JM61A1 (20 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

• F-1
• F-4EJ Phantom II
• F-4EJ Kai Phantom II
• T-2

General info

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Available ammunition

• Default: API-T · HEF-I · HEF-I · AP-I · HEF-I · HEF-I
• Armored targets: API-T · AP-I · HEF-I · AP-I · AP-I · HEF-I
• Air targets: API-T · HEF-I · HEF-I · HEF-I · HEF-I
• Stealth: AP-I · AP-I · HEF-I

Penetration statistics
Belt	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Default	53	50	39	28	20	14
Armored targets	53	50	39	28	20	14
Air targets	53	50	39	28	20	14
Stealth	53	50	39	28	20	14

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

Pros:

• Very high rate of fire

Cons:

• Spool up time before firing

History

The M61 Vulcan is a 20mm rotary cannon that was developed in United States after World War II. Based on the American Civil War-era Gatling Gun, the M61 entered service in 1959 and has since become the primary cannon weapon of US fighter jets from the Vietnam War until the adoption of F-35 Lightning II and stills sees service on "Teen series" of fighter jets and the F-22 Raptor. Based on combat experience the M61 would be upgraded to the M61A1 which introduced a linkless feeding system to reduce malfunctions.

Japan, constitutionally forbidden from having a military after World War II, did not have much of a domestic aircraft industry to call upon when regional politics in Asia persuaded the United States to allow Japan a local defense force guard their home islands. Thus the nascent Japanese Air Self-Defense Force relied primarily on the United States as a source of aircraft in its early years with the first aircraft being imported and knock-down kits of the North American F-86F-30. However, it was not long before Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began licensed production of the F-86 series, but the relationship between the United States and Japan remained strong and Japan continued licensing American aircraft designs including the cannons.

In 1967, Japan adopted the F-104J a licensed production of the American F-104 Starfighter and included license production of the M61 Vulcan the Starfighter was equipped with. The JM61 was thus entered production in Japan and the JM61A1 began production with the F-4EJ Phantom II in 1971. As Japan continued to both license American designs such as the the F-15 Eagle (as the F-15J) or the F-16 Fighting Falcon (As the Mitsubishi F-2) and produce their own designs like T-2 and F-1 they would continue to the JM61A1 as their cannon of choice into the twenty-first century.

Media

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See also

• M61 (20 mm)
• M61A1 (20 mm)

External links

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