XM913 chain gun: Difference between revisions
imported>George Swan |
imported>George Swan (add reference) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
[[File:US 50mm chain gun autocannon.jpg | thumb]] | [[File:US 50mm chain gun autocannon.jpg | thumb]] | ||
The '''XM913 chain gun''' is an [[autocannon]] designed for the US military, that fires a variety of munitions with a diameter of 50mm. | The '''XM913 chain gun''' is an [[autocannon]] designed for the US military, that fires a variety of munitions with a diameter of 50mm.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> | ||
The weapon is a scaled up version of the [[25mm bushmaster autocannon]], used on the [[Bradley fighting vehicle]], a variety of armored cars. A navalized version of the autocannon serves as the main armament of a variety of smaller vessels, as well as serving as a secondary armament on some larger vessels. | The weapon is a scaled up version of the [[25mm bushmaster autocannon]], used on the [[Bradley fighting vehicle]], a variety of armored cars.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> A navalized version of the autocannon serves as the main armament of a variety of smaller vessels, as well as serving as a secondary armament on some larger vessels. | ||
A chain gun is the name given to autocannons that rely on an external power source to cycle munition through the weapon. This is unlike man-portable firearms, and most other autocannons, which tap some of the expanding gases of each round to power the weapon cycling through to the next round. Chain guns allow the gunner to control the rate at which the gun fires. In addition more traditional autocannons stop when they try to fire a defective "dud" round. Externally powered chain guns skip past duds, and keep firing. | A chain gun is the name given to autocannons that rely on an external power source to cycle munition through the weapon. This is unlike man-portable firearms, and most other autocannons, which tap some of the expanding gases of each round to power the weapon cycling through to the next round. Chain guns allow the gunner to control the rate at which the gun fires. In addition more traditional autocannons stop when they try to fire a defective "dud" round. Externally powered chain guns skip past duds, and keep firing. | ||
While the 50mm XM913 fires a larger round than its 25mm predecessor, the gun is only slightly larger, meaning that many of the exising vehicles that mounted a 25mm cannon can have it replaced with the slightly larger but much more powerful weapon. | While the 50mm XM913 fires a larger round than its 25mm predecessor, the gun is only slightly larger, meaning that many of the exising vehicles that mounted a 25mm cannon can have it replaced with the slightly larger but much more powerful weapon.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> | ||
The maximum range of the cannon is believed to be 7 kilometres.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/ | |||
==Ammunition== | ==Ammunition== | ||
[[File:US 50x228 Caliber Ammunition -a.jpg | left | 100px]] | [[File:US 50x228 Caliber Ammunition -a.jpg | left | 100px]] | ||
The autocannon fires three different kinds of color-coded ammunition. Ammunition with a blue warhead are training rounds, which fire an inert warheard. | The autocannon fires three different kinds of color-coded ammunition.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> Ammunition with a blue warhead are training rounds, which fire an inert warheard. | ||
A round with a black warhead is the [[XM1202 50x228mm|XM1203]] a kinetic energy penetrator, where a thin dense subcaliber rod is surrounded a "sabot", that fits within the cannons rifled grooves to provide spin.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> This munition is an example of "Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot" (APFSDS). A cannon can accelerate a long thin rod, in the center of an APFSDS munition to a much greater velocity than a full size kinetic round. | |||
A round with a yellow warhead is the [[XM1204 (HEAB-T)|XM1204]], a programmable high explosive munition capable of an air burst mode.<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03/> When a gunner selects the air burst mode of operation he first depresses the trigger halfway, which tells the aiming mechanism to determine the range to the target. Once the range is acquired he adjusts his point of aim to just above, or just beside the target, and fully depresses the trigger. Once fired the munition travels to just past the range of the target and then explodes. This mode is used when an enemy is behind a relatively inpenetrable obstacle, like a wall. The munition's shrapnel and blast can kill or wound enemies behind obstacles, without having to penetrate those obstacles. | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist|refs= | |||
