The Swiss-originated 20mm Oerlikon automatic cannon proved a world-wide favorite for its capable, close-range anti-aircraft prowess - it was also featured in other notable applications.
The birth of the storied Swiss Oerlikon 20mm automatic anti-aircraft cannon was actually in Imperial Germany when it was debuted for service in World War 1. The weapon was from a design by Reinhold Becker in 1914 and came to be known in its original form as the "20mm Becker", an automatic firing weapon chambered for the 20x70mmRB projectile and intended for use by the German Air Service. Despite this early initiative, the weapon came to be featured in a variety of roles and is best remembered as a fixture on many warships. After the war ended with the Armistice of 1918, manufacture of the gun was moved to neighboring Switzerland in 1919 due to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty which severely limited German war-making capabilities. The brand label responsible for the weapon was now SEebach Maschinenbau Aktien Gesellschaft (SEMAG).
Along with the Swedish Bofors 40mm weapon, the Swiss Oerlikon 20mm ranks as one of the most important cannon developments of the 20th Century - being utilized in land-based (fixed or towed), naval platforms, and as aircraft armament. For the naval role, single-gunned, twin-gunned, and even quadruple-gunned mounts were eventually realized. The weapon proved a fixture on the classic warships of World War 2 - from the smaller patrol boats to the massive battleships and aircraft carriers featured in the conflict. The automatic cannon was fielded by all sides of the war including the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
At its core, the weapon relied on a gas-operated, blowback action (with Advanced Primer Ignition - API) to produce its automatic firing effect. The recoil springs were wrapped around the barrel and helped to improve the repeat fire accuracy needed. Feeding was originally by way of a 20-round box magazine or a 60-round drum type though the latter prove the more widely accepted method. A High-Explosive (HE) shell was the standard projectile and these could range out to 7,400 yards (absolute maximum) though direct target firing tailed off after about 1,600 yards.
The next major mark to appear was the Oerlikon S model of 1927. This product retained the 20x110mmRB chambering but saw its muzzle velocity raised for better penetration value allowing it to be used in a dual-purpose role (against both air and land targets). The Oerlikon 1S followed in 1930 and was categorized as an improved version. The Oerlikon AF and Oerlikon AL models were introduced as dedicated aircraft weapons to be fitted on trainable mountings and a 30-round drum was introduced for this application.
A fixed aircraft mounted version debuted in 1935 as the faster-firing Oerlikon FF (firing at about 520 rounds per minute) and variable ammunition drums were offered that spanned from 45 to 100 round counts. This model was chambered for the 20x72mmRB projectile. The localized German version became the famous MG FF cannon fit though chambered for 20x80mmRB projectiles. The FF in Japanese naval service became the Type 99-1. The similar Oerlikon FFL had its rate-of-fire reduced (to 500rpm) but fired a heavier 20mm projectile. The Japanese naval equivalent became the Type 99-2. The heaviest projectile fired came from the Oerlikon FFS model which saw a further reduction in rate-of-fire (470rpm).
The Oerlikon FFS was evolved in 1938 to become the classic naval Oerlikon SS which featured a 650 rounds-per-minute rate-of-fire. The SS model became the naval standard of World War 2 fighting. During 1942, the Oerlikon 1SS debuted and, in 1945, the Oerlikon 2SS model followed - both products attempting to increase rate-of-fire values.
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Specifications
Oerlikon - Switzerland / State Arsenals - UK, USA, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, France Manufacturer(s)
Canada; France; Imperial Japan; Kingdom of Italy; Italy; Imperial Germany; Nazi Germany; Poland; Switzerland; Turkey; United Kingdom; United States Operators
FIRE SUPPORT / ASSAULT / BREACHING
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.
7.3 ft (2.21 meters) Length
150 lb (68 kg) Weight
None. This is a fixed (trainable) or towed artillery piece. Drive System
4 miles (7 km) Road Range
Variable - single, twin, and quadruple mountings available.
AMMUNITION
Variable magazine and drum counts and dependent upon application.
20mm Oerlikon - Base Series Name
20mm Becker - Original model of 1914; 20x70mmRB projectile.
SEMAG L - Model of 1924; chambered for 20x100mmRB projectile; 350 rpm.
Oerlikon S - Model of 1927; 20x110RB chambering; elevated muzzle velocity; 280 rpm.
Oerlikon 1S - Model of 1930; improved S-model
Oerlikon AF - Trainable aircraft crew gun; 15- or 30-round drum.
Oerlikon AL - Trainable aircraft crew gun; 15- or 30-round drum.
Oerlikon FF - Model of 1935; fixed aircraft cannon; 20x72mmRB 24 kg projectile; 520 rpm; 45-, 60-, 75- or 100-round drum.
Oerlikon FFL - 30 kg projectile with 500 rpm
Oerlikon FFS - 39 kg projectile with 470 rpm
Oerlikon SS - Model of 1938
Oerlikon 1SS - Model of 1942; improved rate-of-fire
Oerlikon 2SS - Model of 1945; 650 rpm
Hispano-Suiza HS.7 - Local French version of the FFS model.
Hispano-Suiza HS.9 - Local French version of the FFS model.
Ikaria MG FF - German version of FF model; chambered for 20x80mmRB projectiles.
Tyep 99-1 - Japanese naval model of FF
Type 99-2 - Japanese naval model of FFL
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