Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 Explained

Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202
Origin:West Germany
Type:Autocannon
Is Ranged:YES
Is Artillery:YES
Designer:Rheinmetall
Design Date:1960s
Manufacturer:Rheinmetall
Weight:83 kg
Length:2612 mm
Height:241 mm
Cartridge:20 × 139 mm
Caliber:20 mm
Action:Gas unlocked blowback
Rate:880 to 1,030 rpm
Velocity:1,044 m/s with HEI
1,100 m/s with AP
Range:1,600 m against high flying aircraft
2,500 m against ground targets

The Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 (short for Maschinenkanone 20 mm Rheinmetall) is a 20 mm caliber autocannon designed and produced by Rheinmetall. It fires the 20×139mm ammunition originally developed for the Hispano-Suiza HS.820.

The cannon is used on German military vehicles, including the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, the Spähpanzer Luchs and some variants of the Wiesel AWC. It is used in the Argentinian VCTP, an IFV based on the TAM chassis. A towed twin mount antiaircraft version was produced and used by Argentina in the Falklands War.

German naval ships also employed Rh 202 mounts, usually two on frigates and destroyers, four on larger replenishment ships. They have been or are currently being replaced with the new Mauser, now a subsidiary of Rheinmetall, MLG 27 remote-controlled guns of 27 mm calibre.

A version modified to fire the U.S. M50 series of 20×102mm ammunition loaded into the M14 link belt has been offered to no avail for the U.S. Government by Maremont Corporation, of Saco, Maine, licensed by Rheinmetall under marketing arrangement.[1]

20 mm twin anti-aircraft mount variant

Flugabwehrkanone 20 mm Zwilling
Origin:West Germany
Type:Autocannon
Is Ranged:YES
Is Artillery:YES
Designer:Rheinmetall
Design Date:1960s
Manufacturer:Rheinmetall
Weight:1,640 kg (combat ready)[2]
2,050 kg (travelling)
Length:5m (16feet) (travelling)
Part Length:1.8m (05.9feet)
Width:2.3m (07.5feet) (travelling)
Height:2m (07feet) (travelling)[3]
Crew:3 to 4
Cartridge:20 × 139 mm
Caliber:20 mm
Action:Gas unlocked blowback
Rate:880 to 1,030 rpm per gun
Velocity:1,044 m/s with HEI
1,100 m/s with AP
Range:1,600 m against high flying aircraft
2,500 m against ground targets
Traverse:360°
Elevation:-5° to +83.5°

Rheinmetall Zwillingsflak twin-gun anti-aircraft system began development in 1968 to meet the requirements of the low-level air defence units of the German Air Force, i.e. "to engage low and very low approaching enemy aircraft with all appropriate means in time to prevent them from firing their weapons or delivering their ordnance, or at least to prevent them from carrying out an accurate attack on an air force installation."

The Budget Committee of the Bundestag approved the Zwillingsflak system in December 1969. Serial production began in 1972. The first production systems reached units of the Bundeswehr in October 1972. Rheinmetall delivered the last of these in 1976.

This gun was used by the Argentine Air Force, including during the Falklands War.

Since 1981, it has been used by the Portuguese Army and Portuguese Air Force.

Specifications

Operators

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=f_9CAAAAIAAJ German Machineguns
  2. Web site: Die Flugabwehrkanone 20 mm Zwilling . luftwaffe.de . 8 April 2011 . de.
  3. Book: Foss, Christopher. Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. 1977. Collier. 205. 0020806000. New York. 911907988.