novel muzzle brake design to reduce recoil
二式三十粍固定機銃一型 Type 2 30mm Fixed Machine Gun Mod.1	Oerlikon-style API-blowback⁽¹⁾	30x92mm	710m/s⁽¹⁾	400⁽¹⁾	50.9kg⁽¹⁾	2,095mm⁽¹⁾		Magazine (42 rnds)⁽¹⁾	Great Japan Weapons	Great Japan Weapons	A6M3, J2M2, P1Y2-S
十七試三十粍固定機銃一型甲 Trial-17 30mm Fixed Machine Gun Model 1 Kō	Gas/recoil/API-operated	30x122mm	750m/s	350	80kg	2,218mm		Belt	Kūgishō	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾, Toyokawa Navy Arsenal	J2M5, J4M1, J5N1, D4Y2-S, J7W1, A7M3-J*, S1A1⁽¹⁾
十七試三十粍固定機銃一型乙 Test-17 30mm Fixed Machine Gun Model 1 Otsu 五式三十粍固定機銃一型 Type 5 30mm Fixed Machine Gun Mod.1	Gas/recoil/API-operated	30x122mm	750m/s 800m/s⁽⁴⁾	450⁽⁴⁾	68kg⁽⁴⁾	2,090mm		Belt⁽⁴⁾	Japan Special Steel
十七試四十粍固定機銃 Test-17 40mm Fixed Machine Gun	Recoil-operated⁽²⁾	40x150mm	700m/s⁽²⁾	220⁽²⁾	180kg⁽²⁾	2,500mm⁽²⁾	3.0t⁽²⁾	Belt⁽²⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾	Kūgishō⁽⁴⁾
仮称五式空八糎砲 Tentatively Named Type 5 Aerial 8cm Cannon	Manual-loaded⁽²⁾	76.2x405mmR	600m/s⁽²⁾		520kg⁽²⁾	3,200mm⁽²⁾	4.0t⁽²⁾				P1Y	based on Type 3rd-Year 8cm AA, to kill stratbombers

Translations and Interrogations No. 16 (CINCPAC-CINCPOA) 20 Jan 1945
主要試作兵器ノ要目性能表（第一海軍技術廠）終戦後
Translations and Interrogations No. 21 (CINCPAC-CINCPOA) 12 Mar 1945
Translations and Interrogations No. 22 (CINCPAC-CINCPOA) 20 Mar 1945
Translations and Interrogations No. 34 (CINCPAC-CINCPOA) 27 Jun 1945
Translations and Interrogations No. 36 (CINCPAC-CINCPOA) 14 Jul 1945
Ordnance Technical Intelligence Report 19
航空機用機関砲及弾薬略号（陸軍）昭和十九年七月

7 responses to “Aircraft Gun List”

