Engineering:MG 151 cannon

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Maschinengewehr MG 151
MG151 and MG151-20 variants from German Manual, 1942.jpg
MG 151/20 – normal (fig.1) vs. electric (fig.3) ignition
MG 151/15 – normal (fig.2) vs. electric (fig.4) ignition
TypeAircraft cannon
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used bySee users
WarsSee wars
Production history
ManufacturerWaffenfabrik Mauser AG
Produced1940-1941 – MG 151/15
1941-1945 – MG 151/20 (Nazi Germany)
VariantsMG 151/15
MG 151/20
Specifications
Mass38.1 kg (84 lb 0 oz) – MG 151/15
42.7 kg (94 lb 2 oz) – MG 151/20
Length1.916 m (6 ft 3.4 in) – MG 151/15
1.766 m (5 ft 9.5 in) – MG 151/20
Barrel length1.254 m (4 ft 1.4 in) – MG 151/15
1.104 m (3 ft 7.5 in) – MG 151/20
Cartridge15×96mm Mauser – MG 151/15
20×82mm Mauser – MG 151/20
Calibre15.1 mm (0.59 in) – MG 151/15
20 mm (0.79 in) – MG 151/20
ActionShort recoil, open-bolt
Rate of fire680–740 rpm – MG 151/15
600–750 rpm – MG 151/20
Muzzle velocity850 to 960 m/s (2,800 to 3,100 ft/s) – MG 151/15[1]
705 to 805 m/s (2,310 to 2,640 ft/s) – MG 151/20[1][2]

The Maschinengewehr MG 151 is a low caliber, belt fed autocannon for aircraft use, developed in Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1940 and produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser during World War II. It was originally produced in 15.1 mm caliber from 1940, chambered for a 15×96mm cartridge, but due to demand for higher effect against aircraft, especially with the introduction of mine shells for the 20 mm MG-FF/M aircraft cannon, the design was rechambered to 20 mm caliber in 1941, using a newly developed 20×82mm cartridge. The initial 15 mm variant then became known as the MG 151/15, with the new 20 mm variant becoming the MG 151/20.

The MG 151/20 cannon was widely used on German Luftwaffe combat aircraft throughout World War II, mainly as offensive armament, but also seeing some use as defensive guns. Existing MG 151/15 guns saw use as aircraft armament throughout the war, albeit more limited compared to the MG 151/20, but also as anti aircraft guns in various configurations, notably in the SdKfz 251/21 Drilling anti-aircraft half-track, armed with three MG 151/15.

Post-war, salvaged MG 151/20 saw usage by many nations. France had salvaged many guns and became the main user and exporter of the MG 151/20 during the Cold War, fitting it to not only aircraft, but also armoured fighting vehicles as anti aircraft weaponry. France continued exporting the gun all the way into the 1960s, then primarily as flexible dorsal gunship armament for the Aérospatiale SA-3160 and SA-3164 utility helicopter. SA-3160s armed with flexible dorsal MG 151/20s were bought by Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa in 1966 and saw service until the early 1990s. South Africa even reused the 20×82mm cartridge from the MG 151/20 to chamber their Denel NTW-20 anti-material rifle.

Development and wartime history

The pre-war German doctrine for arming single-engine fighter aircraft mirrored that of the French. This doctrine favoured a powerful autocannon mounted between the cylinder banks of a V engine and firing through the propeller hub, known as a moteur-canon in French (from its first use with the Hispano-Suiza HS.8C engine in World War I, on the SPAD S.XII) and by the cognate Motorkanone in German by the 1930s. The weapon preferred by the French in this role was the most powerful 20 mm Oerlikon of the time, namely the FFS model, but this proved too big for German engines. Mauser was given the task of developing a gun that would fit, with a minimum sacrifice in performance. As a stop-gap measure, the MG FF cannon was developed and put in widespread use, but its performance was lackluster.[3]

Fw 190A-5 interceptor armament:
• MG 17 (cowling)
• MG-FF/M (mid wings)
• MG 151/20 (wing roots)

