- Mk44 Bushmaster II
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Mk44 Bushmaster II 
Finnish CV 9030 with Mk44Type Chain gun Place of origin United States Service history In service 1972–present Used by See users Production history Designer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) Manufacturer ATK Specifications Weight 344 lb (160 kg) Length 134.05 inches (3,405 mm) Width 13.5 inches (340 mm) Height 15.43 inches (392 mm) Shell 30x173 mm Caliber 30 millimetres (1.18 in) caliber Rate of fire 100/200 rounds per minute Muzzle velocity 1,080 metres per second (3,500 ft/s) (HEI-T ammunition) Effective range 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) land appl. 5,100 metres (16,700 ft) naval appl. The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses some 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increase in caliber size. The barrel is chromium-plated for extended life. The gun uses standard GAU-8 Avenger ammunition that is available in API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary), HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and APFSDS-T (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer) variants. One interesting possibility is the ability of the gun to be converted to a caliber of 40 mm, which involves changing the barrel and a few key parts, to use the so called Super 40 cartridge. It can also be converted to use the 30x170 mm RARDEN cartridge.
Contents
History
The Bushmaster II is the standard primary armament of Bionix-II AFV currently in service with the Singapore Army, the KTO Rosomak in Polish service as well as that of the CV90 AFVs in Finnish, Norwegian and Swiss service. Although the United States Air Force selected this cannon to replace the 25 mm and 40 mm guns on its fleet of AC-130U gunships in 2007, this plan was later canceled.[1] The United States Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, which was recently cancelled, was expected to be armed with this cannon as well. Some United States Navy vessels, such as the new San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock are armed with the Bushmaster II for surface threat defense.
The Bushmaster II is the gun used in the 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun (ASCG) system that is being fitted to Royal Navy Type 23 frigates from 2007 onwards.[2]
Users
- Belgian Army
- Czech Army
- Finnish Army
- Irish Army[citation needed]
- New Zealand Army & Navy[citation needed]
- Norwegian Army
- Polish Army
- Portuguese Army
- Singapore Army
- Royal Thai Army
- Swiss Army
- Royal Navy
- United States Navy & United States Marine Corps
See also
- Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun
- Bushmaster III 35/50 mm chain gun
- 30mm Shipunov 2A42
- Bionix-II AFV
- Combat Vehicle 90
- Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
- Future Combat Systems Infantry Carrier Vehicle
- 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun
- M3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- Anders
References
- Notes
Page text.[3]
- ^ "AIR FORCE CANCELS 30 MM CANNON PROGRAM FOR AC-130U GUNSHIPS - Inside the Air Force, 11 July 2008". http://www.nwfdailynews.com/share/profiles/?slid=52836bbc-64ad-c2d4-9dae-291a895b67d1&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a52836bbc-64ad-c2d4-9dae-291a895b67d1Post%3a4d252120-6dcd-4132-b823-23038489868d&sid=sitelife.nwfdailynews.com.
- ^ Scott, Richard, ASCG enhances Type 23 close-in defence, International Defence Review, 30 October 2007.
- ^ [1], additional text.
External links
Categories:- 30 mm artillery
- Automatic cannons
- Vehicle weapons
- United States Marine Corps equipment
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