30 mm caliber

File:30mmvs556nato.jpg

The 30 mm caliber is a range of autocannon ammunition. It includes the NATO standardized Swiss 30×173mm (STANAG 4624), the Soviet 30×155mmB, 30×165mm and 30×210mmB, the Czechoslovak 30×210mm, the Yugoslav 30×192mm, the British 30×113mmB, and the French 30×150mmB and 30×170mm cartridges.

Usage

Ammunition in 30 mm is typically not used against personnel but rather as an anti-materiel or armor-piercing round. Rounds of this size can be effective against lightly armored vehicles as well as fortified bunkers. It is also a popular caliber for shipboard close-in weapons systems (CIWS), such as the Russian AK-630 and Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation use their 30 mm weapons in a variety of vehicles, including the Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter, Mi-28 attack helicopter, Ka-50 attack helicopter, and the BMP-2, BMP-3, and BTR-90 infantry fighting vehicles. The most modern anti-aircraft gun systems in use by Russia are chambered in 30 mm.

The U.S. military uses 30 mm weapons in their A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, AC-130 gunship (AC-130J Ghostrider variant), and AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. It was going to be used in the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, until the project was canceled. The United States Navy uses 30 mm weapons on the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock and on {{sclass|Freedom|littoral combat ship|5}} and {{Sclass|Independence|littoral combat ship}}s as part of the surface warfare (SuW) package.[http://www.seaforces.org/wpnsys/SURFACE/Mk-46-gun-weapon-system.htm Mk-46 GWS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102201055/http://www.seaforces.org/wpnsys/SURFACE/Mk-46-gun-weapon-system.htm |date=2 November 2014 }} - Seaforces.org[http://www.guns.com/2013/03/21/navy-to-contract-with-general-dynamics-for-six-more-littoral-combat-ship-mk46-mod-2-gun-weapon-systems/ Navy Orders Six More General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship MK46 Mod 2 Gun Weapon Systems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102201626/http://www.guns.com/2013/03/21/navy-to-contract-with-general-dynamics-for-six-more-littoral-combat-ship-mk46-mod-2-gun-weapon-systems/ |date=2 November 2014 }} - Guns.com, 21 March 2013 In 2012, the Navy decided to replace the Mk 110 57 mm cannons on {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer|1}}s with the Mk 46 GWS (Gun Weapon System), a navalized mounting of the Mk44 Bushmaster chain gun.[http://news.usni.org/2014/08/05/navy-swaps-anti-swarm-boat-guns-ddg-1000s Navy Swaps Out Anti-Swarm Boat Guns on DDG-1000s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031145059/http://news.usni.org/2014/08/05/navy-swaps-anti-swarm-boat-guns-ddg-1000s |date=31 October 2014 }} - News.USNI.org, 5 August 2014{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=MK 46 - 30 mm Gun Weapon System > United States Navy > Displayy-FactFiles |url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2220690/mk-46-30-mm-gun-weapon-system/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710000251/https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2220690/mk-46-30-mm-gun-weapon-system/ |archive-date=2024-07-10 }}

In 2022, the United States Coast Guard announced plans to install 30 mm Mk44 chain guns on newly-built Polar Security Cutters (PSCs), though existing cutters would retain their 25mm Mark 38 mounts.{{Cite web |last=Ong |first=Peter |date=2022-04-21 |title=USGC's Polar Security Cutters to Receive Mark 38 Mod 4 Guns |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/usgcs-cutters-to-receive-30mm-mark-44/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130185237/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/usgcs-cutters-to-receive-30mm-mark-44/ |archive-date=2023-01-30 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

Types of ammunition

30 mm calibre weapons are used in a variety of roles. As a result, ammunition in 30 mm comes in several varieties: armor-piercing (AP), high-explosive (HE), airburst, and target practice (TP) rounds. Both AP and HE cartridges commonly possess incendiary or tracer elements, which may be noted in its designation; API and HE-T are Armor-Piercing Incendiary and High-Explosive Tracer respectively.{{cite web |title=Medium calibre ammunition |url=https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/medium-calibre/medium-calibre-ammunition |website=rheinmetall.com |publisher=Rheinmetall |access-date=26 September 2023}}

Weapons

File:30mm-rounds.jpg|Swiss 30×173mm

File:Львівські курсанти опановують броньовану техніку 06.jpg|Soviet 30×165mm

File:30mm DU slug.jpg|The DU penetrator of a 30×173 mm round used in the GAU-8

File:DEFA_791_cannon_for_the_Dassault_Rafale_fighter.jpg|French 30×150mmB

File:30 mm.jpg|30×113mmB rounds being loaded into an AH-64D Apache Longbow

=Current weapons=

class="wikitable"

