M266 (40 mm)

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

• M247

General info

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Available ammunition

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Comparison with analogues

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Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

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Pros:

Cons:

History

The M226 is an American licensed variant of the Bofors L/70s.

The Bofors L/70 was developed after World War II when the jet age began and aircraft speeds increased to point the Bofors L/60 wasn't effective anymore. Bofors had the options of increasing the rate of fire to match the new jets by either making a 57 mm gun, or a newer 40 mm gun. In the end, Bofors did both.

The L/70 fires a larger 40x365 mmR cartridge at a higher muzzle velocity and a higher rate of fire. Becoming the standard NATO anti-aircraft gun in November 1953, the L/70 would evolve in variants produced in multiple countries. The M266 is one of those variants produced in the United States. Seeking a modern SPAA comparable to the Soviet ZSU-23-4, on the chassis of the M48 Patton The Division Air Defense or DIVAD program was created. The Ford Aerospace entry for the program combined the Bofors L/70 with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66 radar used on the F-16 Fighter Falcon or "Viper" fighter jet to create the M266. The cannon was comparable in performance to the 35 mm designs used by other entrants to the competition, with Ford's design ultimately getting selected and developed into the M247 Sergeant York.

However, despite the "M" designation on both the gun and the vehicle, it was never able to enter service and the program was cancelled. While the Bofors L/70 was a competently designed cannon, the radar it was attached to presented with the M266 with a host of problems and made the design unreliable. Another problem was the guns used for production were poorly stored in Army warehouses being being used in the program leaving them deformed. Along with a high failure rate for the radar, it had trouble actually tracking targets. While the M247, and thus the M266, failed to see use, the L/70 design itself has seen service more successfully in militaries across the globe in other capacities.

Media

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See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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

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)