30 mm caliber - Definition and Overview

30 mm rounds

The 30 mm Caliber is a standard size of heavy machine gun (specifically autocannon) ammunition used by NATO forces. The round itself has a length in the range of 8 to 12 inches (200 to 305 mm) while the projectile is ranges from 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm).

Usage

Unlike its cousin the 25 mm round, the 30 mm is not typically an anti-personnel round. Instead, the 30 mm round is generally either an anti-material or anti-armor round. It is capable of taking out targets ranging from armored vehicles and Main Battle Tanks to fortified bunkers.

The DU penetrator of a 30 mm round

The U. S. Military uses 30 mm weapons in their A-10 Thunderbolt II, AH-64 Apache, LAV-25, AAAV, and as a standard ship-based munition in the upcoming Mark 46 autocannon.

30 mm caliber weapons

• the American Hughes M230
• the American GAU-8 Avenger
• the British Rarden High velocity gun
• the French GIAT M781 autocannon
• the German Mauser RMK-30 recoilless cannon
• the Russian GSch-301
• the Swiss Oerlikon KCB

Types of 30 mm ammunition

30 mm ammunition generally comes in three varieties: Armor Piercing, High explosive, and Training rounds. Armor Piercing and High Explosive cartridges usually also possess incendiary characteristics.

See also

• 25 mm caliber
• Caliber
• 5.56 mm caliber
• 7.62 mm caliber
• .50 BMG
• List of cartridges (weaponry), pistol and rifle

External links

• FAS: 30 mm Ammunition (http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/30mm.htm)
• ATK Products: M230 (http://www.atk.com/international/precision/descriptions/products/GunSys/30mmChainGun.htm)
• ATK Products: M230LF (http://www.atk.com/international/precision/descriptions/products/GunSys/30mmChainGunLF.htm)
• French Autocannons (http://www.pmulcahy.com/autocannons/french_autocannons.html)