Device range for aircraft weapons

[Chris21wen]

Range is confusing.

According to the aircraft database the range of the 20mm Type 99 cannon is 500 and the manual says it's measure in feet so 500ft it is.

The weapons database says 5 but the manual says it '(measured in 100 yards)' which isn't 500ft. I'm assuming this should say '(measured in 100 feet)'.

To make it more confusing the editor say the range box for devices is for K yards (or DC feet). No idea what DC feet but I'm making the assumption there's some math involved here otherwise the range of this cannon would be 5000yds?

So there's varying range 500ft, 500yd or 5000yds

Is it me?

[Sardaukar]

DC feet is probably depth charge max. depth.

[PaxMondo]

Range is confusing.

According to the aircraft database the range of the 20mm Type 99 cannon is 500 and the manual says it's measure in feet so 500ft it is.

The weapons database says 5 but the manual says it '(measured in 100 yards)' which isn't 500ft. I'm assuming this should say '(measured in 100 feet)'.

To make it more confusing the editor say the range box for devices is for K yards (or DC feet). No idea what DC feet but I'm making the assumption there's some math involved here otherwise the range of this cannon would be 5000yds?

So there's varying range 500ft, 500yd or 5000yds

Is it me?

No idea what "the aircraft database" is, but Scen 1 device data is:

Screenshot 2026-04-04 132504.jpg (64.38 KiB) Viewed 827 times

It clearly states that the range = 5, and the units are K yards equal to 4.57km.

And nothing can be interpreted in a vacuum, so here is the 50 cal which has a slightly lower range:

Screenshot 2026-04-04 132835.jpg (60.91 KiB) Viewed 827 times

The numbers look fine to me ... not sure what the issue is?

[Chris21wen]

The games plane and weapons database

Screenshot 2026-04-05 075236.jpg (69.45 KiB) Viewed 800 times

A6M2 extract from the Japanese Aircraft Database showing weapons

Screenshot 2026-04-05 074753.jpg (24.9 KiB) Viewed 800 times

Manual extract from section 5.4.1.2 Aircraft Model Data Screen
….
● Penetration rating of weapon.
● Range in feet.
● Weapon accuracy (takes into account the location).
….

20mm Type 99 Cannon from the Aircraft Weapons Database

Screenshot 2026-04-05 074904.jpg (36.38 KiB) Viewed 800 times

Manual extract form section 5.4.1.3 Aircraft Weapons Database
…..
Range – For machine guns, cannons and rockets the optimized convergence distance (measured in 100 yards) to the
target. For radars range is not an indication of distance but of additional chances to detect enemy raids.
….

I admit my knowledge of weapons range is poor but the post wasn't about the range itself but the inconsistency of those ranges when looked up.

You already shown the editor which is correct and looking on the web it is correct it's the manual that's wrong on two counts.

[Chris21wen]

DC feet is probably depth charge max. depth.

Never thought of that one. Thanks.

[Chris21wen]

I've just re-read these words and maybe work it out, or at least partially.

'For machine guns, cannons and rockets the optimized convergence distance (measured in 100 yards) to the target.t....'

Optimized convergence distance isn't the max range, more the effective range. So I'm assuming that the max range is 5000yds but the effective range is just 500yds or is it 500ft

I'm assuming that the aerial combat routines try to maneuver aircraft to this optimal distance before firing.

[RangerJoe]

The convergence distance is where the weapons are lined up so their bullets/shells meet, hopefully at a target. Closer than that, the target gets hit but not in a concentrated pattern and farther than that, fewer bullets/shells will meet the target.

[PaxMondo]

The convergence distance is where the weapons are lined up so their bullets/shells meet, hopefully at a target. Closer than that, the target gets hit but not in a concentrated pattern and farther than that, fewer bullets/shells will meet the target.

Exactly, and convergence was dictated by the pilot. He would have his crew chief set them up where he wanted them. There was a standard setting from the factory, but once it the field ... So, whatever the game says, it is just a value to be used and only has relevance in the context of the other weapons. This also gets back to why C/L weapons are so potent; no convergence or better to say that they are convergent at ALL ranges. The game doubles the accuracy as a bonus, but for inexperienced pilots it was FAR greater; essentially low exp pilots had a very low chance to hit anything due to convergence, they were too busy just trying to fly. It took a fair amount of the combat flying experience to be able to get the target into the convergence zone, you had to plan for it in your aerial moves. Think about it, not only did you have to correctly predict what the target was going to do, but you had to get your aircraft in the right position at the right range to be able to hit it. With C/L guns, you only need to be in the correct position at any range. Huge advantage to the unskilled, decent advantage to the skilled.

