Difference between revisions of "M266 (40 mm)"

From War Thunder Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Created page)
 
(History: Readded section description, formatting and other edits, removed text that didn't fit well with overall M266 history (would probably be a better fit on M247 actual page))
(3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
== Description ==
 
== 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. Make an air or ground vehicles list on which this weapon is installed in our game.''
+
''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 ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 +
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_m247}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_m247}}
  
Line 9: Line 10:
 
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
 
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
  
=== Available shells ===
+
=== 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).''
+
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon 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 ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
+
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
+
''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 and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
+
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
*
 
*
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 
*
 
*
  
 
== 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.''
+
<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''-->
 +
 
 +
The '''M226''' is an American licensed variant of the [[Bofors (40 mm) (Family)|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 (40 mm)|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 (Family)|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|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 ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
Line 40: Line 52:
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on weapon;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  

Revision as of 13:05, 25 September 2022

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

General info

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

Available ammunition

Describe the shells that are available for the weapon 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

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

Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.

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

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

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

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • 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)