Difference between revisions of "MG 151 (20 mm)"

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(Usage in battles)
(Vehicles equipped with this weapon: Added Bf 109 F-4 (Italy))
 
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{{About
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| about = German autocannon '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = the 15 mm version
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| link = MG 151 (15 mm)
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}}
 
== 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.''
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
The Mauser '''20 mm MG 151/20''' is a German 20 mm aircraft cannon converted from the 15 mm [[MG 151/15 (15 mm)|MG 151/15 cannon]] to a 20 mm after combat evaluation proved a larger high-explosive shell to be more effective than a high-velocity shell.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
<!--''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.''-->
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<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
 
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
{{Navigation-First-Line|Fighters}}[[Bf 109 F-4]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 F-4 (USA)|▃Bf 109 F-4]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 F-4/trop]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 G-2]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 G-2/trop]]
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{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Bf 109 G-6]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 G-10]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 G-14]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 G-14/AS (Italy)|▄Bf 109 G-14/AS]]{{-}}[[Bf 109 K-4]] (secondary)
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Fw 190 A-4]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-5]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-5 (Japan)|▅Fw 190 A-5]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-5/U2]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-5/U12]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-8]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 A-8 (USA)|▂Fw 190 A-8]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Bf 109 F}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109f-4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109f-4_trop}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109f-4_usa}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109f-4_hungary}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Fw 190 C]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 D-9]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 D-9 (USSR)|▂Fw 190 D-9]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 D-12]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 D-13]]{{-}}[[Fw 190 F-8]]{{-}}[[Ta 152 C-3]]{{-}}[[Ta 152 H-1]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Bf 109 G}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-2_romania}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-2_hungary}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-2_finland}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-6}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-6_finland}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-6_erla_finland}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-14}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109g-14as}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Re.2001 CN]]{{-}}[[IAR-81C]]{{-}}[[C.202EC]]{{-}}[[C.205 serie 3]]{{-}}[[C.205N2]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Bf 109 K}}{{Specs-Link|bf-109k-4}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[G.55 serie 1]]{{-}}[[G.55 sottoserie 0]]{{-}}[[G.55S]]{{-}}[[G.56]]
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{{Navigation-Line|BV 155}}{{Specs-Link|bv-155b-1}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Ki-61-I hei]]{{-}}[[NC.900]]{{-}}[[S.O.8000 Narval]]
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{{Navigation-Line|C.202}}{{Specs-Link|mc-202_ec}}
{{Navigation-Line|Twin-engine fighters}}[[Do 17 Z-7]]{{-}}[[Do 217 N-1]]{{-}}[[Do 217 N-2]]{{-}}[[Ta 154 A-1]]{{-}}[[He 219 A-7]]
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{{Navigation-Line|C.205}}{{Specs-Link|mc-205_serie3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|mc-205_n2}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Bf 110 F-2]] (secondary){{-}}[[Bf 110 G-2]] (secondary){{-}}[[Do 335 A-0]]{{-}}[[Do 335 A-1]]{{-}}[[Do 335 B-2]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Fw 190 A}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-5_cannons}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-5_u2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-5|Fw 190 A-5/U12}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw_190a_5_u14}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-5_japan}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-8}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-8_usa}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190a-8_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[Me 410 A-1]]{{-}}[[Me 410 A-1/U2]]{{-}}[[Me 410 A-1/U4]]{{-}}[[Me 410 B-1]]{{-}}[[Me 410 B-1/U2]]{{-}}[[Me 410 B-2/U4]]{{-}}[[Me 410 B-6/R3]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Fw 190 C}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190c}}
