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20mm cannon M61A1 Vulcan
The M61A1 Vulcan cannon is a six-barrel 20mm gun capable offiring 6,600 rounds per minute. Its operation is based upon the principle used in the rapid-firing gun invented byRichard J. Gatling in the 1860s. The six rotating barrels,firing one at a time, permit a high rate of fire while at thesame time reducing the problem of barrel wear and heat generation.The gun can be driven electrically, hydraulically, or by a ram-air turbine. The Vulcan has equipped such USAF aircraft as the F-104, F-105, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, A-7D,F-111A, F-4E, B-58, and B-52H. A ram-air driven M61A1 is the heart of the SUU-16/A external gun pod that can be carried under the wings of high-performance aircraft lackinginternally mounted guns. The Vulcan is one of the USAF weapons that served in Operation Desert Storm.
| General characteristics | ||
| Type | Cannon Gatling | |
| Contractor | General Electric | |
| Range | 1 mile | 1.6 km |
| Caliber | 0.79 in | 20mm |
| Weight | 255 lb | 102 kg |
| Mounted | Internally | |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,400 ft/s | 3,730 km/h |
| Rate of fire | 6,600 rounds per minute | |
| Magazine capacity | 515 | |
Jirka Wagner
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Last updated 01.10.2008