Mk 103 3cm cannon

[Danziger]

Calling all 190 experts! Is there a reason the Mk 103 gondolas were not used for our A8/F8? 

[JtD]

Because in real life they were abandoned in an early stage of development. A couple of prototypes, showing that the MK103 caused more problems than they solved, plus the availability of the MK108 meant the MK103 wing armament never went into service.

[csThor]

To deepen the issues JtD alluded to: It was found that firing the Mk 103 gondolas induced considerable yawing which made accurate firing impossible. Attempts to harmonize the two guns to remove this problem failed and a solution didn't seem likely. Since the Mk 103 gondolas were initially intended to be used in the tank buster role the beginning (and promising) experiments with rocket-based anti-tank armament made the complex and economically expensive gun armament obsolete (the tungsten for the Mk 103 armor piercing shells was difficult to procure).

Edited September 14, 2019 by csThor

[Danziger]

Ah. So that's it then.

[Avimimus]

Indeed. The Mk-103 is a favourite of mine. The Mk-101 was tested on the Bf 110 C-6... and the Do-335... but probably the only way we'll see it on something other than the Hs-129 is the unlikely chance we'll get an Me-410... It'd be neat though!