30 mm caliber

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 and s as part of the surface warfare (SuW) package. In 2012, the Navy decided to replace the Mk 110 57 mm cannons on s with the Mk 46 GWS (Gun Weapon System), a navalized mounting of the Mk44 Bushmaster chain gun. 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.

Types of ammunition

30 mm 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.

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

Historical weapons

References

References

1. [http://www.seaforces.org/wpnsys/SURFACE/Mk-46-gun-weapon-system.htm Mk-46 GWS] {{Webarchive. link. (2 November 2014 - Seaforces.org)
2. [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. link. (2 November 2014 - Guns.com, 21 March 2013)
3. [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. link. (31 October 2014 - News.USNI.org, 5 August 2014)
4. (2024-07-10). "MK 46 - 30 mm Gun Weapon System > United States Navy > Displayy-FactFiles".
5. Ong, Peter. (2022-04-21). "USGC's Polar Security Cutters to Receive Mark 38 Mod 4 Guns".
6. "Medium calibre ammunition". Rheinmetall.
7. NavyLookout. (2021-01-13). "The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus {{!}} Navy Lookout".
8. "30mm Emerlec EE-30".
9. "The South Korean Navy (ROKN)".
10. "30 mm/75 (1.2") EX-74 and Emerlec-30".
11. "MANTA fast attack craft (1971)".
12. "30mm Oerlikon GCM-A".
13. "30 mm/75 GCM Series".
14. "DAMRONG RACHANUPHAT patrol craft (1969-1972)".
15. "MAMBA patrol craft (1974)".
16. (2021-12-17). "South Korea begins deployment of its new Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun System".