20 mm caliber
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 | 20×42mm | ||
Denel NTW-20 | 20×82mm Mauser | ||
Vidhwansak | |||
Anzio 20mm rifle | 20×102mm | ||
M61 Vulcan | |||
M197 electric cannon | |||
M39 cannon | |||
GIAT M621 | |||
ZVI PL-20 Plamen | |||
Metallic RT-20 | 20×110mm Hispano | ||
Oerlikon KAA/KAB | 20×128mm | Formerly known as Oerlikon 204GK/5TG | |
Meroka CIWS | |||
Oerlikon KAD | 20×139mm | Formerly known as Hispano-Suiza HS.820 | |
GIAT M693/20 mm modèle F2 | |||
Rheinmetall Rh 202 | |||
Denel Land Systems GI-2 |
Historical weapons
Weapon | Country of origin | Cartridge | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ghan-Krnka fortress rifle | 20.3×95mm R | Bullet diameter 21 mm | |
Type 99 cannon, model 2 | 20×101mm RB | ||
Solothurn S-18/100 | 20×105mm B | ||
Bofors m/45 | 20×110mm | ||
Bofors m/49 | |||
Hispano-Suiza HS.404 and derivatives | |||
Oerlikon F, FFL | 20×110mm RB | ||
Polsten | 20×110mm RB | ||
Colt Mk 12 cannon | 20×110mm USN | Advanced derivative of the HS.404 | |
Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon | 20×120mm | ||
Type 97 automatic cannon | 20×124mm | ||
Mauser MG 213 | 20×135mm | ||
Breda Model 35 | 20×138mm B | ||
Nkm wz.38 FK | Designated "Heaviest Machine Gun", or "Najciezszy karabin maszynowy, Nkm," AA/AT (actually an autocannon) | ||
Rheinmetall 2 cm KwK 30 | |||
Scotti 20 mm | |||
Solothurn S-18/1000 Long | |||
FlaK 38 | Forerunner of Hispano-Suiza HS.820's post-war 20×139mm round | ||
Lahti L-39 | Solothurn Long | ||
Bofors m/40 | 20×145mm R | ||
Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon | 20×70mm RB | ||
Oerlikon FF | 20×72mm RB | ||
Type 99 cannon, model 1 | |||
Ikaria-Werke Berlin MG FF/M cannon | 20×80mm RB | ||
Mauser MG 151/20 | 20×82mm | ||
Ho-5 cannon | 20×94mm | ||
Berezin B-20 | 20×99mm | ||
ShVAK | 20×99mm R |
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
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