Production of the MG 151 in its original 15 mm calibre format began in 1940. After combat evaluation of the 15 mm cartridge as the main armament of early Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 fighters, the cannon was redesigned as the 20 mm MG 151/20 in 1941 to fire a 20 mm cartridge. Combat experience showed that a more powerful explosive shell was preferable to a higher projectile velocity.[2] The MG 151/20 cartridge was created by expanding the neck of the cartridge to hold the larger explosive shell used in the MG FF cannon, and shortening the length of the cartridge case holding the longer 20 mm shell to match the overall length of the original 15 mm cartridge.[2] These measures simplified conversion of the 15 mm to the 20 mm MG 151/20, requiring only a change of barrel and other small modifications. A disadvantage of the simplified conversion was reduction of projectile muzzle velocity from 850 metres per second (2,800 ft/s) for the 15 mm shell to 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s) for the larger and heavier 20 mm shell.[1] With an AP projectile the new 20 mm cartridge could penetrate only around 10–12 mm of armor at 300 m and at 60 degrees, compared to 18 mm penetration for its 15 mm predecessor in the same conditions but this was not seen as a significant limitation.[2] The 20 mm version thus became the standard inboard cannon from the Bf 109F-4 series.[2] The 20 mm MG 151/20 offered more predictable trajectory, longer range and higher impact velocity than the 580 metres per second (1,900 ft/s) cartridge of the earlier MG FF cannon.[1] The MG FF was retained for flexible, wing and upward firing Schräge Musik mounts to the end of the war.[4]

The German preference for explosive power rather than armor penetration was taken further with the development of the mine shell, first introduced for the MG FF (in the Bf 109 E-4) and later introduced for the MG 151/20. Even this improvement in explosive power turned out to be unsatisfactory against the four-engine bombers that German fighters were up against in the second part of the war. By German calculations, it took about 15–20 hits with the MG 151/20 to down a heavy bomber but this was reduced to just 3–4 hits for a 30 mm shell, from the shattering effects of the hexogen explosive in the shells used for both the long-barreled MK 103 and shorter barreled MK 108 cannon. Only 4–5 hits with 20 mm calibre cannon were needed for frontal attacks on four-engined bombers but such attacks were difficult to execute. The 30 mm MK 108 cannon thus replaced the MG 151/20 as the standard, engine-mount Motorkanone centre-line armament starting with the Bf 109 K-4 and was also retrofitted to some of the G-series.[5]

Eight hundred MG 151/20 exported to Japan aboard the Italian submarine Comandante Cappellini in August 1943 were used to equip 388 Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hei fighters.[6] The 20 mm MG 151/20 was also fitted on the Macchi C.205, the Fiat G.55 and Reggiane Re.2005 of the Regia Aeronautica and IAR 81B and 81C of the Romanian Royal Air Force.[7]

An unknown number of cannons were converted for usage in the ground use role in early 1945, predominantly within Volkssturm units serving in the Posen area. Its effectiveness in this role are unknown but is photographed on parade in Posen November 1944 with the Wartheland Volkssturm units.[8]

Postwar use

Two MG 151/20 cannon fitted to a Finnish TorKK MG-151 2 anti-aircraft mounting. Cannons of Torp museum (2011)

After World War II, numbers of ex-Luftwaffe MG 151/20 cannon were removed from inventory and from scrapped aircraft and used by various nations in their own aircraft. The French Air Force (AdA) and French Army aviation arm (ALAT) used MG 151/20 cannon as fixed and flexible armament in various aircraft, including helicopters. The AdA and ALAT jointly developed a rubber-insulated flexible mount for the MG 151/20 for use as a door gun, which was later used in combat in Algeria aboard several FAF/ALAT H-21C assault transport helicopters and on Sikorsky HSS-1 Pirate gunship helicopters.[9] French Matra MG 151 20 mm cannons were used by Portugal and Rhodesia fitted to their Alouette III helicopters, while Denel designed its own variant for the South African Air Force .[10][11]

