M242 Bushmaster
The M242 Bushmaster is an electrically operated machine cannon ( English autocannon ) in caliber 25 mm (25 × 137 mm). In principle, it is a heavy machine gun with double belt feed. It is used by the US military as well as by NATO and other armed forces, including Switzerland .
It is mainly used against non-armored and lightly armored vehicles or slow-flying air targets, but can also hit fortified enemy positions effectively. The standard rate of fire is 200 rounds / min, the standard range 2000 m.
The manufacturer was originally McDonnell Douglas , later it was manufactured by Alliant Techsystems (ATK), now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems . However, McDonnell Douglas still owns the naming rights to the name "Chain Gun".
commitment
tank
The M242 comes standard in armored M2 Bradley IFV and M3 Bradley CFV the US Army for use, as well on the LAV-25 of the US Marines and the Bionix the Singapore Army .
Ships
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As Mk-38 (also: Mark 38 , English Mk-38 Machine Gun System ) it is on board naval ships and can be used there both defensively and offensively. It is mainly used for defense against surface targets such as small boats, swimmers, floating mines and against non-armored or lightly armored targets on land. The system was introduced to the US Navy in 1986.
The system consists of the MK-88 Machine Gun Mount and the M242 Bushmaster machine gun. The rate of fire is relatively high at 175 rounds / min, the maximum range is 2.5 km. It is operated manually by a shooter. Elevation and lateral movement occur by changing the position of the shooter accordingly.
The Mk-38 is supplemented by the Phalanx CIWS in the block 1B version or competes with it. This CIWS can also be aimed manually at surface targets using a joystick and, with its FLIR, has bad weather and night vision capabilities . In addition, the shooter does not have to expose himself to the elements or enemy fire. The slightly smaller caliber is compensated for by the higher cadence . The ships of the American Navy are currently being retrofitted with Block 1B.
Helicopters / planes
The M242 Bushmaster is not used in airplanes or helicopters. Its slightly bigger sister, the M230 Chain Gun , serves as a gun on the AH-64 Apache . The Mk44 Bushmaster II was temporarily intended for use in the AC-130U Spooky II, where it was to replace the Gatling cannon and the 40 mm Bofors gun . These plans were abandoned in 2008.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ A Spookier Spooky, 30mm at a Time? Defense Industry Daily, September 6, 2009, accessed January 8, 2012 .
- ↑ AIR FORCE CANCELS 30 MM CANNON PROGRAM FOR AC-130U GUNSHIPS - Inside the Air Force, July 11, 2008 . Archived from the original on September 28, 2011.