Difference between revisions of "M195 (20 mm)"

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== History ==
 
== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''
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<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
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[[File:AH-1 M35 System Front View.jpg|x200px|left|thumb|none|A front view of the M195 in the M35 armament system.]]
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In late 1969, six General Electric M35 armament system was made available to AH-1 Cobra units in Vietnam.<ref name="PeoplesAH1Variant">Peoples 1988, 9</ref> The M35 armament system consisted of the '''20 mm M195''' rotary cannon, which was a modified [[M61A1 (20 mm)|M61A1 Vulcan]] rotary cannon with cut down barrels, a declutching feed, and ability to clear itself of live rounds after firing. The Vulcan cannon, which normally could reach fire rates of 4,000-6,000 rounds per minute (RPM) in fighter jet mounts, was reduced to 750-800 RPM in the M195 to make the recoil manageable on a helicopter. However, the recoil was noted to still heavily vibrate the helicopter when firing.<ref name="CentaursVietnam">Peake et al. 2020</ref>
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[[File:AH-1G Cobra 20mmM195 M35System.jpg|x200px|right|thumb|none|A AH-1G Cobra with a 20 mm M195 installed in the wing. Note the protruding fuselage area at the wing base area containing the ammunition box.]]
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The M35 armament system was mounted on the inboard port wing of the AH-1 Cobra. The system could hold up to 950 rounds of 20 mm ammunition, which was stored in two ammunition box affixed and faired into both sides of the Cobra's fuselage.<ref name="M195_FAS">Pike et al. 1999</ref> A modification that needed to be done with the M35 installation was the addition of extra metal plates on the fuselage besides the M195's muzzle as the muzzle blast could damage the helicopter's internal components.<ref name="CentaursVietnam"/> Controls were available for either the pilot or gunner to fire the M195,<ref name="M195_FAS"/> which was aimed by the Cobra's M73 reflex sight.<ref name="USArmyILSC">Integrated Logistics Support Center 2005</ref>
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The weapon system was considered a successful addition to the Cobra's firepower, enabling pilots to engage anti-aircraft positions from a range farther than the installed [[M134 Minigun (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Minigun]].<ref name="PeoplesAH1Variant"/><ref name="CentaursVietnam"/> The M195 was type classified as Standard B with the US Army ordering several hundreds. More then 377 units were produced.<ref name="M195_FAS"/>
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A version of the 20 mm M61 Vulcan would be installed into later versions of the AH-1 as the [[M197 (20 mm)|20 mm M197]] in the M97 universal turret beginning in 1978.<ref name="PeoplesAH1M197">Peoples 1988, 14</ref>
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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;Images
 
;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover"  heights="150">
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<gallery mode="packed-hover"  heights="200">
Image:20mm m195.png|<small>20 mm mounted on pylon</small>
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Image:20mm m195.png|20 mm mounted on pylon
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Image:AH-1Cobra 20mmM195 M35System SideView.jpg|A M35 armament system installed into the port wing of a AH-1 Cobra. This one is missing the muzzle ring.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.''-->
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* [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m195.htm <nowiki>[Federation of American Scientists]</nowiki> Military Analysis Network - M195 20mm Automatic Gun]
  
* [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m195.htm <nowiki>[Federation of American Scientists]</nowiki> Military Analysis Network - M195 20mm Automatic Gun]
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===References===
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;Citations:
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<references />
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;Bibliography:
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* Integrated Logistics Support Center. 2005. "U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER WEAPON SYSTEMS (Page 1 of 2)". U.S. Army, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command
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Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC). Last modified October 05, 2005. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100205084055/http://tri.army.mil/lc/CS/csa/aahist2.htm Archived website].
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* Peake, Michael and Lin Riniker. 2020. "20mm Automatic Cannon - M195." Centaurs in Vietnam. Last modified September 2020. [https://www.centaursinvietnam.org/History/ihistoryEqOrd20mm.html Website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220108151425/https://www.centaursinvietnam.org/History/ihistoryEqOrd20mm.html Archive]).
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* Peoples, Kenneth. 1988. ''Aerofax Datagraph 4: Bell AH-1 Cobra Variants''. Arlington, TX: Aerofax, Inc.
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* Pike, John and Robert Serman. 1999. "M195 20mm Automatic Gun." FAS Military Analysis Network. Last modified January 09, 1999. [https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m195.htm Website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220108151410/https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m195.htm Archive])
  
