Difference between revisions of "Akan m/39A (12.7 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.''
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<!--''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.''-->
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The '''12.7 mm Akan m/39A''' is a Swedish aircraft machine gun. It is equipped on some of their early jet fighters.
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The Akan m/39A, originally based on the [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|Browning machine gun]], was a conversion of the license-produced [[Akan m/39A (13.2 mm)|13.2 mm Hotchkiss-cartridge chambered Akan m/39A]] back into the original 12.7x99 mm (or .50 BMG) cartridge.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
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* {{Specs-Link|saab_a21rb|short}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|saab_a21rb|short}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|saab_j21ra|short}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|saab_j21ra|short}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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<!--''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''-->
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The 12.7 mm Akan m/39A was basically a rebarrelled version of the 13.2 mm Akan m/39A. The gun had all the same proportions and technical details but was rebarrelled to the more common Browning .50 cal (12.7 x 99 mm) ammunition instead of the worldwide less common Hotchkiss calibre of .52 in (13.2 x 99 mm). Since 12.7 mm ammunition was cheaper to buy than the cost to produce new 13.2 mm ammunition, all 13.2 mm weapons were re-chambered during the post-war era, and after 1950 basically all Swedish weapons fired the new cartridge. Other specifications remained unchanged.
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Commonly mistaken with the Browning M2 (due to the same calibre) the Akan m/39A featured a modified electrical firing mechanism rating it from 600 rpm to 1,500 rpm. The gun was used as secondary armament for tanks with a reduced rate of fire (720 rpm) as well as standard armament for a variety of Swedish late- and post-WW2 aircraft such as the Saab 18, Saab 21, and the predecessor FFVS J22B with a rate of 1080 rpm.
  
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== Available ammunition ===
Line 23: Line 30:
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
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* Potent gun against air targets
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* High rate of fire
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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*
 
*
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''
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<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
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The Akan M/39A (12.7mm) is a rechambered variant of the [[Akan m/39A (13.2 mm)]] which is itself a Swedish licensed version of FN Browning M.1939.
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Sweden ordered the FN Browning M.1939 in the original 13.2mm Hotchkiss in 1939 after expressing interest in 1938 and would get a license to produce the design by LM Ericsson in Stockholm. After the end of World War II, however, Sweden realized the 13.2mm Hotchkiss was too expensive to continue purchasing. However, they have recently purchased the [[J26]] (surplus [[P-51 (Family)|P-51 Mustangs]]) and thus they had the [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|M2 Browning]] in .50 BMG from these aircraft which was designated the [[Akan m/45 (12.7 mm)|Akan m/45]]. As a result, the Swedish decided to convert their Akan m/39s to .50 BMG in 1947. The conversion was a simple matter of swapping the barrels leaving them to continue to have a stock of 13.2mm barrels and cartridges for a few years for use in live fire exercises. While the .50 caliber was arguably a downgrade, the Swedish Air Force by this point had switched to 20mm cannons in their main fighters. The [[T18B]] coastal bomber was the last aircraft to use the .50 Akan m/39A as a weapon and was retired in 1969. In 1950s, the Akan m/39A became a training weapon for Swedish fighter jets such as the [[A28B]] (export version of the de Havillard [[Vampire (Family)|Vampire]] fighter jets) and the [[J29 (Family)|J29 Tunnan]] fighter jets. The last weapon to use the Akan m/39A as a trainer weapon in place of their cannons was the [[J37 (Family)|J37 Viggen]] series which was retired in 2007.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''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;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
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* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
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* [[Akan m/39A (13.2 mm)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  

Latest revision as of 22:33, 24 February 2023

Description

The 12.7 mm Akan m/39A is a Swedish aircraft machine gun. It is equipped on some of their early jet fighters.

