Difference between revisions of "GAU-12/U (25 mm)"

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[[File:Weapon GAU-12U (25 mm).png|thumb|right|x250px|The 25 mm GAU-12U on the LAV-AD turret.]]
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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.''
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<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
  
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* {{Specs-Link|av_8b_na}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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* {{Specs-Link|av_8b_plus}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 
* {{Specs-Link|av_8b_plus_italy}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 
* {{Specs-Link|av_8b_plus_italy}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
 +
* {{Specs-Link|us_lav_ad}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== 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).''
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
'''Aircraft'''
 +
 
 +
* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|SAPHEI-T*|Semi armour-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracers (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
:: Default belt with a 50/50 composition of SAPHEI-T* and HEI. Very effective against air targets due to every round having HE.
 +
 
 +
* '''Air targets:''' {{Annotation|SAPHEI-T*|Semi armour-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracers (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
:: Air target belt which is similar to the default belt but with more HEI rounds. Far more lethal against aircraft but less dangerous against ground targets due to a lower amount of SAPHEI-T* rounds.
 +
 
 +
* '''Ground targets:''' {{Annotation|SAPHEI-T*|Semi armour-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracers (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}
 +
 
 +
:: Belt suited for ground targets. The HVAP round has more than 60 mm of penetration which is more than enough to go through the roofs and engine decks of many tanks. Weak against air targets.
 +
 
 +
* '''Stealth:''' {{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
:: Similar to the default belt but all the SAPHEI-T* rounds are replaced by HVAP rounds. As the name implies no tracer rounds are used so players have no assistance in figuring out lead against an enemy aircraft. It does provide a good mix between attacking ground and air targets.
 +
 
 +
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|HEI, SAPHEI-T*, HVAP}}
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 +
'''Ground vehicles'''
 +
 
 +
* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI*|High-explosive incendiary (self-destroying)}}
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* '''PGU-25/U:''' {{Annotation|HEI*|High-explosive incendiary (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI*|High-explosive incendiary (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI*|High-explosive incendiary (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}
 +
* '''PGU-20/U:''' {{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI*|High-explosive incendiary (self-destroying)}}
 +
 
 +
{{:GAU-12U (25 mm)/Ammunition|HEI*, HVAP}}
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
−
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
+
<!-- Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon. -->
 +
There aren't many air platforms with a 25 mm cannon. The Harrier GR.7 does have a 25 mm suspended pod but the gun has inferior fire rate. However, it does have similar velocities for each round. The GAU-12/U can best be characterized as a more powerful M61 Vulcan cannon.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== 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.''
+
The 25mm GAU-12/U can still be a potent weapon against modern MBT side armour in an accurate player's hands. In particular, the Leopard 2's, Japanese Type 90/10/TKX (P) and Leclerc series tanks have easily penetrable side armour when using the HVAP rounds, while still possible it isn't advised to try penetrating Russian MBTs (whether is be the T-72, T-80 or T-90 series) as you have to aim quite low down their sides to hit the propellant charges in the autoloader carousel, should you engage a Russian tank a good tactic is to rapidly fire your 70mm Hydra rockets at the drivers port/cannon barrel to blind the enemy player making it harder to hit you. When used against enemy SPAA and light tanks the GAU-12/U makes short work of anyone foolish enough to engage you.
  
 
=== 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 fire rate
 +
* Good variety in ammunition types and belts
 +
* Excellent velocity (~1,100 m/s)
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Can go through ammunition very quickly due to the RoF
 +
* Recoil is quite significant
  
 
== 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>.''
+
<!-- ''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>.'' -->
 +
The GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm variant of the larger 30 mm [[GAU-8/A (30 mm)|GAU-8/A Equalizer]] that was famously used on the [[A-10A|A-10A Thunderbolt II]]. Developed for the Lockheed AC-130H Spectre gunship in the 1970s, the Equalizer uses the exact same mechanism, but scaled-down to 25 mm for the AC-130H. For use on the AC-130, the gun was set at a cyclic rate of 1,800 rpm but on other jets, it fires at a rate of up to 4,200 rpm. It was principally used on the AV-8B Harrier II VTOL jet for the United States Marine Corps and Italian and Spanish Navy on an external hardpoint pod. The Navy used the gun to make a self-defense variant called the Sea Vulcan 25 intended to serve as a faster-firing alternative for deck-mounted machine guns and corvettes, frigates, or patrol boats, but it didn't enter service. It was also mounted on the Scaled Composites ARES, a close air support demonstrator, and on the [[LAV-AD]], an anti-aircraft variant of the Marine Corps LAV-25 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
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 +
A four-barrelled variant, designated GAU-22/A, was developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II stealth fighter jet.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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== 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.''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
Line 41: Line 83:
 
== 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;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{USA aircraft cannons}}
 
{{Italy aircraft cannons}}
 
{{Italy aircraft cannons}}
 +
{{Britain and USA anti-aircraft guns}}
  
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]
 +
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]

Latest revision as of 02:57, 26 October 2024

The 25 mm GAU-12U on the LAV-AD turret.

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.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.

