- Denel NTW-20
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Denel NTW-20 Type Anti-materiel rifle Place of origin 
South AfricaService history In service 1998-present Used by See Users Production history Designer Tony Neophytou Designed 1995 Manufacturer Denel (Mechem division) Variants NTW 20, NTW 14.5 Specifications Weight 31 kg (NTW 20),
34 kg (NTW 14.5)Length 1,795 mm (NTW 20),
2,015 mm (NTW 14.5)Barrel length 1,000 mm (NTW 20),
1,220 mm (NTW 14.5)Crew Two; rifle breaks down into two parts for transport and fits into two backpacks weighing 15kg each, one containing the weapon receiver section, while the other contains the barrel and ammunition Cartridge 20 × 82mm (NTW 20)
20 × 110mm Hispano (NTW 20x110)
14.5 × 114mm (NTW 14.5)Action Bolt action Muzzle velocity 720 m/s (20 x 82mm)
820 m/s (20 x 110mm)
1,000 m/s (14.5 x 114mm)Effective range 1,500m (20 x 82mm)
1,800m (20 x 110mm)
2,300m (14.5 x 114mm)Feed system 3-round detachable box magazine (20 x 82mm and 14.5 x 114mm)
Single shot (20 x 110mm)Sights 8 x 56 Lynx Telescopic sight The NTW-20 is a South African anti-materiel rifle or large-calibre sniper rifle, developed by Denel's Mechem division in the 1990s. The weapon was designed by Tony Neophytou (co-designer of the innovative Neostead combat shotgun) and intended for deployment against a wide variety of targets, including parked aircraft, telecommunication masts, power lines, missile sites, radar installations, refineries, satellite dishes, gun emplacements, bunkers and personnel, using a range of specialized projectiles.[1] As with other weapons of this type, it can also be used for counter sniping and ordnance disposal (shooting explosive ordnance from a safe distance).
Development of the system began in August 1995 under the Aerotek name and a working prototype was ready for testing four and a half months later. This rapid progress was made possible by Neophytou's extensive expertise in the field of recoil reduction systems, having worked on helicopter turrets in the past. In order to further reduce the amount of research and development, the project recycled the barrel, bolt and barrel extension of the existing Vektor GA1 automatic cannon.[2] The rifle was accepted into service with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1998.
Contents
Features
The NTW 20/14.5 is one of the few firearms in existence that allow the changing of the caliber without completely disassembling and reworking the weapon. Switching between the two calibers of the NTW (20mm and 14.5mm) requires changing the bolt, barrel, sighting gear and magazine. (A third variant, the NTW 20x110 has also been developed, but is not designed for barrel caliber switching.) Caliber switching the NTW 20/14.5 can be accomplished simply in the field without specialized tools. The magazine protrudes from the left side of the receiver. The NTW can be disassembled and packed into two backpacks for carriage. A muzzle brake is fitted on the end of the barrel which absorbs an estimated 50%-60% of recoil. This is further supplemented by a buffered slide in the receiver.
Variants
20x82 mm 14.5x114 mm 20x110mm Cartridge 20x82 mm (20 mm Mauser) 14.5x114 mm Russian 20x110 mm Hispano-Suiza Operation manual bolt action Feed 3-round box-type, detachable magazine Single shot Weight (empty) 30.5 kg (67 lb) 33.8 kg (75 lb) 31.5 kg (69 lb) Overall length 1,795 mm (70.7 in) 2,015 mm (79.3 in) 1,795 mm (70.7 in) Rifling (1 full turn) 560 mm (22 in) 406 mm (16.0 in) Length of barrel 1,000 mm (39 in) 1,220 mm (48 in) 1,000 mm (39 in) Muzzle velocity 720 m/s (2,400 ft/s) 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) Muzzle energy 28,500 J 32,675 J ~43,706 J Effective range > 1,500 m (1,600 yd) > 2,300 m (2,500 yd) > 1,800 m (2,000 yd) Users
See also
References
Bibliography
- Kokalis, Peter (2001). Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-122-0.
External links
Categories:- 20 mm artillery
- Bolt-action rifles
- 20mm sniper rifles
- Modern weapons of South Africa
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