Higher rate of fire: 30mm guns have a higher rate of fire than 50 caliber guns, which allows them to engage multiple targets faster. In military situations, these ammunitions are used primarily to take down vehicles, fortifications, personnel, and aircraft. Their high power and destructive penetration force make them lethal weapons in combat. The linked rounds pass up from the pannier on the right through the flex chute to the receiver on the gun breech. The flexible chute allows the gun to elevate between -20º to +65º (HMS Sutherland, Oct 2011. Photo: Navy Lookout) Scott, Richard, ASCG enhances Type 23 close-in defence, International Defence Review, 30 October 2007". Archived from the original on 4 July 2009 . Retrieved 14 June 2009.

The GAU-8 itself weighs 620 pounds (280kg), but the complete weapon, with feed system and drum, weighs 4,029 pounds (1,828kg) with a maximum ammunition load. It measures 5 + 1⁄ 2in (5.931m) from the muzzle to the rearmost point of the ammunition system, and the ammunition drum alone is 34.5 inches (88cm) in diameter and 71.5 inches (1.82m) long. [8] Power for operating the gun is provided by twin hydraulic motors pressurized from two independent hydraulic systems. The magazine can hold 1,174 rounds, although 1,150 is the typical load-out. Muzzle velocity when firing armor-piercing incendiary rounds is 1,013m/s, almost the same as the substantially lighter M61 Vulcan's 20mm round, giving the gun a muzzle energy of just over 200 kilojoules. [9] 30x173mm round next to a .30-06 Springfield for comparisonA millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is one thousandth of a metre, which is the International System of Units (SI) base unit of length. The millimetre is part of a metric system. A corresponding unit of area is the square millimetre and a corresponding unit of volume is the cubic millimetre. John Pike (9 January 1999). "PGU-15/B TP Target Practice 30mm Ammunition". Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 22 October 2020. The PGU-15/B TP Target Practice projectile simulates the exterior ballistics and provides a ballistic match to the HEI round and is used for pilot training.

GIAT also introduced their version of the design as the DEFA cannon; the two weapons are very similar. [5] ADEN 25 [ edit ] Rosomak APCs for Ukraine. USA Confirms the Numbers". defence24.com (in Polish). 22 September 2023 . Retrieved 11 November 2023. ammunition suite: MK264 MPLD-T - MK239 TP-T - MK238 HEI-T/SD - MK258 APFSDS-T - 30mm HEAB-T - MK317 TPDS-T" (PDF). General Dynamics . Retrieved 22 October 2020. High Explosive Incendiary Tracer with Self Destruct, MK238: Low cost proven HEI-T with reliable M758 point detonating fuze with self destruct

FAQ

The development of new technology will continue to transform the 30mm and 50 caliber rounds, leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness. Here are some predictions about the future usage and development of these two types of ammunition: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w AMKAT, Ammunitionskatalog, Data och bilder, Flygvapnet. Sweden: Försvarets materielverk, FMV. 1984. x 173mm Munition System". www.orbitalatk.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017 . Retrieved 19 April 2018.

a b "Fact Sheet: General Electric GAU-8/A "Avenger" 30mm Cannon". Hill Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04.

30mm x 173 GAU-8/A Ammunition

Robertson Aviation: Apache". Archived from the original on April 20, 2009 . Retrieved 30 September 2011. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link)

Lighter and more compact: The 30mm ammunition is lighter and more compact than its 50 caliber counterpart, making it easier to carry and transport.Orbital ATK: Placing its Programmes on Target". Mönch Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018 . Retrieved 11 August 2018. The Mk.44 is a great weapon and it saddens me to see the Army not adopting it for their AFV fleet. I have spent the last 15 years working with chain guns of differing calibres and uses but they all look virtually identical on the inside. The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increase in caliber size. The barrel is chromium-plated for extended life. The gun uses standard GAU-8 Avenger ammunition that is available in API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary), HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and APFSDS-T (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer) variants. Lesser penetration power: 30mm bullets have less penetration power than 50 caliber bullets. They are less effective against armored vehicles and buildings.