02.12.2008, 23:47
Have read this some time ago and was reminded of it recently. It's of use mostly for us simmers in assigning custom skins to the Ki-43-Ia, Ib and Ic in game.
It seems the earliest aircraft in service (China/Burma) used two Ho-103 12.7mm cannon fitted (AP, HE, HE-T loadouts), however due to the poor reliability of the early Ho-103 which jammed frequently one weapon was often switched to the more reliable 7.7mm Vickers type machine gun and this became the in service standard throughout the war, for all front line units. However as the Ki-43-I was replaced in the field by newer types (like the Ki-61 or 43-II) the earlier design was increasingly used in non-combat roles as liason and training aircraft. So these were often field modified with two 7.7mm machine guns.
In actual fact it appears the Ic model appeared only in small numbers initially, was often field modified or otherwised switched to the Ib version which formed its general equip, then finally the last remaining in service became the Ia model. Quite back to front of the commonly presented armament/model progression.
Here is a link to the associated paper, quite well researched.
http://www.warbirdforum.com/rdunn43.htm
It seems the earliest aircraft in service (China/Burma) used two Ho-103 12.7mm cannon fitted (AP, HE, HE-T loadouts), however due to the poor reliability of the early Ho-103 which jammed frequently one weapon was often switched to the more reliable 7.7mm Vickers type machine gun and this became the in service standard throughout the war, for all front line units. However as the Ki-43-I was replaced in the field by newer types (like the Ki-61 or 43-II) the earlier design was increasingly used in non-combat roles as liason and training aircraft. So these were often field modified with two 7.7mm machine guns.
In actual fact it appears the Ic model appeared only in small numbers initially, was often field modified or otherwised switched to the Ib version which formed its general equip, then finally the last remaining in service became the Ia model. Quite back to front of the commonly presented armament/model progression.
Here is a link to the associated paper, quite well researched.
http://www.warbirdforum.com/rdunn43.htm