{{Navigation-Line|Jet fighters}}[[He 162 A-2]]{{-}}[[Me 163 B-0]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Fw 190 D}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190d-9}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190d-9_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190d-12}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190d-13}}
{{Navigation-Line|Attackers}}[[Hs 129 B-2]]{{-}}[[Hs 129 B-2 (Romania)]]{{-}}[[Hs 129 B-2 (Romania) (Italy)|▄Hs 129 B-2 (Romania)]]{{-}}[[SM.91]]
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{{Navigation-Line|G.55}}{{Specs-Link|g_55_serie1_ss0}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|g_55_serie1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|g_55s}}
{{Navigation-Line|Bombers}}[[Do 217 E-2]]{{-}}[[Do 217 E-4]]{{-}}[[Ju 87 D-5]]{{-}}[[M.B.175T]]
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{{Navigation-Line|G.56}}{{Specs-Link|g_56}}
{{Navigation-Line|}}[[BV 238]] (defensive){{-}}[[He 111 H-16]] (defensive){{-}}[[He 177 A-5]] (defensive){{-}}[[Ju 288 C]] (defensive)
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{{Navigation-Line|IAR-81}}{{Specs-Link|iar_81c}}
{{Navigation-Line|Jet bombers}}[[Ar 234 C-3]]
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{{Navigation-Line|Ki-61}}{{Specs-Link|ki_61_1a_hei}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ki_61_1a_hei_ep}}
{{Navigation-Line|Ground vehicles}}{{Specs-Link|fr_lorraine_155}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Mörkö-Morane}}{{Specs-Link|morko_morane}}&nbsp;(Modification)
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{{Navigation-Line|Pyörremyrsky}}{{Specs-Link|pyorremyrsky}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Re.2001}}{{Specs-Link|re_2001_cn}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Re.2005}}{{Specs-Link|re_2005_serie0}}
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{{Navigation-Line|S-199}}{{Specs-Link|s_199}}&nbsp;(Modification)
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{{Navigation-Line|S.O.8000}}{{Specs-Link|so_8000_narval}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Ta-152}}{{Specs-Link|ta-152c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ta-152h-1}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|do_17z_7}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|do_217n_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|do_217n_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ju-388j}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410a-1_u2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410b-1_u2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ta_154a_1}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|he-162a-2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-163b-0}}
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 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Bf 110}}{{Specs-Link|bf-110f-2}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf-110g-2}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf_110g_4}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|bf_110g_4_hungary}}&nbsp;(Suspended)
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{{Navigation-Line|Do 335}}{{Specs-Link|do_335a_0}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|do_335b_2}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Fw 190}}{{Specs-Link|fw-190f-8}}
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{{Navigation-Line|He 219}}{{Specs-Link|he_219a_7}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Hs 129}}{{Specs-Link|hs-129b-2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hs-129b-2_romania}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hs-129b-2_romania_italy}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Me 262}}{{Specs-Link|me-262a1_u1}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Me 410}}{{Specs-Link|me-410a-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410a-1_u4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410b-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410b-2_u4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me-410b-6_r3}}
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{{Navigation-Line|SM.91}}{{Specs-Link|sm_91}}
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{{Navigation-Line|SM.92}}{{Specs-Link|sm_92}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|bv-138c-1}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|bv-238}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|do_217e_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|do_217e_4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|he-177a-5}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
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{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|ju-87d-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ju-188a-2}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|ju-288c}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|mb_175t}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|me_264}}&nbsp;(Defensive)
 +
 