<ref name=sadefensejournal2021-03> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SADJV13N2.pdf | |||
| title = Advanced 50mm Cannon Caliber Weapons and Ammunition | |||
| work = [[Small Arms Defense Journal]] | |||
| volume = 13 | |||
| number = 2 | |||
| author = Jay Bell | |||
| date = March/April 2021 | |||
| pages = 30-34 | |||
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20210812170218/http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SADJV13N2.pdf | |||
| archivedate = 2021-08-12 | |||
| accessdate = 2022-03-02 | |||
| url-status = live | |||
| quote = These cannons are capable of firing nearly 7000 meters, however, it is not clear if this is effective or maximum distance. | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = | |||
| title = | |||
| work = | |||
| author = | |||
| date = | |||
| page = | |||
| location = | |||
| isbn = | |||
| language = | |||
| trans-title = | |||
| archiveurl = | |||
| archivedate = | |||
| accessdate = 2022-03-02 | |||
| url-status = live | |||
| quote = | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = | |||
| title = | |||
| work = | |||
| author = | |||
| date = | |||
| page = | |||
| location = | |||
| isbn = | |||
| language = | |||
| trans-title = | |||
| archiveurl = | |||
| archivedate = | |||
| accessdate = 2022-03-02 | |||
| url-status = live | |||
| quote = | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
{{cite news | |||
| url = | |||
| title = | |||
| work = | |||
| author = | |||
| date = | |||
| page = | |||
| location = | |||
| isbn = | |||
| language = | |||
| trans-title = | |||
| archiveurl = | |||
| archivedate = | |||
| accessdate = 2022-03-02 | |||
| url-status = live | |||
| quote = | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
}} | |||
Revision as of 01:01, 2 March 2022
The XM913 chain gun is an autocannon designed for the US military, that fires a variety of munitions with a diameter of 50mm.[1]
The weapon is a scaled up version of the 25mm bushmaster autocannon, used on the Bradley fighting vehicle, a variety of armored cars.[1] A navalized version of the autocannon serves as the main armament of a variety of smaller vessels, as well as serving as a secondary armament on some larger vessels.
A chain gun is the name given to autocannons that rely on an external power source to cycle munition through the weapon. This is unlike man-portable firearms, and most other autocannons, which tap some of the expanding gases of each round to power the weapon cycling through to the next round. Chain guns allow the gunner to control the rate at which the gun fires. In addition more traditional autocannons stop when they try to fire a defective "dud" round. Externally powered chain guns skip past duds, and keep firing.
While the 50mm XM913 fires a larger round than its 25mm predecessor, the gun is only slightly larger, meaning that many of the exising vehicles that mounted a 25mm cannon can have it replaced with the slightly larger but much more powerful weapon.[1]
The maximum range of the cannon is believed to be 7 kilometres.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Ammunition with a blue warhead are training rounds, which fire an inert warheard.
A round with a black warhead is the XM1203 a kinetic energy penetrator, where a thin dense subcaliber rod is surrounded a "sabot", that fits within the cannons rifled grooves to provide spin.[1] This munition is an example of "Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot" (APFSDS). A cannon can accelerate a long thin rod, in the center of an APFSDS munition to a much greater velocity than a full size kinetic round.
A round with a yellow warhead is the XM1204, a programmable high explosive munition capable of an air burst mode.[1] When a gunner selects the air burst mode of operation he first depresses the trigger halfway, which tells the aiming mechanism to determine the range to the target. Once the range is acquired he adjusts his point of aim to just above, or just beside the target, and fully depresses the trigger. Once fired the munition travels to just past the range of the target and then explodes. This mode is used when an enemy is behind a relatively inpenetrable obstacle, like a wall. The munition's shrapnel and blast can kill or wound enemies behind obstacles, without having to penetrate those obstacles.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jay Bell. Advanced 50mm Cannon Caliber Weapons and Ammunition, Small Arms Defense Journal, March/April 2021, pp. 30-34. Retrieved on 2022-03-02. “These cannons are capable of firing nearly 7000 meters, however, it is not clear if this is effective or maximum distance.”