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Revolver cannon - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Blowgun, Blowpipe, Firearm, Flamethrower, Gat, Gun, Handgun, Heater, Musket, Peashooter, Piece, Pistol, Repeater, Rifle, Rod, Shotgun |
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A revolver cannon is a type of autocannon. It uses a cylinder (like that of a revolver) with multiple chambers to speed up the loading-firing-ejection cycle. It differs from a Gatling gun in having only a single barrel. Revolver cannons were invented by Mauser late in WW2 as aircraft guns, and have since been produced by many different European manufacturers (whereas the US and to a lesser extent Russia favour the Gatling gun).
Revolver cannons have a lower sustained rate of fire than Gatling guns, but do not require time to spin up, so that a short burst is fired with a similar rate.
The leading current example is arguably the Mauser BK-27.
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