 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|arado-234c-3}}
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 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Heavy tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_50_surblinde}}
 +
 
 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|fr_lorraine_155}}
 +
 
 +
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Motor torpedo boats'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_ls4_class}}
 +
 
 
{{Navigation-End}}
 
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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The 20 mm MG 151 has a fire rate of 700 rounds per minute. The gun is reasonably accurate with decent shell trajectory.
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 +
=== Available ammunition ===
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
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The key features of the MG 151 is the special Minengeschoß (lit. "mine shell") high-explosive ammunition. This Minengeschoß round was specifically made with a thin tungsten casing to contain more explosive filler (usually 50% more than regular HE shell) and thus were extremely effective against enemy aircraft.
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 +
'''Aircraft'''
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* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}
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* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}
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* '''Air targets:''' {{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''Armoured targets:''' {{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''Tracers:''' {{Annotation|FI-T|Fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|FI-T|Fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|FI-T|Fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''Stealth:''' {{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
* '''Default (turret):''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}
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* '''Armoured targets (turret):''' {{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}
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* '''Universal (turret):''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary (minengeschoß)}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
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|-
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! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
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! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
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|-
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! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
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|-
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| Default || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Universal || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Air targets || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Armoured targets || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Tracers || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 6 || 6
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|-
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| Stealth || 26 || 23 || 13 || 7 || 3 || 3
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|-
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| Default (turret) || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Armoured targets (turret) || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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| Universal (turret) || 26 || 24 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 3
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|-
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|}
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 +
'''Tanks'''
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 +
* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-I|Armour-piercing incendiary}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
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|-
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! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
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! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
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|-
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! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
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|-
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| Default || 26 || 23 || 13 || 6 || 3 || 3
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|-
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|}
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 +
'''Ships'''
  
=== Available shells ===
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* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
''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).''
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* '''20 mm HE belts:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}
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* '''20 mm AP belts:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
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! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
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|-
 +
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
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|-
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| Universal || 26 || 24 || 18 || 12 || 8 || 6
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|-
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| 20 mm HE belts || 26 || 24 || 18 || 12 || 8 || 6
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|-
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| 20 mm AP belts || 26 || 24 || 18 || 12 || 8 || 6
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|-
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|}
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
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''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.''-->
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
This weapon is very dangerous to air targets due to the ''Minengeschoß'' shell, which makes the MG 151/20 arguably the best 20mm cannon against air targets. always choose the ammo belt with most ''Minengeschoß'' available.
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The 20 mm MG 151 is very dangerous against air targets due to the Minengeschoß shell, which makes the MG 151/20 arguably the best 20 mm cannon against air targets. Unless other ammunition is needed for a specific reason, always choose the ammo belt with most Minengeschoß available.
 +
 
 +
With "air targets" belt, it usually take a short burst of 20 - 30 rounds to take down an average fighter, 30 - 50 rounds for a heavy fighter or a ground attack aircraft, and 100 - 150 rounds for a heavy bomber. Due to the gun's fast rate of fire, however, it is quite easy to empty all of the ammo before you managed to finish the targets without proper aiming, especially without the help of gun pods. Thus, the MG 151 will often requires trigger discipline for better results, with an ace being achieveable in a single sortie with a proper ammo conservation.
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However, despite the MG 151's stellar characteristics, the gun is also infamous due to its poor stock performances. Owing to the fact that only 1/4 of its stock belt contains the "Minengeschoß" round, while the other rounds were a near-useless incendiary shell with a performance akin to that of a practice shell found on the Hispano autocannons, as well as poor APHE rounds that often over-penetrates the enemy airframe and thus were unable not detonate. Due to this, it is best to treat the stock MG 151 like an oversized heavy machine gun. Firing a long burst to get more chance of hitting the enemy with Minengeschoß rounds until the upgraded belts are available.
  
 
=== 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:'''
  
* ''Minengeschoß'' shell (an improved HEI shell) provides lots of hitting power against aircraft
+
* Minengeschoß shell (an improved HEI shell) provides a lot of hitting power against aircraft
* Larger ammo count than the other German 20mm cannon
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* Larger ammo count than the other German 20 mm cannons
* Higher muzzle velocity than the other German 20mm cannon
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* Higher muzzle velocity than the other German 20 mm cannons
 +
* Faster firing and less prone to jamming than the Allied Hispano variants
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
* Still lower muzzle velocity compare to most machine gun
+
* Its stock belt is notoriously unreliable due to the ineffective incendiary and APHE shell
* Ineffective against armored ground target
+
* Still lower muzzle velocity compared to most machine guns
 +
* Ineffective against armoured ground targets, even with APHE shells
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* Tracer and HEI (Minengeschoß) have slightly different trajectories which reiterate knowing your ammunition
  
