M230 chain gun

The M230 Cannon is a 30 mm (30×113 mm), single-barrel electrically-driven autocannon, using external electrical power (as opposed to recoil or expanding gas generated by the firing cartridge) to cycle the weapon between shots. It was designed and manufactured originally by Hughes Helicopters in Culver City, California. As of 2019, it is produced by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

M230 Cannon
An M230 Cannon mounted on a US Army AH-64 Apache at the Berlin Air Show 2018.
TypeChain gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1983-Present
Used byUnited States, and other countries
WarsPersian Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Production history
DesignerHughes Helicopters
Designed1973
Manufacturer
ProducedSince 1975
VariantsM230LF
Specifications
Mass59.5 kg (130 lb)
Length2,181 mm (85.9 in)
Width277.2 mm (10.9 in)
Height288.8 mm (11.4 in)

Shell30×113 mmB
  • M788 Target Practice (TP)
  • M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP)
  • M799 High Explosive Incendiary (HEI)
Caliber30 millimetres (1.18 in) caliber
ActionOpen bolt
Rate of fire625±25 rpm
Muzzle velocity805 m/s (2,641 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,500 m (1,640 yd)
Maximum firing range4,000 m (4,370 yd)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.