25 mm caliber
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/US_Navy_090129-N-4774B-008_Gunner%27s_Mate_2nd_Class_Nicholas_Brassard_inspects_rounds_for_the_MK-38_25mm_machine_gun_system.jpg/300px-US_Navy_090129-N-4774B-008_Gunner%27s_Mate_2nd_Class_Nicholas_Brassard_inspects_rounds_for_the_MK-38_25mm_machine_gun_system.jpg)
25 mm caliber is a range of autocannon ammunition. It includes the NATO standardized Swiss 25×137mm, the Swiss 25×184mm, the Soviet 25x218mmSR, and the Chinese 25×183mmB.
Usage
[edit]The 25 mm round can be used for anti-materiel or anti-personnel purposes. In the anti-personnel role, a 25 mm weapon armed with HE rounds can kill large numbers of opposing troops either in the open or in light fortifications. In the anti-materiel role, a 25 mm weapon armed with armor-piercing rounds can disable many types of aircraft and ground vehicles, including some main battle tanks.
The US military uses 25 mm weapons in their AV-8B Harrier, AC-130 gunship, M2 Bradley, LAV-25, F-35 Lightning II and as a standard ship-based munition in the Mk 38 autocannon.
Types of 25 mm ammunition
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Japanese_25_x_163_mm_ammunition.jpg/220px-Japanese_25_x_163_mm_ammunition.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/M791-APDS-T.png/220px-M791-APDS-T.png)
Several sub-types of the NATO 25 mm ammunition are available—the most common being armor-piercing, high-explosive, sabot, tracer, and practice rounds. Cartridges are usually composed of a combination of the aforementioned categories. For example, the M791 is an armor-piercing discarding sabot with tracer (APDS-T) round. It is used against lightly armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and aerial targets such as helicopters and slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft.
25 mm weapons
[edit]Current weapons
[edit]Weapon | Country of origin | Designer | Cartridge | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oerlikon KBA | ![]() | Rheinmetall AG | 25×137mm | Autocannon |
M242 Bushmaster | ![]() | Hughes Helicopters | 25×137mm | Chain gun |
GAU-12/22 Equalizer | ![]() | General Electric | 25×137mm | Rotary cannon |
GIAT M811 | ![]() | GIAT Industries | 25×137mm | Autocannon |
Oerlikon KBB | ![]() | Rheinmetall AG | 25×184mm | Autocannon |
Oerlikon KBD | ![]() | Rheinmetall AG | 25×184mm | Autocannon |
Type 61 | ![]() | 25×218mmSR | Anti-aircraft autocannon | |
Type 95 SPAAA | ![]() | 25×183mmB | Anti-aircraft autocannon | |
ZPT-90 | ![]() | 25×183mmB | Autocannon |
Historical weapons
[edit]Weapon | Country of origin | Designer | Cartridge | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 mm Hotchkiss anti-aircraft gun/Type 96 25 mm AT/AA gun | ![]() | Hotchkiss et Cie | 25×163mm | Anti-aircraft autocannon |
25 mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun | ![]() | Hotchkiss et Cie | 25×193.5mmR | Anti-tank gun |
25 mm M1940 anti-aircraft gun | ![]() | Mikhail Loginov and Lev Loktev | 25×218mmSR | Anti-tank gun |
25 mm Bofors M/32 anti-aircraft gun | ![]() | Bofors | 25x205mmR (initial) or 25x187mmR (later) | Anti-aircraft autocannon |
See also
[edit]- 14.5×114mm
- 20 mm caliber
- 23 mm caliber
- 25 mm grenade
- 30 mm caliber
- List of cartridges (weaponry), pistol and rifle
Further reading
[edit]- U.S. Army Field Manual 3-22.1