MK 101 cannon
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| MK 101 | |
|---|---|
 The MK 101 machine cannon | |
| Type | Aircraft autocannon |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall-Borsig |
| Designed | 1940 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall-Borsig |
| Produced | 1940–1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 139 kg (306 lb) |
| Length | 2,592 mm (102.0 in) |
| Barrel length | 1,350 mm (53 in) |
| Cartridge | 30x184B, steel casing |
| Action | Recoil operation |
| Rate of fire | 230–260 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) |
The MK 101 is the designation of a 30 mm autocannon used in German combat aircraft during World War II. Although accurate and powerful, with a high muzzle velocity, it was very heavy, with a low rate of fire, which limited its production.
Development and use
Developed in 1935 by Rheinmetall-Borsig as a commercial venture as the MG-101 (later designated MK 101, with the "MK" abbreviating the term Maschinenkanone, as an
KV-1 heavy tank.[1] An electrically-fired version of the MK 101 cannon was later developed and designated the MK 103
.
See also
References
- ISBN 1-55750-010-X, 9781557500106, p. 169