Difference between revisions of "L21A1 (30 mm)"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' | + | <!--''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''--> |
| + | The '''30 mm L21A1''', also known as the '''RARDEN''', is a British autocannon used on their armoured fighting vehicles. Currently, the only vehicle using the L21A1 cannon is the FV510 Warrior. | ||
| + | |||
| + | With its APDS round, the L21A1 has one of the higher penetrating rounds for an autocannon for a ground vehicle in the game that can take out most other light tanks with ease. However, the trade-off is a lower firing rate and restricted magazine size of 6 rounds. | ||
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | === Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | ||
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=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' | + | <!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''--> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * High-penetrating APDS round available for its caliber size. |
| + | * APDS belt is homogenous, guaranteeing a APDS round each shot compared to mixed belt compositions. | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * 6 round magazine requires careful shot placements to make most use of the available rounds. |
| + | * Low rate of fire | ||
| + | * Relatively high recoil when firing compared to other autocannons. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Revision as of 13:48, 23 March 2022
Contents
Description
The 30 mm L21A1, also known as the RARDEN, is a British autocannon used on their armoured fighting vehicles. Currently, the only vehicle using the L21A1 cannon is the FV510 Warrior.
With its APDS round, the L21A1 has one of the higher penetrating rounds for an autocannon for a ground vehicle in the game that can take out most other light tanks with ease. However, the trade-off is a lower firing rate and restricted magazine size of 6 rounds.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.
Available ammunition
Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High-penetrating APDS round available for its caliber size.
- APDS belt is homogenous, guaranteeing a APDS round each shot compared to mixed belt compositions.
Cons:
- 6 round magazine requires careful shot placements to make most use of the available rounds.
- Low rate of fire
- Relatively high recoil when firing compared to other autocannons.
History
Considerations for a new vehicle-mounted weapon for the infantry took into account that a Soviet invasion of Europe would have the Soviet armoured forces tie down most of NATO armoured assets. In this event, NATO infantry would have minimal armour support against the Soviet's mechanized infantry, which are usually supported by armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles in the form of BTRs or BMPs. As such, a vehicle-mounted weapon capable of defeating these Soviet vehicles from 1,000 meters away was desired to force the infantry to disembark and allow effective mortar and artillery fire to decimate them. Settling on a high-velocity autocannon weapon type for the role, it was found that current autocannons in service did not meet the British requirements for a vehicle-mounted armament. The British decided to pursue a path of producing a completely new 30 mm autocannon to fit their needs. This task was taken up between the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE) and the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield.[1] Norman Brint of the Royal Small Arms Factory became the cannon's main designer.[2]
The 30 mm autocannon developed was desired to have a sufficient anti-armour capability to defeat a Soviet APC from any angle up to 1,000 meters away, with an ability to penetrate the side armour of Soviet main battle tanks as well. The autocannon should also be able to provide effective fire on soft targets and be able to deter low-flying aircraft such as helicopters. Additionally, the gun is to be reliable, accurate, lightweight, and be able to be mounted on a large variety of vehicles. These are tough specifications under the considerations that an effective vehicle-mounted cannon requires a low trunnion pull (recoil force) and a short inboard length (recoil length). To account for this, the weapon would have a low rate of fire and a long recoil mechanism, which effectively reduced the trunnion pull to 3,000 ft-lb (~4067 J), which is halved compared to other 30 mm autocannons of the time. The inboard length is reduced to a maximum of 9 in. (~23 cm), due in part with the absence of a ramming breech block and its associated return spring, as well as the loading and recoil mechanism that allowed the inboard length to load the 11.25 in. (~28.6 cm) round without issue.
Ammunition for the cannon are derived from the Hispano-Suiza 831L, with a new APDS ammunition was developed by RARDE for the armour-pericing role. The use of aluminum alloy in the gun body and high quality steel in the barrel kept the weapon lightweight (the barrel itself was only 54 lb. (~24 kg)). Barrel dampeners, as well as the low fire rate, help prevent barrel vibrations from affecting gun accuracy. The weapon, known as the 30 mm Gun L21E2 during development,[1] was standardized in the British military as the L21A1.[3] The weapon was also given the name RARDEN, the name derived from its designers ("Royal Armament, Research and Development Establishment" and "Enfield").
The L21A1 RARDEN would see use on the Fox armoured car, the Warrior IFV, and the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle. The weapon would undergo an upgrade in the 1980s into the L21A2, which featured a redesigned barrel among other minor improvements.[3]
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
- References
- Bibliography
- Hobart, Major F.W.A. "The RARDEN Cannon". Armor, January-February 1974, pp. 18–24. (Online Archive) (Archive.org copy)
- Tobin, Edmund. "Norman Brint designed the Rarden 30mm cannon at the Royal Small Arms Factory". East London and West Essex Guardian Series, Newsquest Media Group Ltd., 09 Apr. 2010, Website. Accessed 26 Mar. 2021. (Archive)
- WeaponSystems.net, "30mm Rarden". WeaponSystems.net, Website. Accessed 26 Mar. 2021 (Archive).
| Britain tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 30 mm | L21A1 |
| 40 mm | QF 2-pounder |
| 47 mm | Ordnance QF 3-pounder |
| 57 mm | 6pdr OQF Mk.III · 6pdr OQF Mk.V |
| 75 mm | OQF Mk.V |
| 76 mm | OQF 3-inch Howitzer Mk I · OQF 3in 20cwt · QF 17-pounder |
| 77 mm | OQF Mk.II |
| 84 mm | 20pdr OQF Mk.I |
| 94 mm | 28pdr OQF · 32pdr OQF · OQF Mk.II |
| 95 mm | Howitzer, Tank No.1, Mk.I |
| 105 mm | LRF · Royal Ordnance L7A1 |
| 120 mm | Ordnance QF Tk. L1A2 · Ordnance BL Tk. L11 · L11A5 · L30A1 |
| 165 mm | ORD BL 6.5in L9A1 |
| 183 mm | QF L4A1 |
| Foreign: | |
| 25 mm | M242 (USA) |
| 37 mm | M5 (USA) · M6 (USA) |
| 75 mm | M2 (USA) · M3 (USA) |
| 84 mm | kan Strv 81 (Sweden) |
| 105 mm | Sharir (Israel) |
| 120 mm | Rh120 L/55 A1 (Germany) |
| 125 mm | 2A46M-5 (Russia) |
| 155 mm | M185 (USA) |
| South Africa | |
| 20 mm | GI-2 |
| 76 mm | GT-4 |
| 90 mm | GT-2 |
| 105 mm | GT-3 · GT-7 · GT-8 |
| 155 mm | G6 L/45 |
