Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun
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| Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Type | CIWS |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003 |
| Used by | Denmark Indonesia |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1995 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall Air Defence, Oerlikon Contraves |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Gun: 450 kg Installation: 3300 kg |
| Length | 5.5 m |
| Width | 2.39 m |
| Height | 1.94 m |
| Crew | unmanned |
| Shell | 35×228mm |
| Caliber | 35 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated revolver cannon[1] |
| Elevation | -15 / +85 degrees rate: 70 degree/s |
| Traverse | 360 degrees rate: 120 degrees per second |
| Rate of fire | Single shot Rapid Single Shot: 200 rounds per minute Burst (automatic fire): 1000 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | AHEAD: 1,050 m/s (3,445 ft/s) HEI: 1,175 m/s (3,854 ft/s) APDS/T: 1,440 m/s (4,724 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 3,500–5,000 m (3,800–5,500 yd)[2] |
| Feed system | 252 linkless rounds in installation |
The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a Close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly known as Oerlikon Contraves) for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land based air defense system, and uses AHEAD ammunition.
A device at the muzzle end of the barrel measures the exact speed of each round as it is fired, and automatically sets the fuse to detonate the round as it approaches a pre-set distance from the target. Each round disperses 152 small tungsten projectiles[3][4] weighing 3.3 grams (0.12 oz) each to form a lethal cone-shaped cloud to strike the incoming target.[2] Whilst these are too small to do major damage in themselves, the accumulation of damage from multiple strikes is expected to destroy wings and control surfaces, sensors and aerodynamics, causing the target to crash. Other firing modes are designed to be effective against surface targets such as small fast attack boats.
The Millennium gun is easy to install as it requires no through deck penetration and needs no supply of coolant, air or ship's power to operate. However, it does need a power supply to recharge its batteries. Installation can take as little as sixty minutes and requires only six square metres of deck space. A Millennium gun and 252 rounds weighs 3,200 kg. The gun's cupola is claimed to have a low radar cross section.
The weapon is designed to be controlled by an external fire-control system using either radar or electro-optical trackers. It is fitted with an optional onboard observation TV camera which relays imagery to an operator console from which it can also be aimed and fired in an emergency mode. The computer system uses an open architecture and is claimed to be compatible with many existing fire control systems.
The gun's ammunition capacity allows it to engage 10 anti-ship missiles or 20 surface targets.[2]
Users
See also
- Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon earlier system using AHEAD rounds
- Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun comparable South African CIWS
External links
References
- ^ The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998 - Norman Friedman
- ^ a b c CIWS: The Last Ditch Defense
- ^ The 35mm Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun 27 May 2015
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
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