 
== 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 [[MG 151 (15 mm)|MG 151]] was originally developed for a 15 mm cartridge which was small enough to fit between the cylinder banks of their V-12 aircraft engines and offered a higher velocity compared to the 20 mm cannons of their Allied opponents. However, in 1941, Germany recognized that, in air combat, explosive power was more important than high velocity. As a result, in 1941, the MG-151 was re-chambered to fire a 20 mm shell based on the cartridge used by the [[MG FF (20 mm)|MG FF]], but necked up and with a longer case body meaning that the conversion mostly involved changing the barrel. The MG 151 was introduced on the [[Bf 109 F-4]], would remain one of the main fighter cannons for Germany during World War II, and would be popularly exported to other nations in the Axis, such as mounting on the Japanese [[Ki-61-I hei]], Italian [[Re.2005 serie 0]], and Romanian [[IAR-81C]] fighters. However, Germany's attempt to make an explosive shell for the MG 151 became its downfall. The Minengeschoß (Mine Shell) rounds were ineffective against the Allied heavy bombers taking about 15-20 hits to down one while a 30 mm cannon such as the [[MK 103 (30 mm)|MK 103]] needed only 3 or 4 hits to down. As a result, the MK 103 and its shorter-barrelled cousin the [[MK 108 (30 mm)|MK 108]] began to replace the MG 151 as the Luftwaffe's (German Air Force) main cannon near the end of the war and it was adapted by the Volkssturm (German national militia) for use as an anti-aircraft weapon along with being used to upgrade the 15 mm armed [[Sd.Kfz.251/21]]. After the war, the MG 151 was used by the French Armée de l'Air (Air Force) and Aviation légère de l'armée de Terre (Land Army Light Aviation). In both fixed and flexible configurations, the MG 151 was used by the French in multiple aircraft including helicopters such as their H-21C Workhorse and [[H-34 (France)|H-34]] helicopters used in Algeria. The flexible variants were modified with insulating sleeves to protect the user's hands. The MG 151 was also used in the Portuguese and Rhodesian versions of the [[SA 316B Alouette III]], and a variant of the cannon called the Vektor GA-1 was built by Denel in South Africa.
  
 
== 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.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
 +
File:1280px-Mauser MG 151.jpg|<small>MG 151/20</small>
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|HSIa5NwBTG8|'''Minengeschoß: More Bang for Your Buck''' - ''Militaria Reviewed''|djKhmYXyNjo|'''Top 7 Autocannons''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 03:33 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== 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;''
 +
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
+
* [[AN/M2 (20 mm)]]
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[MG 151/15 (15 mm)]] - Gun from which the MG 151/20 cannon was adapted
 +
* [[ShVAK (20 mm)]]
 +
* [[Hispano Mk.I (20 mm)]] [[Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)]]
 +
* [[Hispano 404 (20 mm)]]
  
 
== 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.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
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{{USA aircraft cannons}}
 
{{Germany aircraft cannons}}
 
{{Germany aircraft cannons}}
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{{USSR aircraft cannons}}
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{{Japan aircraft cannons}}
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{{Italy aircraft cannons}}
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{{France aircraft cannons}}
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{{Sweden aircraft cannons}}
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{{Israel aircraft cannons}}
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{{France tank cannons}}
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{{Germany naval cannons}}
  
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]
 
[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]
 +
[[Category:Tank cannons]]
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[[Category:Naval cannons]]

Latest revision as of 12:00, 8 February 2023

This page is about the German autocannon MG 151 (20 mm). For the 15 mm version, see MG 151 (15 mm).