OTOH, 8x50 cal would be VERY difficult (impossible? can't think of any 1E AC that had more than 4 guns C/L) to setup on the typical WWII fighter cowling/wing roots, and you have to see a video of exactly what 8x50 cal does at convergence; imagine cutting a 12" hole through anything except engine blocks (which are still pretty much useless afterwards), literally will cut an aircraft in half if it crosses that path.

[RangerJoe]

That is one reason why the P-38 was so deadly. Not just centerline guns but also not having to fire through a propeller. The only thing was the 20 mm had a different trajectory but they did converge that gun with the 50 calibers.

[PaxMondo]

That is one reason why the P-38 was so deadly. Not just centerline guns but also not having to fire through a propeller. The only thing was the 20 mm had a different trajectory but they did converge that gun with the 50 calibers.

Yeah, convergence is a closely related to trajectory and both are frequently misunderstood topics. I used to be able to explain it to guys because "back in the day", everyone hunted. I could take out a .22 and a 30-06 and go, ok trajectory. How many steps (on the old open sight rifles) do you have to give for your .22 at 400 yds? ok, now for your 30-06. And they would go: Ahhhh. And I could say, ok, that's trajectory. Your aim depends upon the rifle you are using. Then convergence is saying ok at 400 yds both will be sighted on target. That's true for stationary objects, and generally what was done in wwii by the crews.

The advanced course is that because the aircraft is moving and imparts angular momentum to its' projectiles, the pilots ALSO had to account for that. Meaning, you are in a high-G turn, those lateral G's are also imparted upon the shots and now the trajectory of the .22 will be different from your 30-06 (or your 50 cal compared to your 20mm). This is why many aircraft in wwii that had multiple armaments allowed the pilot to switch between all guns or just the "main" guns; saved ammo on the other guns in high G maneuvers as those other guns would be way off target.

OTOH, for head-on attacks against bombers or ground targets, the convergence adjustments done by the ground crews would ensure everything was on target at a certain range.

fun stuff.

Of course, so few people still hunt, of my son's entire grade I suspect he is the only one who has ever held a gun, forget about actually shooting one. so the whole .22 v 30-06 means nothing to them. the best I can do is talk about throwing rocks; big ones vs small ones ...

[BBfanboy]

My guess is that pilot skill is what affects getting more hits so that accounts for convergence (or lack thereof).
For ground based weapons, the range figure is for horizontal distance and the ceiling figure is for vertical distance. Alfred informed us that the ceiling is "squishy" so sometimes AAA can exceed the stated ceiling by a bit.
I fly my aircraft 1000 feet higher than the max ceiling figure and they can still get some damage, but are rarely shot down.

[Sardaukar]

Bit OT, but one of the best aerial shots on Allied side:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Beurling

He liked to have convergence at 250 yards. He was also brilliant in deflection shooting, resulting that his first claims were not believed at first, since in high-G maneuvers, enemy aircraft were often outside gun camera field of view.

[RangerJoe]

These men got up close and personal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgNw4j8LDPE

[Chris21wen]

From what has been said the combat routines do attempt to maneuver the aircraft to a distance based on the convergence range of the weapon. Ignoring the pilot, once at that range accuracy plays a huge part based on were it's mounted, the manual says that. Center line weapons having a longer effective range down to accuracy.

The only question I have now is, is it feet or yards. The optimal range for the I'm assuming the .50cal optimal range is 400yds, 400ft seems way to close.

[Diliwitm]

While must be there some unit of measurement i think what matters is the relative difference between them.

Generically for the game the developers adopted this
7.7(rifle calibre) range 3
12,7(0.5") range 4
20mm range 5
30mm and over range 6

I dont agree with some of this measurements, for example 20mm MGFF have same range has 20mm MG151, but the developers recognized that the rare 40mm gun in Ki44 only have 2 range, it is the worse range aircraft gun in the data base.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho-301_cannon care about the "effective" here, probably is even less.

I also dont know how range works with straffing and anti shipping, for exampke the B-25 75mm gun have a range of 5.

[Chris21wen]

Thank but they are just number, nobody has answered the original question. Is it feet or yards. The manual is conflicting, I'm with yards as feet seems pretty close for aircarft travel at 200mph ish.

[Sardaukar]

Plus we don't know how game uses these values in it's formulas/code.

[BBfanboy]

Thank but they are just number, nobody has answered the original question. Is it feet or yards. The manual is conflicting, I'm with yards as feet seems pretty close for aircarft travel at 200mph ish.

Altitude (ceiling) is in feet, horizontal distance in yards.

[Chris21wen]

Thank but they are just number, nobody has answered the original question. Is it feet or yards. The manual is conflicting, I'm with yards as feet seems pretty close for aircarft travel at 200mph ish.

Altitude (ceiling) is in feet, horizontal distance in yards.

Never realised there was a specific difference before, but yes and thanks.

[zebrazwo]

Plus we don't know how game uses these values in it's formulas/code.

If only we could.....