MG 151: Немецкая авиационная пушка времён Второй мировой войны.

The Maschinengewehr (MG) 151 is a low caliber, belt fed autocannon for aircraft use, developed in Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1940 and produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser during World War II. It was originally produced in 15.1 mm caliber from 1940, with a 15×96mm cartridge, but due to demand for higher effect against aircraft, especially with the introduction of mine shells for the 20 mm MG FF/M aircraft cannon, the design was rechambered to 20 mm caliber in 1941, using a newly developed 20×82mm cartridge which traded projectile velocity for explosive power. The initial 15 mm variant then became known as the MG 151/15, with the new 20 mm variant becoming the MG 151/20. The MG 151/20 cannon was widely used on German Luftwaffe combat aircraft throughout World War II, mainly as offensive armament, but also seeing some use as defensive guns. Existing MG 151/15 guns saw use as aircraft armament throughout the war, albeit more limited compared to the MG 151/20, but also as anti aircraft guns in various configurations, such as the SdKfz 251/21 Drilling half track which carried three MG 151/15. Post war, salvaged MG 151/20 saw usage by many nations. France had salvaged many guns and became the main user and exporter of the MG 151/20 during the Cold War, fitting it to not only aircraft, but also armoured fighting vehicles as anti aircraft weaponry. France continued exporting the gun all the way into the 1960s, then primarily as flexible dorsal gunship armament for the Aérospatiale SA 3160 and SA 3164 Alouette III utility helicopter. SA 3160s armed with MG 151/20s were bought by Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa in 1966 and saw service until the early 1990s. South Africa reused the 20×82mm cartridge from the MG 151/20 to chamber their Denel NTW 20 anti material rifle.

The pre war German doctrine for arming single engine fighter aircraft mirrored that of the French. This doctrine favoured a powerful autocannon mounted between the cylinder banks of a V engine and firing through the propeller hub, known as a moteur canon in French (from its first use with the Hispano Suiza HS.8C engine in World War I, on the SPAD S. XII) and by the cognate Motorkanone in German by the 1930s. The weapon preferred by the French in this role was the most powerful 20 mm Oerlikon of the time, the FF S model, but this proved too big for German engines. Mauser was given the task of developing a gun that would fit, with a minimum sacrifice in performance. As a stop gap measure, the MG FF cannon was developed from the Oerlikon FF and put in widespread use, but its performance was lackluster. Production of the MG 151 in its original 15 mm calibre format began in 1940. After combat evaluation of the 15 mm cartridge as the main armament of early Messerschmitt Bf 109F 2 fighters, the cannon was redesigned with a larger cartridge as the 20 mm MG 151/20 in 1941. Combat experience showed that a more powerful explosive shell was preferable to a higher projectile velocity. The MG 151/20 cartridge was created by expanding the neck of the cartridge to hold the larger explosive shell used in the MG FF cannon, and shortening the length of the cartridge case to match the overall length of the original 15 mm cartridge. These measures simplified conversion of the 15 mm to the 20 mm MG 151/20, requiring only a change of barrel and other small modifications. A disadvantage of the simplified conversion was reduction of projectile muzzle velocity from for the 15 mm shell to for the larger and heavier 20 mm shell. A 20 mm AP projectile could penetrate only 10–12 mm of armor at 300 m (at 60 degrees), compared to 18 mm penetration for the 15 mm under the same conditions but this was not seen as a significant limitation. The 20 mm version became the standard inboard cannon from the Bf 109F 4 series. The 20 mm MG 151/20 offered more predictable trajectory, longer range and higher impact velocity than the cartridge of the earlier MG FF cannon. The MG FF was retained for flexible, wing and upward firing Schräge Musik mounts to the end of the war. The German preference for explosive power rather than armor penetration was taken further with the development of the mine shell which had been first introduced for the MG FF (in the Bf 109 E 4) and later for the MG 151/20. Even this improvement in explosive power turned out to be unsatisfactory against the four engine bombers that German fighters were up against in the second part of the war. By German calculations, it took about 15–20 hits with the MG 151/20 to down a heavy bomber but this was reduced to just 3–4 hits for a 30 mm shell with the shattering effects of its hexogen explosive filling used by the long barreled MK 103 and shorter barreled MK 108 cannon. Only four or five hits with 20 mm calibre cannon were needed for frontal attacks on heavy bombers (Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B 24 Liberator) but such attacks were difficult to execute. The 30 mm MK 108 cannon thus replaced the MG 151/20 as the standard, engine mount Motorkanone centre line armament starting with the Bf 109 K 4 and was also retrofitted to some of the G series. Eight hundred MG 151/20 were exported to Japan aboard the Italian submarine Italian submarine Comandante Cappellini in August 1943 and used to equip 388 Japanese Kawasaki Ki 61 I Hei fighters. The 20 mm MG 151/20 was also fitted on the Macchi C.205, the Fiat G.55 and Reggiane Re.2005 of the Italian Regia Aeronautica and IAR 81B and 81C of the Romanian Royal Air Force. An unknown number of cannons were converted for usage in the ground use role in early 1945, predominantly within Volkssturm units serving in the Posen area. Its effectiveness in this role are unknown but it was photographed on parade in Posen November 1944 with the Wartheland Volkssturm units.