MG 151 applications

Aircraft

An MG 151/20 cannon in the wing of the Italian Fiat G.55 fighter

Armoured fighting vehicles

SdKfz 251/21 Drilling anti-aircraft half-track, armed with three MG 151/15

Helicopters

South African Aérospatiale SA-3160 Alouette III with flexible dorsal MG 151/20

MG 151/15 specifications

  • Type: single-barrel automatic cannon
  • Cartridge: 15×96mm Mauser
  • Caliber: 15.1 mm (0.59 in)
  • Operation: Recoil-operated; short recoil
  • Length: 1916 mm
  • Barrel length: 1254 mm (L/83 caliber length)
  • Rifling: 8 grooves, right hand twist, 1 turn in 16"
  • Weight (complete): 38.1 kg (84 lb)
  • Rate of fire: 680–740 rpm
  • Effective range: 1000 m
  • Muzzle velocity:
    • 850 m/s (AP-T)
    • 960 m/s (HE-T, HEI-T)
    • 1030 m/s AP(WC)
  • Projectile types:
    • AP-T weighing 72 g
    • HE weighing 57 g. HE filler: 2.8 g
    • AP(WC) weighing 52 g

15×96mm cartridge specifications

15 × 96 mm Mauser – ammunition table
German Designation US Abbreviation Projectile Weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle Velocity [m/s] Description
15 mm Sprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur mit/ohne Zerleger HEF-T 57-58.5 2.8 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 - 0,33 g HE (PETN) + 0,66 - 0,7 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) or 0,45 g HE (Mercury(II) fulminate) 960 Nose fuze, tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct.
15 mm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 (Elektron) L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger HEFI-T 57.5-59 1.9 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 - 0,33 g HE (PETN) + 0,66 - 0,7 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) or 0,45 g HE (Mercury(II) fulminate) +
1.3 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) 		960 Nose fuze, tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct.
15 mm Brandgranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit Zerleger I-T 57.5-59 ? g incendiary (BaNO3+Al+Mg) 960 Nose fuze, tracer, self-destruct.

As soon as it hits the outer skin of the aircraft, the primer charge in the fuze head responds, shears the fuze head away and ignites the incendiary charge in the projectile. The incendiary charge sprays forward over at least 8 m of projectile travel.
In air combat as a carrier of the incendiary effect, especially for the incendiary shooting of fuel tanks. As an indestructible body, it remains effective even after penetrating several bulkheads.

15 mm Panzergranatpatrone 151 L'spur ohne Zerleger AP-T 72-73.5 none 850 No fuze, tracer, no self-destruct.
Penetration 18 mm of armour at 60-degree impact, 100m range.
15 mm H-Panzergranatpatrone 151 ohne Zerleger API-HC
APICR
HVAPI		 52-53.5
54.5-56 		Light metal shell, special steel core
(Top set in bakelite) 		1030-1050 No fuze, no tracer, no self-destruct.
Tungsten carbide core. Exclusively against armoured ground targets. Penetration 26(33)-34(43)-48(54) mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact, 100m range.

Penetrating effect with incendiary effect due to melting of light metal tip. Effective only against targets with bare armour (light armoured vehicles, tankers, etc.) Against armour with attachment, steel core tends to shatter.

15 mm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 ohne Zerleger API 59-60.5 ? g incendiary (WP) 960 No fuze, no tracer, no self-destruct.
Penetration ?

MG 151/20 specifications

Preserved MG 151/20.

