Heres a short list of the most common rounds used in the M61:
Designation Type Projectile Weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle Velocity [m/s] Description
M53 API ? 4.2 g incendiary[7] 1030 6.3 mm RHA penetration at 0 degree impact angle and 1000 m range.
M56A3/A4 HEI 102[8] 9 g HE (RDX/wax/Al) and 1.5 g incendiary 1030 Nose fuzed round, no tracer. 2 m effective radius to produce casualties to exposed personnel. Fragmentation hazard out to 20 m.[8] 12.5 mm RHA penetration at 0 degree obliquity at 100m range.
PGU-28A/B SAPHEI 102.4 [9] 10 g[8] 1050 Multi-purpose fuzeless round with an incendiary charge in the nose setting off the HE behind it with a slight delay to maximize lethality against aircraft. No tracer or self-destruct. A zirconium pellet at the bottom of the HE cavity provides additional incendiary effect.
Ok, sorry I thought this was the powerful and well known one that sits in all the American Jets.
Thanks 
Yes, this would be the one- used in most US jets since the F104 Starfighter, F105 Thunderchiefs and A7D Crusaders of Vietnam vintage up to the F15's/16's/18's. Even got 2 in a pod slung underneath F4's (M12's/M25's), although innacurate, and a much modified version (M195) is fitted to the Cobra gunships. One of the most versatile aircraft weapons ever developed, its been everywhere from the tail turrents on B58 Hustlers and B52's, to being the sharp end of the Navy's 'Phalanx' anti-missile system, and to say it doesnt pack an awesome punch is to do it a disservice.
Neither can it be compared to the Mk108, which pumps out 30mm shells at a poultry 650 rounds per minute with a wheezing 540 Metres per second muzzle velocity. Our M61 blasts out the 20mm's at 6000 Rounds per Minute (6600 with the A2) @ 1050 Metres per second muzzle velocity, so the weight of the projectiles is more than made up for by the amount of them and the speed they are travelling (quantity over quality!).
As a matter of interest, the very versatile Hispano 20mm, for instance, the Hs404, had a rate of fire of 6-700 RPM (similar to the 108) but with a muzzle velocity of 840-880 Metres per second, firing heafty 130g HE or HEI shells, or as much as 168g for AP-T shells.
Maybe you are getting confused with the gattling gun in the nose of the A10 Warthog, which is a 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger, which is a truly awesome weapon. It fires its 360 gram depleted uranium shells at an incredible 3900 Rounds per minute (can be set for up to 4200!!!) with a muzzle velocity of 1070 Mps. It's rotary barrels are driven by twin 77hp electric motors and it is sometimes described as the "largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft cannon in the US military arsenal" and is lethal against armour- or any thing else you care to mention!
Russia have a similar weapon, the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30, which is lighter and has an even faster rate of fire (up to 6000 RPM), but has a much lower muzzle velocity (845 Mps) and overheats faster.
Eeerrrrrmmm- sorry for the rant.
Great mod- much fun- thanks!
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Topic: Mosquito VulcanM61 v2 (4.09 - 4.101 - 4.11 ) (Read 20336 times)