Description

The Mauser 20 mm MG 151/20 is a German 20 mm aircraft cannon converted from the 15 mm MG 151/15 cannon to a 20 mm after combat evaluation proved a larger high-explosive shell to be more effective than a high-velocity shell.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
Fighters 
Bf 109 F  Bf 109 F-4 · Bf 109 F-4/trop · ▃Bf 109 F-4 · ◐Bf 109 F-4
Bf 109 G  Bf 109 G-2 · ◐Bf 109 G-2 · Bf 109 G-2/trop · ▄Bf 109 G-2 · Bf 109 G-6 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 Erla · Bf 109 G-10 · Bf 109 G-14 · ▄Bf 109 G-14/AS
Bf 109 K  Bf 109 K-4 (Suspended)
BV 155  BV 155 B-1
C.202  C. 202EC
C.205  C. 205 serie 3 · C. 205N2
Fw 190 A  Fw 190 A-4 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5/U2 · Fw 190 A-5/U12 · Fw 190 A-5/U14 · ▅Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-8 · ▃Fw 190 A-8 · NC.900
Fw 190 C  Fw 190 C
Fw 190 D  Fw 190 D-9 · ▂Fw 190 D-9 · Fw 190 D-12 · Fw 190 D-13
G.55  G.55 sottoserie 0 · G.55 serie 1 · G.55S
G.56  G.56
IAR-81  IAR-81C
Ki-61  Ki-61-I hei · Tada's Ki-61-I hei
Mörkö-Morane  Mörkö-Morane (Modification)
Pyörremyrsky  VL Pyörremyrsky
Re.2001  Re.2001 CN
Re.2005  Re.2005 serie 0
S-199  Sakeen (Modification)
S.O.8000  S.O.8000 Narval
Ta-152  Ta 152 C-3 · Ta 152 H-1
Twin-engine fighters  Do 17 Z-7 · Do 217 N-1 · Do 217 N-2 · Ju 388 J · Me 410 A-1/U2 · Me 410 B-1/U2 · Ta 154 A-1
Jet fighters  He 162 A-2 · Me 163 B-0
Strike aircraft 
Bf 110  Bf 110 F-2 (Suspended) · Bf 110 G-2 (Suspended) · Bf 110 G-4 (Suspended) · ◐Bf 110 G-4 (Suspended)
Do 335  Do 335 A-0 (Suspended) · Do 335 B-2
Fw 190  Fw 190 F-8
He 219  He 219 A-7
Hs 129  Hs 129 B-2 · Hs 129 B-2 (Romania) · Hs 129 B-2 (Romania)
Me 262  Me 262 A-1a/U1
Me 410  Me 410 A-1 · Me 410 A-1/U4 · Me 410 B-1 · Me 410 B-2/U4 · Me 410 B-6/R3
SM.91  SM.91
SM.92  SM.92
Bombers  BV 138 C-1 (Defensive) · BV 238 (Defensive) · Do 217 E-2 · Do 217 E-4 · He 177 A-5 (Defensive)
  Ju 87 D-5 · Ju 188 A-2 (Defensive) · Ju 288 C (Defensive) · M.B.175T · Me 264 (Defensive)
Jet bombers  Ar 234 C-3
Heavy tanks  AMX-50 Surblindé
Tank destroyers  Lorraine 155 Mle.50
Motor torpedo boats  LS 4 Esau

General info

The 20 mm MG 151 has a fire rate of 700 rounds per minute. The gun is reasonably accurate with decent shell trajectory.

Available ammunition

The key features of the MG 151 is the special Minengeschoß (lit. "mine shell") high-explosive ammunition. This Minengeschoß round was specifically made with a thin tungsten casing to contain more explosive filler (usually 50% more than regular HE shell) and thus were extremely effective against enemy aircraft.

