FMC T-160 (20 mm)

Description

The FMC T-160 was the preliminary version of what became the M39A1 (20 mm) (as found on the F-100D), first used on a very small number of F-86 Sabres for testing during a program known as "Project GunVal" in the early 1950s. After testing was completed, these aircraft were sent to Korea and deployed for field operations where they were highly successful, and it was decided to re-designate the T-160 as the M39 and begin serial production and installation into the new F-100 Super Sabre.

The T-160 cannon is a large step forward in terms of offensive armament compared to the Browning M3 (12.7 mm) present on earlier F-86 Sabre variants. Featuring a high rate of fire and exceptional muzzle velocity, the T-160 is a highly capable cannon against aircraft and will have little difficulty in downing even the most heavily defended targets. However, the T-160 leaves little room for error, which is largely brought on by the same characteristics that make it highly effective.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• F-86F-2

General info

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

Available ammunition

The FMC T-160 has a total of five available ammunition belts:

• Default: P / HEF-I / HEF-I / API-T

The Default belt is not optimal compared to all others because of the inclusion of a practice shell, although with the characteristics of the T-160 cannon it is not a major detriment. It is still recommended that other belts are used once the modification is researched and purchased.

• Universal: HEF-I / API-T

Universal is always a good mix of both high explosive and armour piercing shells, and is a good choice for most situations.

• Air Targets: HEF-I / HEF-I / HEF-I / API-T

The Air Targets belt is an excellent choice as the T-160 is almost exclusively for use against aircraft. A large amount of HEF-I shells will allow for a better chance of breaking critical parts of an aircraft as well as setting fires.

• Armored Targets: API-T / AP-I / AP-I

The Armored Targets belt is entirely composed of AP-I shells which can give good performance against more heavily protected enemies. These can provide a method of destroying light pillboxes as well as medium tanks, although considering the very low ammunition available for the T-160 cannons it is not recommended to attack ground targets unless absolutely necessary.

• Stealth: HEF-I / HEF-I / HEF-I / AP-I

The Stealth belts are essentially the exact same as the Air Targets belt with the exception that no tracer shell is present. If skilled with the T-160 cannon, these belts can be devastating by concealing when the cannons are fired.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
AP-I	36	33	27	22	17	14
API-T	36	33	27	22	17	14
HEF-I	2	2	2	2	2	2
P	15	13	10	8	7	6

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Normalisation at 30° from horizontal	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
AP-I	1,030	0.101	N/A	N/A	N/A	?.?°	47°	60°	65°
API-T	1,030	0.101	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1.0°	47°	60°	65°
HEF-I	1,030	0.101	0.2	0.1	18.3	0.0°	79°	80°	81°
P	1,030	0.101	N/A	N/A	N/A	+2.0°	47°	60°	65°

Comparison with analogues

• M39A1 (20 mm): The FMC T-160 cannon is an early version of the M39 cannon, and in-game they perform identically. Learning how to use them effectively on the F-86F-2 will prove to be beneficial for flying the F-100D.
• AN/M3 (20 mm): The FMC T-160 has a much higher rate of fire over the AN/M3 cannons (1,500 rpm v. 750 rpm) as well as having a higher muzzle velocity (1,030 m/s v. 853 m/s). This makes aiming easier with the T-160 as well as having a higher burst mass.
• Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm): These perform similarly, although the T-160 still has an advantage with rate of fire (1500 v. 996). The T-160 also has better ammunition belts than the Browning-Colt Mk12 due to less AP shells and more HEF shells.
• NR-23 (23 mm): The NR-23 has relatively high rate of fire at 900 rounds/minute and does have slightly more explosive power with the FI-T shells, but it has an abysmal muzzle velocity at 690 m/s so the T-160 can be much easier to use in comparison.
• DEFA 552 (30 mm): The DEFA 552 has a comparable rate of fire at 1200 rounds/minute and has much more explosive mass than the T-160 shells, but it also has a much lower muzzle velocity of 810 m/s.

Usage in battles

The FMC T-160 is a highly effective weapon against nearly any opponent it can face, but it is also very demanding on the pilot. In battle, the T-160 will greatly reward those who put effort into learning how the cannon works and employing it in the most advantageous positions. Knowing when to open fire and when to hold back is the key to success, and failing to respect the T-160 can be frustrating as it is a very punishing weapon for mistakes.

The T-160 is best used at medium to closer ranges, at around 400 to 900 m distance to a target. The very high muzzle velocity of 1,030 m/s means that at these ranges there will be essentially no time at all for the target to avoid fire. If a target is unaware they can be wiped from the sky with the T-160 and not know what hit them. While engagements directly behind an aircraft can be beneficial, it can also be difficult to hit a target that is constantly evading. This is where the extreme trigger discipline will be required as the firing time for the T-160 can be measured in only a few seconds. The ammunition can easily be spent all in a single engagement so it is necessary to aim carefully.

Where the T-160 truly shines is in deflection shooting, as a target presents a larger area to hit and the high muzzle velocity makes it far easier to lead a target in a turn. Wings are quickly snapped off and entire airframes destroyed from quick bursts of the T-160 in a deflection shot, but aiming can be a challenge if new to the cannon. Experience will be the key to learning how to use the T-160 to its fullest potential and developing a sense for where the shells will land will be the determining factor in how successful a pilot is with the T-160.

Due to the very fast paced nature of higher tier jet combat, the T-160 is an excellent cannon in this environment. Against other fighters it can be effective in dealing damage quickly during high speed passes and diving attacks. When split-second engagement windows appear, the T-160 can be used to good effect and take out enemies that would otherwise have evaded. The T-160 also can be used against heavily defended bombers, such as the Tu-4. A quick pass can easily cause fatal damage and start fires that will ultimately destroy the bomber, while minimizing exposure to defensive armaments.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent damage which allows for critical damage or complete destruction of enemy aircraft in very short order
• Very high rate of fire ensures maximum amount of fire on a target, especially for small engagement windows common in jet combat
• High muzzle velocity reduces the need to lead a target and makes deflection shots much easier
• All shells are useful in combat; there are no "wasted slots" in ammunition belts (as compared to some belts for other 20 mm cannons, such as the Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)

Cons:

• Lower ammunition count compared to some other cannons (only 115 rounds per gun)
• High rate of fire can be a detriment for pilots who are not careful with their aim and waste ammunition
• Very high chance to overhead and jam if fired for any extended period of time; around 2 seconds without "New 20 mm cannon" modification
• Can be challenging to adapt to as rate of fire/muzzle velocity is very different from earlier armaments, primarily Browning M3 (12.7 mm) and AN/M3 (20 mm)

History

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Media

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See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
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External links

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