ZeroTheHero
August 17th, 2023
Absolutely outstanding!
I must say the Te-3 Type 1 flexible machine gun really jumped out at me- 2,200 rpm cyclic rate?! The highest I’ve seen of any WW2 machine gun.
Prototype? Multi-barrel? Belt-fed? Are just a few of the questions I have.
Was a Ginga ever fitted with the Type 5 Aerial 8cm cannon?!
Looking forward to any and all future updates to this section as well!
Thank you!
1. qaz
  September 6th, 2023
  Hello, sorry for replying late,
  Te-3 is a double barrel MG (I added a note now). It received a service name and was fitted to some planes, but did not pass testing for durability. The performance of the gun is contradictory between sources.
  Type 5 Aerial 8 cm Cannon was based on 3rd Year Type AA. It was fitted to Ginga and test fired many times in 1945 according to one record, but it is unclear if it flew (it’s written that they managed to stop the decomposition of the airframe while firing…). More clearly, it did not take part in combat. It’s basically the Navy version of Ki-109, and due to 76.2 mm caliber, the largest Japanese aircraft gun actually built.
  1. ZeroTheHero
    January 14th, 2024
    A late reply is better than no reply at all. There is a series of pics of a Ki-48, with a twin-barreled MG in the upper rear position, (At Clark Field, IIRC). I’m fairly certain I’ve seen pics of another aircraft also armed with the same MG, but can’t recall.
    It would be fantastic to find pics of the Ginga armed with the Type 5, Aerial 8cm cannon.
  2. ZeroTheHero
    January 17th, 2024
    Here’s the link featuring a doubled-barreled MG on a Ki-48.
    https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/close-up-of-ki-48-rear-gun-position-45/
    The Twin-Barrel Type 89 seems to have a wider space between the barrels and sectioned cheese-wheel type mag. Whereas the gun linked above has closer spaced barrels and saddle-type mag. The Arawasi blog here: https://arawasi-wildeagles.blogspot.com/search/label/Kawasaki%20Ki-48%20%22Lily%22 shows a Ki-48 with Type 89 Twin-barrel MG, with the sectioned cheese-wheel mag (for lack of a better term, LOL)
    1. qaz
      January 19th, 2024
      That’s quite right, this is a Ki-48-II equipped with a Type 1 Flexible MG (Te-3).
      Japanese Army MGs are quite poorly understood and the designations are often mixed up. Especially in English, but even in Japanese books.
      Here you can see that the Ki-48-I was equipped with 試製単銃身旋回機関銃二型 [Exp. Single-Barrel Flexible MG Mod.2], which is Te-4, in the nose and lower rear stations.
      You can also see that Ki-48-I was equipped with 八九式旋回機関銃（特）[Type 89 Flexible MG (Special)] in the upper rear station.
      https://karyu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ki-48-weapons.png
      On the other hand, as in your photo, you can see here that the later Ki-48-II variant was equipped with the 一式旋回機関銃 (Type 1 Flexible MG), which is the newer Te-3, in the upper rear station.
      https://karyu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ki-48ii-upper-gun.png
      And you can see in the second link that the lower rear station of Ki-48-II was equipped with the newer 九八式旋回機関銃 (Type 98 Flexible MG). The nose was also equipped with the Type 98.
      https://karyu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ki-48ii-lower-gun.png
      I need to add much more detail to these tables, but at the moment my current site formatting does not allow it to fit, and I am a bit busy for now…
      1. ZeroTheHero
        January 19th, 2024
        Thank you for the great links and extra info. Looking forward to further updates.
        Ki-48 with field modified cheek-guns, close-up
        https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/ki-48-nose-gun-position-clark-field-feb1945-3/
        Another view of double-barreled dorsal gun
        https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/ki-48-rear-gun-position-45/
        Ki-48 nose gun close-up
        https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/ki-48-nose-gun-position-clark-field-feb1945-2/
        Ki-48 nose gun close-up, side view
        https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/ki-48-nose-gun-position-clark-field-feb1945/
        Ki-48 with field modified cheek guns, whole aircraft visible
        https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/japan/aircrafts/ki-48/ki-48-ii-16-sentai-manchuria/
Dan
August 18th, 2024
Hey Qaz
Where can I find those drawings of Ki-48 armament?
Wish I’d reread this section before my question/comment on the J2M 30mm cannon installment in a previous post, oops.
I see that the 30mm in the J2M were in fact mag fed, 42rds each.
I noticed at times in other places on the internet in which these topics are addressed, people have asked why the belt-fed guns have a lower cyclic rate (not knowing at the time I hadn’t “chimed in” as they say.) It’s quite simple really: belt-fed guns actually use the firing, recoiling and firing again cycle to drag/pull the shells/bullets into the gun- the entire weight of a full belt of ammunition has to be dragged/pulled through the gun and with the correct measuring equipment one can see (and hear) the cyclic rate actually increases as the belt becomes lighter due to the cartridges being fired and ejected.
Drum/mag fed guns have a spring that actually pushes the shells/bullets into the gun, eliminating all the mechanical drag of a belt of ammo.
The insanely high cyclic rate of modern multi-barrel gatling/rotary guns is only because they all have powered (electric or hydraulic) feeding systems that again, push the shells into the gun.
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Aircraft Gun List

Army Machine Guns & Cannons

Navy Machine Guns & Cannons

7 responses to “Aircraft Gun List”

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