Light AAA: 20, 25, 30, 37, 40 mm - what to choose?

[dobbie]

Of course its possible to put a GAU 8 on a tracked chassis and a rotating turrel. For one thing, the feed system doesnt have to be mounted behind the weapon as it is with the A10. That was done in order to fit it in an aircraft fuselage. On the M163, we had a 2100 rd linkless drum feed which was at the base of the turret, underneath the gunners seat. Probably would want a similar set up for what I propose because of the weight of the drum and ammo, keeping most of the weight as close to the pivot point as possible. Some of the weight and complexity is going to go away because you would not need to cycle fired cases back into the drum-those can be tossed over the side. So far as the weight of the chassis is concerned, you wouldnt need a heavily armored chassis, just one large enough to contain the turret, crew and the feed mechanism. We used a modified M113 and the rear ramp was quite handy for rolling out the belts.

 

[tomo pauk]

The US were testing the T250 Vigilante, a 37mm Gatling gun mounted at the lengthened M113 chassis. The gun was later modified to fire 35mm ammo, the same as used at Gepard.

THE RED QUEEN AND THE VIGILANTE

 

[dobbie]

The US were testing the T250 Vigilante, a 37mm Gatling gun mounted at the lengthened M113 chassis. The gun was later modified to fire 35mm ammo, the same as used at Gepard.

THE RED QUEEN AND THE VIGILANTE

Interesting weapon, Tomo Pauk. Odd looking magazine feed but I understand the concept.

 

[tomo pauk]

Indeed - the weapon itself would not be out of it's place in this century either. It was capable for 3000 rpm almost half a century before Oerlikon was boasting with 1000 rpm with their 35/1000, or 'Millenium' gun.

 

[tomo pauk]

The thread is creeping towards Cold war, where the Soviets have had the world beater among SP AAA, late 1950s: the twin 37mm, radar directed 'Yenisei' system. Though it passed tests, Soviets opted for Shilka, quadruple 23mm. Hence robbing themselves and their allies from maybe another 2 km of slant range and 1 km of altitude. Picture:

http://militaryrussia.ru/i/284/401/dEvmJ.jpg

More about it, multi-page article, can be translated:

http://ser-sarajkin.narod2.ru/ALL_OUT/TiVOut10/ZSU372En/ZSU372En011.htm

 

[dobbie]

If we are limited to what was available in WWII, Id say the Bofors 40MM is a good candidate for a light AA weapon. Reliable and easy to maintain, fairly accurate. The US Army saw fit to put a couple of them in an open turret on a light tank chassis and called it the Duster. M42 Duster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Although the chassis is post WWII, I see no reason why it couldnt have been adapted to the M4 Sherman.

 

[tomo pauk]

The Flak 43 (37mm) might have been the best of ww2, with good RoF, firing a sizable shell on decent muzzle velocity. The twinned such Flak should be a devastating thing.

 

[RCAFson]

Octuple pom-pom = 920rpm x 1.8lbs per round, = 1656 lbs per minute. 1120 rounds on mount = 73 seconds firing time but has continuous reload capability.
Max range = ~7000 yds. Remote control via off mount director, (one man control possible) and thus full computer control capable with no crew requirements.

Phalanx Block 0 = 3000rpm x .22lb per round = 660lbs per minute. = 989 rounds on mount = 9.8 seconds firing time with 10 to 30 minutes reload cycle
Max range = 6000 yds. Automatic and remote control.

 

[Shortround6]

Although the chassis is post WWII, I see no reason why it couldnt have been adapted to the M4 Sherman.

Didn't need to, it fit quite nicely on the M-24 chassis as the M-19

Which was developed from several earlier prototypes using stretched M3/M5 chassis with 3 bogies instead of 2.

In addition to having lots of fighters the US had half-tracks with quad .50s, a 37mm with two .50s and a host of protoypes including one half track with twin 40mm guns, one mounted on top of the other, way too much gun for the chassis.