! style="width: 100px;" | Cartridge

! style="width: 100px;" | Weapon

! style="width: 150px;" | Country of origin

! style="width: 150px;" | Designer

! style="width: 150px;" | Type

! style="width: 250px;" | Example platforms

rowspan="2" | 30×29mmB

| AGS-17

| {{USSR}}

| OKB-16

| Automatic grenade launcher

| BMD-3, BTR-90, BTR-D

AGS-30

| {{RUS}}

| KBP Instrument Design Bureau

| Automatic grenade launcher

| BTR-T, GAZ-2975 Tigr, M2020 (tank)

rowspan="6" | 30×113mmB

| M230

| {{USA}}

| Hughes

| Chain gun

| Boeing AH-64 Apache, JLTV MADIS, Oshkosh M-ATV, Stryker M-SHORAD

ADEN

| {{GBR}}

| Royal Small Arms Factory

| Revolver cannon

| English Electric Lightning,
Hawker Hunter, Saab Draken, SEPECAT Jaguar

VENOM LR 30

|{{GBR}}

|AEI Systems

|Revolver cannon

|Midgard 300 RWS, electro optic systems (EOS) R400 ROWS (prototype)

DEFA 550 series

| {{FRA}}

| Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armement

| Revolver cannon

| Dassault Mystere, Mirage series, Étendard series, SEPECAT Jaguar,
Fiat G.91, AMX International AMX

30 M 781

| {{FRA}}

| GIAT

| Chain gun

| Eurocopter Tiger

XM188

| {{USA}}

| General Electric

| Rotary cannon

| Bell AH-1 Cobra (prototype)

30×150mmB

| 30 M 791

| {{FRA}}

| Nexter

| Revolver cannon

| Dassault Rafale

30×155mmB

| NR-30

| {{USSR}}

| Nudelman-Rikhter

| Short-recoil autocannon

| MiG-19, MiG-21, Su-7, Su-17, J-7

rowspan="9" |30×165mm

| GSh-30-1

| {{USSR}}

| Gryazev-Shipunov

| Short-recoil autocannon

| Sukhoi Su-27, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-57, Mikoyan MiG-29

GSh-30-2

| {{USSR}}

| Gryazev-Shipunov

| Twin autocannon

| Sukhoi Su-25, Mil Mi-24P

GSh-6-30

| {{USSR}}

| Gryazev-Shipunov

| Rotary cannon

| MiG-27, Kortik CIWS

AK-630

| {{USSR}}

| TsKIB SOO

| Rotary cannon

| A-213-Vympel-A CIWS

2A42

| {{USSR}}

| KBP Instrument Design Bureau

| Gas-operated autocannon

| BMP-2, BMD-2, BMD-3, Kurganets-25, T-15 Armata, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, BTR-90

2A72

| {{USSR}}

| KBP Instrument Design Bureau

| Long-recoil autocannon

| BMP-3 (also in BRM-3K version), BMD-4, BTR-82A, Uran-9

| {{USSR}}

| KBP Instrument Design Bureau

| Twin anti-aircraft gas-operated autocannon

| 2K22 Tunguska, Pantsir-S

CRN 91

| {{IND}}

| Ordnance Factory Medak

| Light naval gun

| Trinkat-class patrol vessel, Kumbhir-class landing ship,
Car Nicobar-class fast attack craft

Type 730/1130

| {{CHN}}

| 713th Research Institute

| Gatling gun

| Type 052C destroyer,
Type 001A aircraft carrier, LD-2000

rowspan="3" | 30×170mm

| HS.831A

| {{FR}}

| Hispano-Suiza

| rowspan="2" | Gas-unlocked delayed-blowback autocannon

| AMX-30 DCA

HS.831L / Oerlikon KCB

| {{FR}} / {{CHE}}

| Hispano-Suiza / Oerlikon

| Falcon anti-aircraft system, DS30B rapid-fire ship-protection system

L21A1 RARDEN

| {{GBR}}

| Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment/
Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield

| Long-recoil autocannon

| FV721 Fox, FV107 Scimitar,
FV510 Warrior

rowspan="11" | 30×173mm (STANAG 4624)

| KCA

| {{CHE}}

| Oerlikon

| Revolver cannon

| Saab 37 Viggen, Skyranger 30

GAU-8 Avenger

| {{USA}}

| General Electric

| Gatling gun

| Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Signaal Goalkeeper CIWS

rowspan="3" |Mk44 Bushmaster II

| rowspan="3" |{{USA}}

| rowspan="3" |Alliant Techsystems

| rowspan="3" |Chain gun

|Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, AS21 Redback, BAE ACV-30, Bionix II, Borsuk, Boxer Vilkas, CM-34, CV9030, {{ill|Dragón VCR|es|Dragón (vehículo blindado)}}, {{ill|ICV - Infantry combat vehicle|lt=ICV|ja|24式装輪装甲戦闘車}}, Freccia EVO, Hunter AFV, KTO Rosomak, LAV III(Colombia), LAV-700, M1296 Stryker Dragoon, N-WAV 8×8 IFV, Pandur II 8×8 KBVP, Patria AMV - CRO 30L, Pindad Cobra, Piranha III (Belgium, Botswana, Ireland), Piranha V (Romania), {{ill|RCV - Reconnaissance combat vehicle|lt=RCV|ja|共通戦術装輪車 (偵察戦闘型)}}, Sentinel II 6×6 and 8×8, VBTP-MR Guarani