After World War II, numbers of ex Luftwaffe MG 151/20 cannon were removed from inventory and from scrapped aircraft and used by various nations in their own aircraft. The French Armée de l'air (AdA) and French Army aviation arm (Aviation légère de l’armée de Terre ,ALAT) used MG 151/20 cannon as fixed and flexible armament in various aircraft, including helicopters. The AdA and ALAT jointly developed a rubber insulated flexible mount for the MG 151/20 for use as a door gun, which was later used in combat in Algeria aboard several FAF/ALAT Piasecki H 21C assault transport helicopters and on Sikorsky H 34 gunship helicopters. French Matra MG 151 20 mm cannons were used by Portugal and Rhodesia fitted to their Alouette III helicopters, while Denel designed its own variant for the South African Air Force.

+15 × 96 mm Mauser ammunition German designation Type Projectile Weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle Velocity [m/s] Description 15 mm Sprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur HEF T 2.8 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 0,33 g HE (PETN) + 0,66 0,7 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) or 0,45 g HE (Mercury(II) fulminate) Nose fuze, tracer, with or without self destruct (Zerleger) 15 mm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 (Elektron) L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger HEFI T 57.5 59 1.9 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 0,33 g HE (PETN) + 0,66 0,7 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) or 0,45 g HE (Mercury(II) fulminate) + 1.3 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) Nose fuze, tracer, w. or w/o self destruct. 15 mm Brandgranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit Zerleger Incendiary with tracer 57.5 59 incendiary
(Barium nitrate / Aluminum/Magnesium) Nose fuze, tracer, self destruct. On striking an aircraft, the primer charge in the fuze head responds, shears the fuze head away and ignites the incendiary charge in the projectile. The incendiary charge sprays forward over at least 8 m of projectile travel. In air combat as a carrier of the incendiary effect, especially for the incendiary shooting of fuel tanks. 15 mm Panzergranatpatrone 151 L'spur ohne Zerleger Armour piercing with tracer 72 73.5 none (solid shot) 850 Penetration 18 mm of armour at 60 degree impact at 100m range. 15 mm H Panzergranatpatrone 151 ohne Zerleger API HC APICR HVAPI 52 53.5 54.5 56 none (solid shot) 1030 1050 Tungsten carbide core. For use against armoured ground targets. Penetration 26(33) 34(43) 48(54) mm of armour at 60 75 90 degree impact, 100 m range. Penetrating effect with incendiary effect due to melting of light metal tip. Effective only against light armoured vehicles, tankers, etc. Against armour with attachment, steel core tends to shatter. 15 mm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 ohne Zerleger Armour piercing incendiary 59 60.5 White phosphorus incendiary No fuze, no tracer, no self destruct.