Aircraft

  • Default: IT · IT · APHE · HEI
  • Universal: IT · HEI · HEI · AP-I
  • Air targets: AP-I · HEI · HEI · HEI · HEI · IT
  • Armoured targets: APHE · APHE · APHE · IT
  • Tracers: FI-T · FI-T · FI-T · IT · IT
  • Stealth: HEI · HEI · HEI · APHE · AP-I


  • Default (turret): IT · HEI · APHE · AP-I
  • Armoured targets (turret): AP-I · AP-I · APHE · IT · AP-I
  • Universal (turret): IT · HEI · HEI
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 26 24 15 8 4 3
Universal 26 24 15 8 4 3
Air targets 26 24 15 8 4 3
Armoured targets 26 24 15 8 4 3
Tracers 26 24 15 8 6 6
Stealth 26 23 13 7 3 3
Default (turret) 26 24 15 8 4 3
Armoured targets (turret) 26 24 15 8 4 3
Universal (turret) 26 24 15 8 4 3

Tanks

  • Default: HEFI-T · AP-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 26 23 13 6 3 3

Ships

  • Universal: HEFI-T · API-T · API-T
  • 20 mm HE belts: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · API-T
  • 20 mm AP belts: API-T · API-T · API-T · HEFI-T
Penetration statistics
Belt Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Universal 26 24 18 12 8 6
20 mm HE belts 26 24 18 12 8 6
20 mm AP belts 26 24 18 12 8 6

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

The 20 mm MG 151 is very dangerous against air targets due to the Minengeschoß shell, which makes the MG 151/20 arguably the best 20 mm cannon against air targets. Unless other ammunition is needed for a specific reason, always choose the ammo belt with most Minengeschoß available.

With "air targets" belt, it usually take a short burst of 20 - 30 rounds to take down an average fighter, 30 - 50 rounds for a heavy fighter or a ground attack aircraft, and 100 - 150 rounds for a heavy bomber. Due to the gun's fast rate of fire, however, it is quite easy to empty all of the ammo before you managed to finish the targets without proper aiming, especially without the help of gun pods. Thus, the MG 151 will often requires trigger discipline for better results, with an ace being achieveable in a single sortie with a proper ammo conservation.

However, despite the MG 151's stellar characteristics, the gun is also infamous due to its poor stock performances. Owing to the fact that only 1/4 of its stock belt contains the "Minengeschoß" round, while the other rounds were a near-useless incendiary shell with a performance akin to that of a practice shell found on the Hispano autocannons, as well as poor APHE rounds that often over-penetrates the enemy airframe and thus were unable not detonate. Due to this, it is best to treat the stock MG 151 like an oversized heavy machine gun. Firing a long burst to get more chance of hitting the enemy with Minengeschoß rounds until the upgraded belts are available.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Minengeschoß shell (an improved HEI shell) provides a lot of hitting power against aircraft
  • Larger ammo count than the other German 20 mm cannons
  • Higher muzzle velocity than the other German 20 mm cannons
  • Faster firing and less prone to jamming than the Allied Hispano variants

Cons:

  • Its stock belt is notoriously unreliable due to the ineffective incendiary and APHE shell
  • Still lower muzzle velocity compared to most machine guns
  • Ineffective against armoured ground targets, even with APHE shells
  • Tracer and HEI (Minengeschoß) have slightly different trajectories which reiterate knowing your ammunition

History

The MG 151 was originally developed for a 15 mm cartridge which was small enough to fit between the cylinder banks of their V-12 aircraft engines and offered a higher velocity compared to the 20 mm cannons of their Allied opponents. However, in 1941, Germany recognized that, in air combat, explosive power was more important than high velocity. As a result, in 1941, the MG-151 was re-chambered to fire a 20 mm shell based on the cartridge used by the MG FF, but necked up and with a longer case body meaning that the conversion mostly involved changing the barrel. The MG 151 was introduced on the Bf 109 F-4, would remain one of the main fighter cannons for Germany during World War II, and would be popularly exported to other nations in the Axis, such as mounting on the Japanese Ki-61-I hei, Italian Re.2005 serie 0, and Romanian IAR-81C fighters. However, Germany's attempt to make an explosive shell for the MG 151 became its downfall. The Minengeschoß (Mine Shell) rounds were ineffective against the Allied heavy bombers taking about 15-20 hits to down one while a 30 mm cannon such as the MK 103 needed only 3 or 4 hits to down. As a result, the MK 103 and its shorter-barrelled cousin the MK 108 began to replace the MG 151 as the Luftwaffe's (German Air Force) main cannon near the end of the war and it was adapted by the Volkssturm (German national militia) for use as an anti-aircraft weapon along with being used to upgrade the 15 mm armed Sd.Kfz.251/21. After the war, the MG 151 was used by the French Armée de l'Air (Air Force) and Aviation légère de l'armée de Terre (Land Army Light Aviation). In both fixed and flexible configurations, the MG 151 was used by the French in multiple aircraft including helicopters such as their H-21C Workhorse and H-34 helicopters used in Algeria. The flexible variants were modified with insulating sleeves to protect the user's hands. The MG 151 was also used in the Portuguese and Rhodesian versions of the SA 316B Alouette III, and a variant of the cannon called the Vektor GA-1 was built by Denel in South Africa.