Naval weapon systems:

:DS30M Mark 2

Aircraft carrier:

:NAM Atlântico

Amphibious transport docks:

:Angthong-class, {{sclass|San Antonio|amphibious transport dock|4}}

Destroyers

:Type 45 class, {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer|4}}

Frigates:

:{{sclass|Jose Rizal|frigate|4}}s, Littoral combat ship, Maharaja Lela class, {{sclass|Naresuan|frigate|4}}, Type 23 class

Corvettes:

:{{sclass|Gowind|corvette|4}} (Argentina), {{sclass|Khareef|corvette|4}}

Offshore patrol vessels:

:Hateruma class, {{sclass|Holland|offshore patrol vessel|4}}, Mamuju class, Polar Security Cutter, River class (batch II)

Patrol vessels:

:Bintang Laut class, Hateruma class, {{sclass|Iwami|patrol vessel|4}}s, Krabi class, {{sclass|Kunigami|patrol vessel|4}}s, Leamsing class, Mamuju class, Pari class, Pulau Nipah class, Swiftships, Tanjung Datu class, {{sclass|T.991|patrol boat|4}}, T.994 class

Fast-attack craft:

:Clurit class, Shaldag Mk.V class

Mine-countermeasure vessels:

:Ladya class

Support vessels:

:{{sclass|Karel Doorman|support ship|4}}

Research vessels:

:Pollux class

Lockheed AC-130J,

| {{DEU}}

| Rheinmetall

| Automatic cannon

| ASCOD, Boxer CRV, Boxer RadSPz (PuBo), Lynx KF41, Piranha III (Spanish Marines), SPz Puma, 30mm/82 Compact

EMAK 30

| {{ZAF}}

| Denel Land Systems

| Linkless cam gun

| Badger

Maadi Griffin

| {{USA}}

| Robert Stewart

| Prototype anti-materiel rifle

| Maadi Griffin

30mm X-GUN

| {{ITA}}

| Leonardo

| Automatic Cannon

Wotan 30

| {{DEU}}

| Rheinmetall

| Automatic cannon

| Lynx KF41

GTS-30/N

| {{SVK}}

| ZŤS – ŠPECIÁL

| Gas-operated autocannon

|BOV 8x8 Vydra

30×210mmB

| NN-30

| {{USSR}}

| Tulamashzavod

| Twin revolver cannon

| AK-230 light naval gun/CIWS

30×210mm

| vz.53/59

| {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}

| Praga Hostivař

| Twin anti-aircraft autocannon

| M53/59 Praga

30×250mm caseless

| RMK30

| {{DEU}}

| Mauser

| Recoilless revolver cannon

| Wiesel AWC (experimental),
Eurocopter Tiger UH (experimental)

=Historical weapons=

class="wikitable"

! style="width: 100px;" | Weapon

! style="width: 150px;" | Country of origin

! style="width: 150px;" | Designer

! style="width: 100px;" | Cartridge

! style="width: 150px;" | Type

! style="width: 250px;" | Example platforms

MK 108

| {{flag|Nazi Germany}}

| Rheinmetall-Borsig

| 30×90mmRB

| Autocannon

| Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-2,
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8/R2, Messerschmitt Me 262

Type 2

| {{flag|Japanese Empire}}

| Dai-Nippon Weapons Co., Ltd.

| 30×92mmRB

| Blowback autocannon

| Mitsubishi J2M (prototype)

Ho-155

| {{flag|Japanese Empire}}

| Nagoya Arsenal

| 30×114mm

| Autocannon

| Nakajima Ki-84-I Hei,
Kawasaki Ki-102c Hei

Type 5

| {{flag|Japanese Empire}}

| Nihon Tokushuko

| 30×122mm

| Autocannon

| Yokosuka P1Y, Kyushu J7W,
Mitsubishi J2M (planned)

NR-30

| {{flag|Soviet Union}}

| A.E. Nudelman and A.A. Rikhter

| 30×155mmB

| Autocannon

| MiG-19, MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-7,
Sukhoi Su-17

MK 101

| {{flag|Nazi Germany}}

| Rheinmetall-Borsig

| rowspan="2" |30×184mmB

| Autocannon

| Henschel Hs 129,
Heinkel He 177A-1/U2 (experimental)

MK 103

| {{flag|Nazi Germany}}

| Rheinmetall-Borsig

| Electrically primed autocannon

| Focke-Wulf Fw 190,
Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz

MK 303

| {{flag|Nazi Germany}}

| Krieghoff

| 30×210mm

| Anti-aircraft autocannon

| Type XXI submarine

References

External links

[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/30mm.htm FAS: 30 mm Ammunition]
[http://www.atk.com/capabilities_defense/cs_as_gs_m230_30mm_cg.asp ATK Products: M230]
[http://www.atk.com/capabilities_defense/cs_as_gs_m230LF_30mm_cg.asp ATK Products: M230LF]

Category:Large-caliber cartridges

30 mm caliber

Usage

Types of ammunition

Weapons

=Current weapons=

=Historical weapons=

See also

References

External links