20 mm caliber
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20 mm refers to a common firearms bore diameter, typically used for cannon or autocannons. 20 mm cartridges have an outside bullet diameter and inside barrel diameter of 0.787 inches (20.0 mm). Projectiles are typically 75 to 127 mm (3–5 in) long. Cartridge cases are typically 75 to 152 mm (3–6 in) long and most are shells, with an explosive filling and detonating fuze.
Weapons using this calibre range from anti-materiel rifles and anti-tank rifles to aircraft autocannons and anti-aircraft guns.
Usage
20 mm caliber weapons are generally not used to target individual soldiers, but against targets such as vehicles, buildings, or aircraft.
Types of ammunition
- High Explosive (HE)
- High Explosive Incendiary (HEI)
- Armour-Piercing (AP)
- Semi Armour Piercing High Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI)
- Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS)
- High-Explosive Fragmentary tracer (HEF-t)
- Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE)
- Target Practice - Inert projectile (i.e., PGU-27A/B).[1] Used for training. (TP)
- Target Practice Tracer - Inert projectile with tracer material in base for visual trajectory tracking (i.e., PGU-30A/B). (TP-T)
20 mm weapons
Each weapon is listed with its cartridge type appended.
Current weapons
Weapon | Country of origin | Cartridge | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Neopup PAW-20 | South Africa | 20×42mm | |
Denel NTW-20 | South Africa | 20×82mm Mauser | |
Vidhwansak | India | ||
Anzio 20mm rifle | United States | 20×102mm | |
M61 Vulcan | United States | ||
M197 electric cannon | United States | ||
M39 cannon | United States | ||
GIAT M621 | France | ||
ZVI PL-20 Plamen | Czech Republic | ||
Metallic RT-20 | Croatia | 20×110mm Hispano | |
Oerlikon KAA/KAB | Switzerland | 20×128mm | Formerly known as Oerlikon 204GK/5TG |
Meroka CIWS | Spain | ||
Oerlikon KAD | Switzerland | 20×139mm | Formerly known as Hispano-Suiza HS.820 |
GIAT M693/20 mm modèle F2 | France | ||
Rheinmetall Rh 202 | Germany | ||
Denel Land Systems GI-2 | South Africa |
Historical weapons
Cartridge type indicates the diameter of projectile and the length of the cartridge that holds it; for example 20×102mm is a 20 mm projectile in a 102 mm long case. Only rarely do two designers use the same case length, so this designation is usually definitive. Some cartridge types have additional letters or information about them listed.
See also
References
External links
- FAS: 20 mm Cannon Ammunition
- ATK produced 20, 25 & 30 mm caliber ammunition
- Rapid Fire: 20 mm Cartridge Data Table
- Rapid Fire: 20 mm Antitank Rifle Cartridges image
- Rapid Fire: 20 mm Autocannon Cartridges WWII image 1
- Rapid Fire: 20 mm Autocannon Cartridges WWII image 2
- Rapid Fire: 20 mm Autocannon Cartridges Post-WWII image