Author Topic: MK 103 (Read 967 times)

Hristo · « **on:** October 19, 1999, 11:44:00 AM »

Please, does anyone know what plane types, besides Do 335, were equipped with MK 103 ?

Hristo,
I/JG 51

Vermillion · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 1999, 12:28:00 PM »

I know that the Me-410 carried the Mk103 in some configurations.

And I believe that the Hs-129 did as well, but I could be wrong.

------------------
Vermillion
WB's: (verm--), *MOL*, Men of Leisure, Goldlandia
AW's: (verm) ACCS, Aerial Crowd Control Services, Cland

funked · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 1999, 12:51:00 AM »

Hs 129 carried a single MK 103 under the cockpit.

Fw 190A and F carried it in wing pods but this wasn't mass-produced.

Pyro · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 1999, 12:59:00 AM »

Experimental or in actual field-use?

------------------
Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations

Werewolf · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 1999, 04:23:00 AM »

Due to heavvy weight and its dimensions it has been used only by few planes in field use.

Henschel HS 126
Me 210 / 410 "Hornisse" in outboard gondolas
Dornier Do 335 "Pfeil" firing through spinner

I am not sure about field use on models of the FW 190 but it has been taken into consideration to equip the Ta 152 with it.

Check 6

Werewo
JG 301 "Heimatverteidigung"

Werewolf · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 1999, 04:39:00 AM »

Just to mention it, I hacve sent out a request to Rheinmetall in order to acquire ballistic tables and technical data on the big guns of LW planes. Hopefully they have archives that will tell us more on these two developements of Rheinmetall-Borsig.

Werewo
JG 301 "Heimatverteidigung"

Werewolf · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 1999, 04:47:00 AM »

Another clue:

In one of my books "Die Bomber kommen" by H.J. Nowarra, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH, there is a picture of a FW 190 A-6/R3 with MK 103 cannons equipped in gondolas under wing. Alas I have no scanner at hand but I will try to get my hands on one and to post it.

funked · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 1999, 05:24:00 AM »

The MK103 on the Fw 190A was known as the /R3 kit.

Source is Joe Baugher's site. http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_other/fw190.html#RTFToC1

Fw 190A-5
"Fw 190A-5/U11- attack aircraft with two 30 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 103 cannons mounted in underwing pods; only one plane existed (W.Nr. 151303, RG+ZA). This kind of armament became later standard as Rustsatz 3 (R3) kit. "

Fw 190A-6
"Fw 190A-6/R3 - equivalent to the A-5/U11 model, armament: 2x1 MG 17 machine guns, 2x1 MG 151/20 E and 2x1 MK 103 cannons; not serially produced. "

Fw 190A-7
"Apart from standard A-7 models there were three modification kits (Rustsatz) provided : R1, R2, R3."

Fw 190A-8
"The Fw 190A-8, like previous models, could be equipped with different Rustsatz kits: R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, R8, R11, R12; but R1, R3 and R4 were abandoned shortly thereafter and generally R2, R6, R7 and R8 kits were used."

Fw 190F-3
"The next plane would have been the Fw 190F-3/R3 with two 30 mm MK 103 canons mounted under the wings. It was not produced because of negative test results from the similarly armed Fw 190A-5/U11 (W.Nr. 151303), which was too heavy. In addition it was realized that the MK 103 cannon munitions could not penetrate Russian T-34 tank armor. Only three Fw 190F-3/R3 with two MK 103 cannons were built. "

Fw 190F-8
"Fw 190F-8/R3 - attack plane with two MK 103 30 mm cannons, similar to the A-5/U11 variant. Only two planes built"

Looks like only 6 Fw 190's were built with MK103, unless there were a bunch of A-8/R3 and A-7/R3 built.

But there were only 80 A-7's built total, and it says they phased out the /R3 kit quickly on the A-8.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 10-20-1999).]

funked · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 1999, 05:41:00 AM »

Werewolf, the Do 335B had MK 103 in wing blisters. Total of 3 x MK 103.

Ta 152 was not fitted with MK 103 to my knowledge.

Werewolf · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 1999, 06:38:00 AM »

Yep, right funked the Do 335 had 3 of the big guns.

Hristo · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 1999, 10:37:00 AM »

Found something. I am not sure of the version/type of 190, but the big gun sure is there.

Wing root MG 151/20 is still there too.

Hristo,
I/JG 51

Jagdgeschwader 51 “Mölders”

Werewolf · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 1999, 12:53:00 PM »

Hristo, that is the picture i described before. Well know I am in no need to buy me a scanner anymore

Werewo

funked · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 1999, 01:31:00 PM »

That's the /R3 kit in that picture.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 10-20-1999).]

fats · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 1999, 02:45:00 PM »

rh53 and I talked about the use of the Mk 103 on Fw 190, but as far as I recall neither of us had any reference handy which describes its operational use.

//fats

Werewolf · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 1999, 05:12:00 PM »

Well the book I mentioned before gives some info that it has been used in late 1943 until 1944 by some squadrons intercepting the Fortresses over Germany. A time when escorts had been low numbers over central germany.