The Akan m/39A, originally based on the Browning machine gun, was a conversion of the license-produced 13.2 mm Hotchkiss-cartridge chambered Akan m/39A back into the original 12.7x99 mm (or .50 BMG) cartridge.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The 12.7 mm Akan m/39A was basically a rebarrelled version of the 13.2 mm Akan m/39A. The gun had all the same proportions and technical details but was rebarrelled to the more common Browning .50 cal (12.7 x 99 mm) ammunition instead of the worldwide less common Hotchkiss calibre of .52 in (13.2 x 99 mm). Since 12.7 mm ammunition was cheaper to buy than the cost to produce new 13.2 mm ammunition, all 13.2 mm weapons were re-chambered during the post-war era, and after 1950 basically all Swedish weapons fired the new cartridge. Other specifications remained unchanged.

Commonly mistaken with the Browning M2 (due to the same calibre) the Akan m/39A featured a modified electrical firing mechanism rating it from 600 rpm to 1,500 rpm. The gun was used as secondary armament for tanks with a reduced rate of fire (720 rpm) as well as standard armament for a variety of Swedish late- and post-WW2 aircraft such as the Saab 18, Saab 21, and the predecessor FFVS J22B with a rate of 1080 rpm.

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

Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.

Pros:

  • Potent gun against air targets
  • High rate of fire

Cons:

History

The Akan M/39A (12.7mm) is a rechambered variant of the Akan m/39A (13.2 mm) which is itself a Swedish licensed version of FN Browning M.1939.

Sweden ordered the FN Browning M.1939 in the original 13.2mm Hotchkiss in 1939 after expressing interest in 1938 and would get a license to produce the design by LM Ericsson in Stockholm. After the end of World War II, however, Sweden realized the 13.2mm Hotchkiss was too expensive to continue purchasing. However, they have recently purchased the J26 (surplus P-51 Mustangs) and thus they had the M2 Browning in .50 BMG from these aircraft which was designated the Akan m/45. As a result, the Swedish decided to convert their Akan m/39s to .50 BMG in 1947. The conversion was a simple matter of swapping the barrels leaving them to continue to have a stock of 13.2mm barrels and cartridges for a few years for use in live fire exercises. While the .50 caliber was arguably a downgrade, the Swedish Air Force by this point had switched to 20mm cannons in their main fighters. The T18B coastal bomber was the last aircraft to use the .50 Akan m/39A as a weapon and was retired in 1969. In 1950s, the Akan m/39A became a training weapon for Swedish fighter jets such as the A28B (export version of the de Havillard Vampire fighter jets) and the J29 Tunnan fighter jets. The last weapon to use the Akan m/39A as a trainer weapon in place of their cannons was the J37 Viggen series which was retired in 2007.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Aircraft machine guns
USA 
7.62 mm  Browning · M134 Minigun
12.7 mm  GAU-19 · M2 Browning · M3 Browning
Germany 
7.62 mm  MG3
7.92 mm  MG 15 · MG 17 · MG 81
12.7 mm  FN M3P
13 mm  MG 131
USSR 
7.62 mm  DA · GShG-7.62 · PKT · PV-1 · ShKAS
12.7 mm  A-12.7 · Berezin UB · TKB-481 · YaK-B
Britain 
7.62 mm  FN 60.30 · L8A1
7.7 mm  Browning · Lewis · Vickers E · Vickers K
Japan 
7.7 mm  Te-1 · Type 89 · Type 89 'special' · Type 92 · Type 97 navy
7.92 mm  Type 1 · Type 98
12.7 mm  Ho-103 · Ho-104
13 mm  Type 2
13.2 mm  Type 3
China 
12.7 mm  QJK99-12.7-1
Italy 
7.7 mm  Breda-SAFAT · Lewis
7.92 mm  FN Browning
12.7 mm  Breda-SAFAT · FN M3M · Scotti
France 
7.5 mm  Darne 1933 · Fabrique Nationale Mle 38 · FN Browning · MAC 1934 · MAC 1934T · Mle 33 · Mle 1923
7.62 mm  PKA
7.92 mm  FN-Browning M.36 No.3 · FN-Browning M.36 No.4
Sweden 
7.7 mm  FN-Browning M.36 No.3
8 mm  Ksp m/22 · Ksp m/22 Fh · Ksp m/22 Fv · Ksp m/22-37 R
12.7 mm  Akan m/39A · Akan m/40 · Akan m/45 · LKk/42
13.2 mm  Akan m/39 · Akan m/39A