20mm cannon M61A1 Vulcan
The M61A1 Vulcan cannon is a six-barrel 20mm gun capable offiring 6,600 rounds per
minute. Its operation is based upon the principle used in the rapid-firing gun invented
byRichard J. Gatling in the 1860s. The six rotating barrels,firing one at a time, permit a
high rate of fire while at thesame time reducing the problem of barrel wear and heat
generation.The gun can be driven electrically, hydraulically, or by a ram-air turbine. The
Vulcan has equipped such USAF aircraft as the
F-104,
F-105,
F-15,
F-16,
F/A-18,
A-7D,
F-111A,
F-4E,
B-58, and
B-52H. A ram-air driven M61A1 is the heart of
the SUU-16/A external gun pod that can be carried under the wings of high-performance
aircraft lackinginternally mounted guns. The Vulcan is one of the USAF weapons that served
in Operation Desert Storm.
| General characteristics |
| Type |
Cannon Gatling |
| Contractor |
General Electric |
| Range |
1 mile |
1.6 km |
| Caliber |
0.79 in |
20mm |
| Weight |
255 lb |
102 kg |
| Mounted |
Internally |
| Muzzle velocity |
3,400 ft/s |
3,730 km/h |
| Rate of fire |
6,600 rounds per minute |
| Magazine capacity |
515 |
Jirka Wagner
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