Media

Images
Videos

See also

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


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)

Germany aircraft cannons
15 mm  MG 151
20 mm  MG 151 · MG C/30L · MG FF · MG FF/M
27 mm  Mauser BK27
30 mm  MK 101 · MK 103 · MK 108
37 mm  BK 3.7
50 mm  BK 5 · Mk.214a
75 mm  BK 7.5
  Foreign:
20 mm  Hispano Mk.V (Britain) · M24A1 (USA) · M61A1 (USA) · ShVAK (USSR)
23 mm  GSh-23L (USSR) · NR-23 (USSR) · VYa-23 (USSR)
30 mm  DEFA 552 (France) · GSh-30-1 (USSR) · GSh-30-2K (USSR) · NR-30 (USSR)
37 mm  N-37D (USSR)

USSR aircraft cannons
20 mm  B-20E · B-20M · B-20S · ShVAK
23 mm  GSh-23L · NR-23 · NS-23 · NS-23K · PTB-23 · VYa-23
30 mm  2A42 · GSh-6-30 · GSh-30-1 · GSh-30-2 · GSh-30-2K · NR-30
37 mm  N-37 · N-37D · NS-37 · SH-37
45 mm  NS-45
  Foreign:
20 mm  Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · MG 151 (Germany)
37 mm  M4 (USA) · M10 (USA)

Japan aircraft cannons
20 mm  Ho-1 · Ho-3 · Ho-5 · Type 99 Model 1 · Type 99 Model 2
30 mm  Ho-155 · Type 5
37 mm  Ho-203 · Ho-204 · Type 94
40 mm  Ho-301
57 mm  Ho-401
75 mm  Type 88
  Foreign:
20 mm  M39A3 (USA) · M61A1 (USA) · M197 (USA) · MG FF (Germany) · MG FF/M (Germany) · MG 151 (Germany)
30 mm  GAU-13/A (USA) · M230E-1 (USA)

Italy aircraft cannons
20 mm  TM197B
30 mm  Hispano HS 825
37 mm  Breda Model 39 37/54
102 mm  102/35 mod 14
  Foreign:
20 mm  B-20E (USSR) · B-20M (USSR) · B-20S (USSR) · Hispano 404 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · Hispano Mk.V (Britain) · M24A1 (USA) · M61A1 (USA) · MG 151 (Germany) · MG FF (Germany) · MG FF/M (Germany) · ShVAK (USSR)
23 mm  GSh-23L (USSR) · NR-23 (USSR) · NS-23 (USSR)
27 mm  Akan m/85 (Sweden) · Mauser BK27 (Germany)
30 mm  DEFA 552 (France) · GSh-30-1 (USSR) · GSh-30-2K (USSR) · MK 103 (Germany) · MK 108 (Germany) · NR-30 (USSR)
37 mm  BK 3.7 (Germany) · N-37 (USSR) · N-37D (USSR)

France aircraft cannons
20 mm  GIAT M.621 · Hispano 404 · Hispano HS.9 · M50
30 mm  DEFA 541 · DEFA 551 · DEFA 552 · DEFA 552A · DEFA 553 · DEFA 554 · GIAT M781
  Foreign:
20 mm  AN/M2 (USA) · Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (USA) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · M3 (USA) · M24A1 (USA) · M39A1 (USA) · MG 151 (Germany) · ShVAK (USSR)
37 mm  M4 (USA) · M10 (USA) · NS-37 (USSR)