Two versions of the 20 mm MG 151 were built. Early guns used a percussion priming system, and later E-models used electrical priming. Some rounds were available with a timer self-destruct and/or tracer (or glowtracer). There were also different types of high-explosive shell fillings with either standard Pentrit A (PETN + Aluminium), a mixture called HA 41 (RDX + Aluminium powder)(the latter had a 40 percent increased high explosive and incendiary effect),[12] and a compressed version where more explosives (HA 41) were compressed into same space using large pressures (MX).[13]

  • Type: single-barrel automatic cannon
  • Cartridge: 20×82mm Mauser
  • Caliber: 20 mm (0.79 in)
  • Operation: Recoil-operated; short recoil
  • Length: 1766 mm
  • Barrel length: 1104 mm (L/55 caliber length)
  • Rifling: 1 turn in 23 calibers
  • Weight (complete): 42.7 kg (94.1 lbs)
  • Rate of fire: 600–750 rpm
  • Effective range:800 m
  • Muzzle velocity:
    • 805 m/s (HEI-HC (M))
    • 705 m/s (HE-T, AP)
  • Round types:

20×82mm cartridge specifications

20 × 82 mm Mauser – ammunition table
German Designation US Abbreviation Projectile Weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle Velocity [m/s] Description
2 cm Sprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur mit Zerleger HEF-T 113-115
115-117 		3.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 705 Nose fuze, tracer, self-destruct.
2 cm Sprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur El. mit Zerleger HEF-T 113-115
115-117 		3.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 720-735 Nose fuze, tracer, electric primer, self-destruct.
2 cm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger HEFI/-T 113-115
115-117 		2.3 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) +
2.1 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) 		705 Nose fuze, w. or w/o tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct.
2 cm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur El. mit/ohne Zerleger HEFI/-T 113-115
115-117 		2.3 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) +
2.1 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) 		720-735 Nose fuze, w. or w/o tracer, electric primer, w. or w/o self-destruct.
2 cm Brandgranatpatrone 151 L'Spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger I/-T 117-119 6.6 - 7.3 g incendiary (BaNO3+Al+Mg) + (blasting cap) : 0,2 g HE (PETN) + 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 705 Nose fuze, w. or w/o tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct

As soon as it hits the outer skin of the aircraft, the primer charge in the fuze head responds, shearing the fuze head away and igniting the incendiary charge in the projectile. The incendiary charge sprays forward over at least 10 m of projectile travel.
In air combat as a carrier of the incendiary effect, especially for the incendiary shooting of fuel tanks. As an indestructible body, it remains effective even after penetrating several bulkheads. In combination with the M-Shell, it is intended to replace the HEI grenade.

2 cm Brandgranatpatrone 151 L'Spur/Gl'spur El. mit/ohne Zerleger I/-T 117-119 6.6 - 7.3 g incendiary (BaNO3+Al+Mg) + (blasting cap) : 0,2 g HE (PETN) + 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 720 Nose fuze, w. or w/o tracer, electric primer, w. or w/o self-destruct

As soon as it hits the outer skin of the aircraft, the primer charge in the fuze head responds, shearing the fuze head away and igniting the incendiary charge in the projectile. The incendiary charge sprays forward over at least 10 m of projectile travel.
In air combat as a carrier of the incendiary effect, especially for the incendiary shooting of fuel tanks. As an indestructible body, it remains effective even after penetrating several bulkheads. In combination with the M-Shell, it is intended to replace the HEI grenade.

