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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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