MK103

[MiloMorai]

Dornier Do 335 by Karl-Heinz Regnat (Schiffer 2003) page 132.

The data is reproduced from the (original) Dornier Do 335 technical description manual pertaining to the Mk 103, to wit:

"One MK 103 in Mol 103/1A engine mount in forward engine, firing through the hollow propeller shaft. Rate of fire: sixty-five rounds per minute."

Shocking indeed.

The Do 335 only carried 70 rounds (possibly 65 rounds) (between Frames 1 and 2) for the MK 103. Unregulated the MK 103 would run at 380 r/m when firing HE/AP tracer, and at 420 r/m when firing Mine shells. 70 rounds at 380 r/m will give you 11-seconds of trigger time. 70 rounds at 420 r/m will give you 10-seconds. Factoring in the inherent inaccuracy of the weapon: "With a firing probability of 95%, it was calculated that 76 rounds would have to be fired from a range of 500 meters to achieve three hits on target. This figure rose to 203 rounds from 1,000 meters and 650 rounds from 1,500 meters," it was statistically impossible to hit anything at 380/420 r/m outside of 500 meters.

 

The Luftwaffe regulated the MK 103's rate of fire down to 65 r/m to improve it's statistical ability (not actual ability) to put rounds on target.

 

 

[Finkeren]

At that point you've basically made it a semi-automatic weapon. Why even bother adjusting the rate of fire at all?

[Kurfurst]

That sounds like a nice story arching all out to unicorn land from a probable typo/mistranslation of 65 rounds per gun. 

[MiloMorai]

Well Germany was unicorn land.

[Avimimus]

If it isn't a typo someone should inform Team Daidalos.

[tomo-pauk]

Dornier Do 335 by Karl-Heinz Regnat (Schiffer 2003) page 132.

 

The data is reproduced from the (original) Dornier Do 335 technical description manual pertaining to the Mk 103, to wit:

 

"One MK 103 in Mol 103/1A engine mount in forward engine, firing through the hollow propeller shaft. Rate of fire: sixty-five rounds per minute."

 

Shocking indeed.

 

The Do 335 only carried 70 rounds (possibly 65 rounds) (between Frames 1 and 2) for the MK 103. Unregulated the MK 103 would run at 380 r/m when firing HE/AP tracer, and at 420 r/m when firing Mine shells. 70 rounds at 380 r/m will give you 11-seconds of trigger time. 70 rounds at 420 r/m will give you 10-seconds. Factoring in the inherent inaccuracy of the weapon: "With a firing probability of 95%, it was calculated that 76 rounds would have to be fired from a range of 500 meters to achieve three hits on target. This figure rose to 203 rounds from 1,000 meters and 650 rounds from 1,500 meters," it was statistically impossible to hit anything at 380/420 r/m outside of 500 meters.

 

The Luftwaffe regulated the MK 103's rate of fire down to 65 r/m to improve it's statistical ability (not actual ability) to put rounds on target.

 

 

 

 

The '65 rounds per minute' statement is a mistake of the translator.

The text in the German (original) version of the book states that MK 103 was "...durch die hohle Luftschraubenwelle feurend. Schusszahl: Fuenfundsechsig." Or, in English, the MK 103 was "firing through the hollow prop shaft. Ammo count: sixty five". Luftwaffe did not regulated down the rate fire of the MK 103.

 

Firing at a target distant 500m to achieve 95% of hits was a domain of a guided missile, a cannon hitting the earial target onn that distance with so great chance of hit is just amazing. Trying to hit anything in air combat at 1000 m is even more amazing with ww2 tech.

Edited December 21, 2016 by tomo-pauk