Sweden aircraft cannons
20 mm  Akan m/41A · Akan m/45 · Akan m/47B · Akan m/47C · Akan m/49 · Oerlikon FF
27 mm  Akan m/85
30 mm  Akan m/55 · Akan m/75
57 mm  Akan m/47
  Foreign:
20 mm  MG FF (Germany) · MG 151 (Germany)
23 mm  GSh-23L (USSR)
30 mm  2A42 (USSR) · M230E-1 (USA) · MK 108 (Germany)

Israel aircraft cannons
20 mm  GIAT M.621 (France) · Hispano Mk.II (Britain) · Hispano Mk.V (Britain) · M50 (France) · M61A1 (USA) · M195 (USA) · M197 (USA) · MG 151 (Germany) · Mk 11 mod 5 (USA)
30 mm  DEFA 551 (France) · DEFA 552 (France) · DEFA 552A (France) · DEFA 553 (France) · M230E-1 (USA)
40 mm  M129 (USA)

France tank cannons
20 mm  20F2
25 mm  SA35 L/72
37 mm  SA18 L/21 · SA38 L/33
47 mm  SA34 L/30 · SA35 L/32 · SA37
75 mm  APX · APX Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897 · SA35 L/17 · SA44 · SA49 · SA50 L/57
90 mm  D.911 APX · CN90 F2 · CN90 F3 · CN90 F4 · D915 · DEFA F1 · SA45 · SA47
100 mm  SA47 L/58
105 mm  CN-105-F1 · Modele F2 · PzK M57
120 mm  GIAT CN120-25 G1 · GIAT CN120-26 F1 · SA46
142 mm  ACRA
155 mm  GCT F1 · Schneider 155 C · L'Obusier de 155 Modèle 1950
  Foreign:
15 mm  MG 151 (Germany)
20 mm  MG 151 (Germany)
30 mm  Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA)
37 mm  M6 (USA)
40 mm  Bofors L/60 · QF 2-pounder (Britain)
75 mm  KwK42 (Germany) · M3 (USA) · M6 (USA)
76 mm  M7 (USA)
90 mm  M3 (USA)
105 mm  M4 (USA)

Germany naval cannons
15 mm  MG 151
20 mm  2 cm/65 C/30 · 2 cm/65 C/38 · 2 cm/65 Flakzwilling 38 · 2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 · MG 151/20
30 mm  MK103/38
37 mm  FlaK-Lafette C/36 · 3.7 cm FlaK-Lafette LM/42 · SK C/30 · FlaK.36 · FlaK43
40 mm  40 mm/70 MEL58 · Bofors Flak 28 · Bofors L/70 model 1948
52 mm  52 mm/55 SK L/55
88 mm  8.8 cm/76 SK C/32 · S.K.C/35 · FlaK.18 · Flak.36 · 88 mm/45 AA SK L/45 · 88 mm/45 casemate SK L/45
100 mm  100 mm/55 MLE model 53
105 mm  SK C/32 · SK C/33 AA
120 mm  L45
128 mm  12.8 cm/45 SK C/34
150 mm  150 mm/45 SK L/45 · 15 cm/48 KC/36 · 15 cm/55 SK C/28 · 15 cm/60 SK C/25
203 mm  20.3 cm/60 SK C/34
283 mm  283 mm/45 SK L/45 · 283 mm/52 SK C/28 · 283 mm/54,5 SK C/34
305 mm  305 mm/50 SK L/50
380 mm  38 cm SK L/45
  Foreign:
23 mm  ZU-23 (USSR)
30 mm  AK-230 (USSR)
37 mm  V-11 (USSR)
76 mm  76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact (Italy)
100 mm  100 mm/56 B-34 (USSR)