Polsten (20 mm)

Description

The Polsten is a 20 mm autocannon, developed as a simplified version of the 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.II. Although being cheaper than its predecessor, the Polsten would function nearly identically and serve primarily in the anti-aircraft role, mounted in towed gun mounts, self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles, and naval vessels.

Players who have experience with the 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.II will be familiar with the operation of this weapon and its characteristics. It offers a fair amount of damage against aircraft, although its ballistics and firerate may not be favorable against fast-flying aircraft.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• Skink

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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History

The Polsten is Polish 20-millimeter anti-aircraft gun derived from the Swiss 20 mm Oerlikon. Development began in 1939 when Polish engineers began working on a simplified version of the Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun that was just as effective. The development hit a snag when Germany invaded in September 1939, which resulted in the designers fleeing to Britain where they continued development with a team including local engineers and Czech designers. The end result used 119 parts and cost between 60 and 90 British pounds compared to the 250 rounds and cost of 150 pounds of an Oerlikon. They also had 30 rounds box magazines alongside the 60-round drum mags used by the Oerlikon. Due to a lack of industrial capacity locally, the Polsten was manufactured by John Inglis & Company in Canada who built the guns in a variety of double, triple, and quad-mounts.

The guns were first adopted by the British 21st Army Group in January 1944 as their standard 20 mm to simplify logistics. It would go on to serve in anti-aircraft platoons of Commonwealth forces. The Polsten notably served as an aircraft anti-aircraft gun during Operation Market Garden and would continue to serve into the 1950s in Polish and Commonwealth service. In Australia, it was produced by General Motors Holden during World War II serving in towed anti-aircraft guns and mounted them coastal boats. A variety of self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles were built using the Polsten guns. Notably, the Canadian armed a variant of the Grizzly tank called the Skink but only three prototypes were built due to the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) being effectively destroyed by 1944. It was also used on British variants of the LVT amphibious tractor, SPAA variants of the Cromwell, and in a separate mount on early models of the Centurion main battle tank.

Media

The POLSTEN Quad Anti-Aircraft Gun - The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum

See also

Related development

• 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)

Weapons of similar caliber and role

• FlaK38 (20 mm)
• Scotti-IF 20/70 mod.41 (20 mm)
• Type 98 (20 mm)

External links

• [Wikipedia] 20 mm Polsten

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)