25 mm caliber

The 25 mm caliber is one of the standard sizes of cannon and autocannon ammunition for NATO forces. The round itself has a length of approximately 223 mm (8.6 inches).

Usage

The 25 mm round can be used in both an anti-material and anti-personnel fashion. When operating in an infantry mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with HE rounds can effectively kill large numbers of opposing troops either in the open or in light fortifications. When operating in an anti-material mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with AP rounds can disable many aircraft and 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, and as a standard ship-based munition in the Mk 38 autocannon.

Types of 25 mm ammunition

Several sub-types of 25 mm ammunition are available — the most common being Armor Piercing, High explosive, sabot, tracer, and practice rounds. Cartridges are usually comprised of a combination of the aforementioned categories. For example, the M791 pictured to the right is an Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer 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 caliber weapons

*M242 Bushmaster
*GAU-12 Equalizer
*GIATs, M811
*Oerlikons, KBA

ee also

*Caliber
*.50 BMG
*14.5 x 114 mm
*20 mm caliber
*25mm grenade
*30 mm caliber

*List of cartridges (weaponry), pistol and rifle

External links

* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/25.htm Federation of American Scientists: 25mm Ammunition]
*U. S. Army Field Manual 3-22.1
* [https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Explosives/UXOSafety/Photogallery/Small/smallmun.html UXO Safety Information]