2 cm Brandgranat44 patrone 151 ohne Zerleger I 106-108 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) + (blasting cap) : 0,4 g HE (PETN) ? Nose fuze, no tracer, no self-destruct.
Incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell.
2 cm Brandgranat44 patrone 151 El. ohne Zerleger I 106-108 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) + (blasting cap) : 0,4 g HE (PETN) 745 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, no self-destruct.
Incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 mit Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 86-88 18.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 805-810 Nose fuze, no tracer, self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 ohne Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 90-92 18.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 - 0,4 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 805-810 Nose fuze, no tracer, no self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 mit Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 92-94 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 775-785 Nose fuze, no tracer, self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 ohne Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 95-97 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 755-765 Nose fuze, no tracer, no self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone X 151 mit Zerleger[14] HEI-HC (M) 104-106 24,5 - 25 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 705 Nose fuze, no tracer, self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone X 151 El. mit Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 104-106 24,5 - 25 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) ? Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 El. mit Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 92-94 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 780-790 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self-destruct.
2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 El. ohne Zerleger HEI-HC (M) 95-97 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 - 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide)-(Tetrazene explosive) 770-780 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, no self-destruct.
2 cm Panzergranatpatrone 151 L'spur ohne Zerleger AP/-T 117-119 none (bakelite filling in cavity) 705 No fuze, w. or w/o tracer, no self-destruct.
Penetration 13-17-24 mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact, 100m range.
2 cm Panzergranatpatrone 151 L'spur El. ohne Zerleger AP/-T 117-119 none (bakelite filling in cavity) 720 No fuze, w. or w/o tracer, electric primer, no self-destruct.
Penetration ?-?-? mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact, 100m range.
2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF 117-119 5.1 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 705 Nose fuze, no tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct. Penetration 13-15-17 mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Detonation after 5mm armour penetration.
2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 El. mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF 117-119 5.1 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 720 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, w. or w/o self-destruct. Penetration ?-?-? mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Detonation after 5mm armour penetration.
2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF-T 117-119 ? g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 705 Nose fuze, tracer, w. or w/o self-destruct. Penetration 13-15-17 mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Detonation after 5mm armour penetration.
2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur El. mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF-T 117-119 ? g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 720 Nose fuze, tracer, electric primer, w. or w/o self-destruct. Penetration ?-?-? mm of armour at 60-75-90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Detonation after 5mm armour penetration.
2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 L'spur/Gl'spur ohne Zerleger API/-T 115-117 3.6 g incendiary (WP) +
8,6 - 9,1 g incendiary capsule 		705 No fuze, w. or w/o tracer, no self-destruct.
Penetration 6–12 mm to 13–23 mm of armour at 60 to 90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.

When the projectile breaks up, the phosphorus remains in effective parts in the target and burns for a long time. A prerequisite for the disintegration of the projectile are sufficiently resistant targets, i.e. strong aircraft components or armour plates from 3 to 15 mm thick, depending on the angle of impact.

2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 L'spur/Gl'spur El. ohne Zerleger API/-T 115-117 3.6 g incendiary (WP) +
8,6 - 9,1 g incendiary capsule 		720 No fuze, w. or w/o tracer, electric primer, no self-destruct.
Penetration ? mm to ? mm of armour at 60 to 90-degree impact angle, 100 m range.

When the projectile breaks up, the phosphorus remains in effective parts in the target and burns for a long time. A prerequisite for the disintegration of the projectile are sufficiently resistant targets, i.e. strong aircraft components or armour plates from 3 to 15 mm thick, depending on the angle of impact.

2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Elektron) 151 ohne Zerleger API 117-119 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) 695 Optimized for strafing merchant ships and light combat vehicles. Nose fuze, no tracer, self-destruct. Penetration 15 mm of steel at 65-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Fuze functions after penetration of at least 4 mm shipbuilding steel, incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell.
2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Elektron) 151 El. ohne Zerleger API 117-119 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) ? Optimized for strafing merchant ships and light combat vehicles. Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self-destruct. Penetration ? mm of steel at 65-degree impact angle, 100 m range.
Fuze functions after penetration of at least 4 mm shipbuilding steel, incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell.

US derivatives (T17, T39, T51)

During World War II the US Army produced the .60-caliber T17, a reverse-engineered copy of the German MG 151 chambered for an experimental anti-tank rifle round. A speculative order of 5,000 T17 guns was placed but only around 300 of them were built. However none saw service despite the availability of 6 million rounds of .60 caliber ammunition.[15] Almost one million rounds were fired during the T17 testing program. The main US version produced, the T17E3, was made by Frigidaire; it weighed 134 lb (61 kg) and had a rate of fire of only 600 rounds per minute. Further refinements led to the T39 and T51 versions, but these also did not enter service.[16]

US ammunition

A cartridge originally based on an armor-piercing round designed in 1939 for use with the experimental T1 and T1E1 anti-tank rifles. It was cancelled in 1944 when it became clear that modern tanks had armor too thick to penetrate with a heavy rifle cartridge. Developments showed that shaped-charged rifle grenades and rocket launchers were the future of infantry anti-tank weapons and the anti-tank rifle concept was abandoned.