+20 × 82 mm Mauser – ammunition table German Designation US Abbreviation Projectile weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle velocity [m/s] Notes 2 cm Sprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur mit Zerleger HEF T 113 115 115 117 3.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 0,4 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) percussion: 705 Nose fuze, tracer, self destruct. electric primer: 720 735 2 cm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger HEFI/ T 113 115 115 117 2.3 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 0,4 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) + 2.1 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) percussion 705 Nose fuze, with or without tracer, with or without self destruct. electric primer 720 735 2 cm Brandgranatpatrone 151 L'Spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger I/ T 117 119 6.6 7.3 g incendiary (BaNO3+Al+Mg) + (blasting cap) : 0,2 g HE (PETN) + 0,4 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) pecussion 705 Nose fuze, w. or w/o tracer, w. or w/o self destruct
As soon as it hits the outer skin of the aircraft, the primer charge in the fuze head responds, shearing the fuze head away and igniting the incendiary charge in the projectile. The incendiary charge sprays forward over at least 10 m of projectile travel. In air combat as a carrier of the incendiary effect, especially for the incendiary shooting of fuel tanks. As an indestructible body, it remains effective even after penetrating several bulkheads. In combination with the M Shell, it is intended to replace the HEI grenade. electric primer 720 2 cm Brandgranat44 patrone 151 ohne Zerleger I 106 108 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) + (blasting cap) : 0,4 g HE (PETN) ? Nose fuze, no tracer, no self destruct. Incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell. 2 cm Brandgranat44 patrone 151 El. ohne Zerleger 745 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, no self destruct. Incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 mit Zerleger HEI HC (M) 86 88 18.7 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,6 g HE (PETN) + 0,28 0,4 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) 805 810 Nose fuze, no tracer, self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 ohne Zerleger 90 92 805 810 Nose fuze, no tracer, no self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 mit Zerleger HEI HC (M) 92 94 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) 775 785 Nose fuze, no tracer, self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 ohne Zerleger 95 97 755 765 Nose fuze, no tracer, no self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone X 151 mit ZerlegerHEI HC (M) 104 106 24,5 25 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) 705 Nose fuze, no tracer, self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone X 151 El. mit Zerleger 104 106 ? Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 El. mit Zerleger HEI HC (M) 92 94 20 g HE (PETN) or 18.6 g HE (HA 41) + (blasting cap) : 0,29 0,4 g HE (PETN) + 0,2 g HE (Lead azide) (Tetrazene explosive) 780 790 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self destruct. 2 cm Minengeschosspatrone 151 El. ohne Zerleger 95 97 770 780 Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, no self destruct. 2 cm Panzergranatpatrone 151 L'spur ohne Zerleger AP/ T 117 119 none (bakelite filling in cavity) percussion: 705 Penetration 13 17 24 mm of armour at 60 75 90 degree impact, 100m range. electric: 720 2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF 117 119 5.1 g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 705 Nose fuze, Penetration 13 15 17 mm of armour at 60 75 90 degree impact angle, 100 m range. Detonation after 5mm armour penetration. 2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 El. mit/ohne Zerleger 720 Nose fuze, electric primer, w. or w/o self destruct. Detonation after 5mm armour penetration. 2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur mit/ohne Zerleger APHEF T 117 119 ? g HE (PETN) + (blasting cap) : 0,3 g (Lead azide) + 0,02 g (Lead styphnate) 705 Nose fuze, tracer, w. or w/o self destruct. Penetration 13 15 17 mm of armour at 60 75 90 degree impact angle, 100 m range. Detonation after 5mm armour penetration. 2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 L'spur/Gl'spur El. mit/ohne Zerleger 720 Nose fuze, tracer, electric primer, w. or w/o self destruct. Detonation after 5mm armour penetration. 2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 L'spur/Gl'spur ohne Zerleger API/ T 115 117 3.6 g incendiary (WP) + 8,6 9,1 g incendiary capsule 705 No fuze, w. or w/o tracer, no self destruct. Penetration 6–12 mm to 13–23 mm of armour at 60 to 90 degree impact angle, 100 m range. When the projectile breaks up on sufficient impact, the phosphorus burns for a long time. 2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Phosphor) 151 L'spur/Gl'spur El. ohne Zerleger 720 w. or w/o tracer, electric primer, no self destruct. 2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Elektron) 151 ohne Zerleger API 117 119 6.2 g incendiary (Elektron)(Thermite) 695 Optimized for strafing merchant ships and light combat vehicles. Nose fuze, no tracer, self destruct. Penetration 15 mm of steel at 65 degree impact angle, 100 m range. Fuze functions after penetration of at least 4 mm shipbuilding steel, incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell. 2 cm Panzerbrandgranatpatrone (Elektron) 151 El. ohne Zerleger ? Optimized for strafing merchant ships and light combat vehicles. Nose fuze, no tracer, electric primer, self destruct. Fuze functions after penetration of at least 4 mm shipbuilding steel, incendiary effect due to ejection of the burning elektron shell.

During World War II the US Army produced the 0.60 caliber T17, a reverse engineered copy of the German MG 151 chambered for an experimental anti tank rifle round. A speculative order of 5,000 T17 guns was placed but only around 300 of them were built. However none saw service despite the availability of 6 million rounds of .60 caliber ammunition. Almost one million rounds were fired during the T17 testing program. The main US version produced, the T17E3, was made by Frigidaire; it weighed and had a rate of fire of only 600 rounds per minute. Further refinements led to the T39 and T51 versions, but these also did not enter service.

A cartridge originally based on an armor piercing round designed in 1939 for use with the experimental T1 and T1E1 anti tank rifles. It was cancelled in 1944 when it became clear that modern tanks had armor too thick to penetrate with a heavy rifle cartridge. Developments showed that shaped charged rifle grenades and rocket launchers were the future of infantry anti tank weapons and the anti tank rifle concept was abandoned. Much like the British attempts to turn their stocks of obsolete .55 Boys anti tank cartridges into a native designed heavy machine gun cartridge, the .60 caliber cartridge was repurposed as an auto cannon cartridge to succeed the older .50 Browning. The ammunition and the T17 cannon were produced from 1942 to 1946 but never proved a substantial improvement over the .50 Browning and the M2HB and M3 heavy machineguns. The cartridge was later shortened and necked up to produce the 20x102mm Vulcan autocannon round. .60 Armor Piercing [15.2 x 114mm T1 Rifle] A 1180 grain (76.5 gram) kinetic penetrator projectile with a velocity of 3,600 feet per second (1,100 m/s) for a muzzle energy of over 34,000 ft./lbs. (46 kilojoules). .60 T32 Ball [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
.60 T77 Ball [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
.60 T36 Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
.60 T39 Armor Piercing Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]
.60 T60 Armor Piercing Incendiary [15.2 x 114mm T17 Machinegun]