Available ammunition

Aircraft

  • Default: SAPHEI-T* · HEI
Default belt with a 50/50 composition of SAPHEI-T* and HEI. Very effective against air targets due to every round having HE.
  • Air targets: SAPHEI-T* · HEI · HEI · HEI
Air target belt which is similar to the default belt but with more HEI rounds. Far more lethal against aircraft but less dangerous against ground targets due to a lower amount of SAPHEI-T* rounds.
  • Ground targets: SAPHEI-T* · HVAP · HVAP · HVAP
Belt suited for ground targets. The HVAP round has more than 60 mm of penetration which is more than enough to go through the roofs and engine decks of many tanks. Weak against air targets.
  • Stealth: HVAP · HEI · HVAP · HEI
Similar to the default belt but all the SAPHEI-T* rounds are replaced by HVAP rounds. As the name implies no tracer rounds are used so players have no assistance in figuring out lead against an enemy aircraft. It does provide a good mix between attacking ground and air targets.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEI 7 6 4 3 3 3
SAPHEI-T* 24 22 15 10 6 4
HVAP 66 65 60 55 50 45
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEI 1,100 0.18 0.2 0.1 34.56 79° 80° 81°
SAPHEI-T* 1,100 0.19 1.2 9 20.48 79° 80° 81°
HVAP 1,036 0.21 - - - 66° 70° 72°

Ground vehicles

  • Default: HVAP · HEI*
  • PGU-25/U: HEI* · HEI* · HEI* · HVAP
  • PGU-20/U: HVAP · HVAP · HVAP · HEI*

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEI* 7 6 4 3 3 3
HVAP 66 62 46 33 23 16
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEI* 1,085 0.19 0.1 0.1 54.4 79° 80° 81°
HVAP 1,036 0.21 - - - 66° 70° 72°

Comparison with analogues

There aren't many air platforms with a 25 mm cannon. The Harrier GR.7 does have a 25 mm suspended pod but the gun has inferior fire rate. However, it does have similar velocities for each round. The GAU-12/U can best be characterized as a more powerful M61 Vulcan cannon.

Usage in battles

The 25mm GAU-12/U can still be a potent weapon against modern MBT side armour in an accurate player's hands. In particular, the Leopard 2's, Japanese Type 90/10/TKX (P) and Leclerc series tanks have easily penetrable side armour when using the HVAP rounds, while still possible it isn't advised to try penetrating Russian MBTs (whether is be the T-72, T-80 or T-90 series) as you have to aim quite low down their sides to hit the propellant charges in the autoloader carousel, should you engage a Russian tank a good tactic is to rapidly fire your 70mm Hydra rockets at the drivers port/cannon barrel to blind the enemy player making it harder to hit you. When used against enemy SPAA and light tanks the GAU-12/U makes short work of anyone foolish enough to engage you.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • High fire rate
  • Good variety in ammunition types and belts
  • Excellent velocity (~1,100 m/s)

Cons:

  • Can go through ammunition very quickly due to the RoF
  • Recoil is quite significant

History

The GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm variant of the larger 30 mm GAU-8/A Equalizer that was famously used on the A-10A Thunderbolt II. Developed for the Lockheed AC-130H Spectre gunship in the 1970s, the Equalizer uses the exact same mechanism, but scaled-down to 25 mm for the AC-130H. For use on the AC-130, the gun was set at a cyclic rate of 1,800 rpm but on other jets, it fires at a rate of up to 4,200 rpm. It was principally used on the AV-8B Harrier II VTOL jet for the United States Marine Corps and Italian and Spanish Navy on an external hardpoint pod. The Navy used the gun to make a self-defense variant called the Sea Vulcan 25 intended to serve as a faster-firing alternative for deck-mounted machine guns and corvettes, frigates, or patrol boats, but it didn't enter service. It was also mounted on the Scaled Composites ARES, a close air support demonstrator, and on the LAV-AD, an anti-aircraft variant of the Marine Corps LAV-25 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

A four-barrelled variant, designated GAU-22/A, was developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II stealth fighter jet.

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


USA aircraft cannons
20 mm  AN/M2 · Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 0 · Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 · FMC T-160
  M3 · M24A1 · M39 · M39A1 · M39A2 · M39A3 · M61A1 · M195 · M197 · Mk 11 · Mk 11 mod 5 · T31
30 mm  M230E-1 · XM140 · GAU-8/A · GAU-13/A · LR30
37 mm  M4 · M9 · M10
40 mm  M75 · M129
75 mm  M10 · T13E1
  Foreign:
20 mm  Hispano 404 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · MG 151 (Germany) · Type 99 Model 1 (Japan)
30 mm  ADEN Mk.4 (Britain)

Italy aircraft cannons
20 mm  TM197B
30 mm  Hispano HS 825
37 mm  Breda Model 39 37/54
102 mm  102/35 mod 14
  Foreign:
20 mm  B-20E (USSR) · B-20M (USSR) · B-20S (USSR) · Hispano 404 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · Hispano Mk.V (Britain) · M24A1 (USA) · M61A1 (USA) · MG 151 (Germany) · MG FF (Germany) · MG FF/M (Germany) · ShVAK (USSR)
23 mm  GSh-23L (USSR) · NR-23 (USSR) · NS-23 (USSR)
27 mm  Akan m/85 (Sweden) · Mauser BK27 (Germany)
30 mm  DEFA 552 (France) · GSh-30-1 (USSR) · GSh-30-2K (USSR) · MK 103 (Germany) · MK 108 (Germany) · NR-30 (USSR)
37 mm  BK 3.7 (Germany) · N-37 (USSR) · N-37D (USSR)

Britain and USA anti-aircraft guns
7.92 mm  BESA
12.7 mm  M2HB
20 mm  GAI C01 · M168 · Oerlikon Mk.II · Polsten
25 mm  GAU-12U
30 mm  HSS 831L
35 mm  GA-35
37 mm  M1A2
40 mm  Bofors L/60 · Dual Automatic Gun M2 · M266
  Foreign:
23 mm  ZU-23 (USSR)
35 mm  Oerlikon KDA (Swiss)

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