Much like the British attempts to turn their stocks of obsolete .55 Boys anti-tank cartridges into a native-designed heavy machine gun cartridge, the .60-caliber cartridge was repurposed as an auto-cannon cartridge to succeed the older .50 Browning. The ammunition and the T17 cannon were produced from 1942 to 1946 but never proved a substantial improvement over the .50 Browning and the M2HB and M3 heavy machineguns. The cartridge was later shortened and necked-up to produce the 20x102mm Vulcan autocannon round.

  • .60 Armor-Piercing [15.2 x 114mm T1 Rifle] - A 1180 grain (76.5 gram) kinetic penetrator projectile with a velocity of 3,600 feet per second (1,100 m/s) for a muzzle energy of over 34,000 ft./lbs. (46 kilojoules).[17][18]
  • .60 T32 Ball [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
  • .60 T77 Ball [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
  • .60 T36 Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
  • .60 T39 Armor-Piercing Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
  • .60 T60 Armor-Piercing Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]

Users (MG 151/20)

Wars

  • World War II
  • Algerian War
  • Portuguese Colonial War
  • Rhodesian Bush War

See also

  • List of weapons of military aircraft of Germany during World War II
  • MK 108 30 mm cannon
  • MG 131 13 mm heavy machine gun
  • MG 17 7.92 mm machine gun

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Johnson (1944), pp. 384–385.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Williams (2002), pp. 165.
  3. ↑ Williams (2002), pp. 161–162.
  4. ↑ Williams (2002), pp. 163.
  5. ↑ Williams (2002), pp. 166–167.
  6. ↑ Kaiser, Mark (1999). "Ki-61 Hien survey". http://www.markkaiser.com/japaneseaviation/hien.html. 
  7. ↑ Williams & Gustin (2003), pp. 238, 274–275.
  8. ↑ Kissel, Hans (2005). Hitler's Last Levy. pp. 91. 
  9. ↑ Windrow (1997), p. 43.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Petter-Bowyer (2005), pp. 278–279.
  11. ↑ "GA 1 20mm Cannon". http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/42/ga-1-20mm-cannon. 
  12. ↑ L.Dv. 4000/10 (1944).
  13. ↑ "Handbuch Bordwaffenmunition, Teil 5: 2 cm Munition; 2 cm M-Gesch.Patr. X m. Zerl.". http://michaelhiske.de/Wehrmacht/Luft/HandbuchBordwaffenMunition/Teil05/Blatt084.htm. 
  14. ↑ "Handbuch Bordwaffenmunition, Teil 5: 2 cm Munition; 2 cm M-Gesch.Patr. 151 El. m. Zerl." (in de). http://michaelhiske.de/Wehrmacht/Luft/HandbuchBordwaffenMunition/Teil05/Blatt084.htm. 
  15. ↑ Williams (2002), pp. 154.
  16. ↑ Chinn (1951), pp. 105–153.
  17. ↑ Williams, Anthony G. (December 2004). "An Introduction to Anti-Tank Rifle Cartridges". The Cartridge Researcher (European Cartridge Research Association). http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ATRart.htm. Retrieved 2013-06-18.  (Modified January 2013, with thanks to Szymon Sztetner.)
  18. ↑ "The American Cal. .60 Anti-Tank Rifle, T1 & T1E1". February 2016. http://weaponsman.com/?p=29717. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Fontanellaz, Cooper & Matos 2020, p. 25
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Williams, Anthony G. (February 2007). "An Introduction to Collecting 20 mm Cannon Cartridges". The Cartridge Researcher (European Cartridge Research Association). http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/an_introduction_to_collecting_20.htm. Retrieved 2013-06-18. 
  21. ↑ Felton, Mark (2005). Yanagi: The Secret Underwater Trade between Germany and Japan 1942-1945. Pen & Sword. pp. 76. ISBN 1844151670. 

Bibliography

Further reading

External links



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