Mauser MG 213

The Mauser MG 213 was a 20 mm aircraft-mounted revolver cannon developed for the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was never put into service, but the principles formed the basis for several post-war developments by the Allies. A 30 mm version was developed as the MG 213C or MK 213 and it was this that led to the British ADEN, French DEFA and American M39 cannon.[1]

Operation

The gun was developed by Mauser but, as far as known, was never deployed. It was developed from an earlier design: the MG 213A. The MG 213A utilized a gas-driven operation. In the MG 213, the direct movement of the revolver cassette was changed to a diagonal cam with a follower. This actuated a rammer that both fed cartridges into the cylinders and revolved the cassette. Sealing was accomplished by packing the cylinder and breech with heat resistant steel. This innovation allowed chamber movement while the gas pressure was very high. The revolver cassette had five chambers[2] and at least 3 chambers were full during operation, feeding, firing, and extracting. The cylinder was fed at the 5 o'clock position and fired at the 12 o'clock position. Upon discovery of examples of the gun, it caught the attention of autocannon developers in Switzerland, France, Britain, and the US. The British ADEN cannon was developed eight years later, while the US M39E, first designated T-160, was rushed into combat evaluation during the Korean War.[3]

20mm MG213
  • Caliber: 20 x 135mm
  • Weight: 75 kg (165 lb); assembled 96 kg (212 lb)
  • Length: 1,930 mm (76 in)
  • Barrel length: 1,600 mm (63 in)
  • Rate of fire: 1200–1400 rounds/min (~21 rounds/s)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,050 m/s (3,400 ft/s)

30mm MK213
  • Caliber: 30 x 85R mm
  • Weight: 75 kg (165 lb); assembled 96 kg (212 lb)
  • Length: 1,630 mm (64 in)
  • Barrel length: 1,300 mm (51 in)
  • Rate of fire: 1000–1200 rounds/min
  • Muzzle velocity: 530 m/s (1,700 ft/s)

See also

Notes and references
  1. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1955/1955%20-%200109.PDF
  2. https://www.bevfitchett.us/heavy-machine-guns/revolver-cannon.html
  3. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1955/1955%20-%200109.PDF

Further reading
  • Walter Schmid; Mauser-Werke Oberndorf (2004). Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Mauser-Flugzeugbordwaffe MG-MK 213 C: Vorläufer der BK 27. DWJ. ISBN 978-3-936632-38-5.
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