 
{{USA aircraft cannons}}
 
{{USA aircraft cannons}}
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]

Revision as of 16:30, 8 January 2022

Description

The 20 mm M195 was created as a shortened version of the M61 Vulcan specifically to be used on the AH-1G to give it a longer ranged option for enemy suppression.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The 20 mm M195 has a magazine of 950 rounds and fires at a rate of 750 to 800 rpm.

Available ammunition

Describe the shells that are available for the cannon 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)

Comparison with analogues

Comparable to the 3-barreled 20 mm cannons on the AH-1F and AH-1Z, the M195 boasts better overheating qualities.

Usage in battles

The 20 mm cannon is mounted under the left pylon wing, and can't rotate like the nose-mounted miniguns. The cannon can be used up to 2 km, exceeding the effective range of the 7.62 mm M134 minigun (1.5 km).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Having no tracers in the belt allows to keep your position hidden

Cons:

  • Cannon mounted under the left pylon wing, can't rotate like nose-mounted miniguns

History

A front view of the M195 in the M35 armament system.

In late 1969, six General Electric M35 armament system was made available to AH-1 Cobra units in Vietnam.[1] The M35 armament system consisted of the 20 mm M195 rotary cannon, which was a modified M61A1 Vulcan rotary cannon with cut down barrels, a declutching feed, and ability to clear itself of live rounds after firing. The Vulcan cannon, which normally could reach fire rates of 4,000-6,000 rounds per minute (RPM) in fighter jet mounts, was reduced to 750-800 RPM in the M195 to make the recoil manageable on a helicopter. However, the recoil was noted to still heavily vibrate the helicopter when firing.[2]

A AH-1G Cobra with a 20 mm M195 installed in the wing. Note the protruding fuselage area at the wing base area containing the ammunition box.

The M35 armament system was mounted on the inboard port wing of the AH-1 Cobra. The system could hold up to 950 rounds of 20 mm ammunition, which was stored in two ammunition box affixed and faired into both sides of the Cobra's fuselage.[3] A modification that needed to be done with the M35 installation was the addition of extra metal plates on the fuselage besides the M195's muzzle as the muzzle blast could damage the helicopter's internal components.[2] Controls were available for either the pilot or gunner to fire the M195,[3] which was aimed by the Cobra's M73 reflex sight.[4]

The weapon system was considered a successful addition to the Cobra's firepower, enabling pilots to engage anti-aircraft positions from a range farther than the installed 7.62 mm Minigun.[1][2] The M195 was type classified as Standard B with the US Army ordering several hundreds. More then 377 units were produced.[3]

A version of the 20 mm M61 Vulcan would be installed into later versions of the AH-1 as the 20 mm M197 in the M97 universal turret beginning in 1978.[5]

Media

Images

See also

External links

References

Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Peoples 1988, 9
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Peake et al. 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Pike et al. 1999
  4. Integrated Logistics Support Center 2005
  5. Peoples 1988, 14
Bibliography
  • Integrated Logistics Support Center. 2005. "U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER WEAPON SYSTEMS (Page 1 of 2)". U.S. Army, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command

Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC). Last modified October 05, 2005. Archived website.

  • Peake, Michael and Lin Riniker. 2020. "20mm Automatic Cannon - M195." Centaurs in Vietnam. Last modified September 2020. Website (Archive).
  • Peoples, Kenneth. 1988. Aerofax Datagraph 4: Bell AH-1 Cobra Variants. Arlington, TX: Aerofax, Inc.
  • Pike, John and Robert Serman. 1999. "M195 20mm Automatic Gun." FAS Military Analysis Network. Last modified January 09, 1999. Website (Archive)


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)