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M61 Vulcan: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:M61vulcan.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm]]
[[Image:M61vulcan.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm]]
[[File:M61 Vulcan machine gun.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm]]
[[File:M61 Vulcan machine gun.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm]]
[[File:M-61A1 Vulcan cannon display.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61A1 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm]]
[[File:M-61A1 Vulcan cannon display.jpg|thumb|450px|GE M61A1 Vulcan Cannon with unfired rounds - 20x102mm]]


*General Electric M61 Vulcan Cannon.
*General Electric M61 Vulcan Cannon.
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="170"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Character'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="280"|'''Character'''
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| ''[[Independence Day]] || || US military pilots || Mounted in F/A-18 Hornets || 1996
| ''[[Independence Day]] || || US military pilots || Mounted in F/A-18 Hornets || 1996
|-
|-
| ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' || || || Mounted on JASDF F-1 || 1996
| ''[[Gamera 2: Assault of the Legion]]'' || || || Mounted on JASDF F-1 || 1996
|-
|-
| ''[[Gamera: Guardian of the Universe]]'' || || || Mounted on JASDF F-4 and F-15 || 1995
| ''[[Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe]]'' || || || Mounted on JASDF F-4 and F-15 || 1995
|-
|-
| ''[[Iron Eagle II]] || [[Mark Humphrey]] || Capt. Matt "Cobra" Cooper || Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcons || 1988
| ''[[Iron Eagle II]] || [[Mark Humphrey]] || Capt. Matt "Cobra" Cooper || Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcons || 1988
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|-
|-
| ''[[Final Countdown, The|The Final Countdown]] || || US Navy pilots || Mounted in F-14A Tomcats || 1980
| ''[[Final Countdown, The|The Final Countdown]] || || US Navy pilots || Mounted in F-14A Tomcats || 1980
|-
| ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' || [[Tom Cruise]] || Cpt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell || Mounted in F-14A Tomcat || 2022
|-
| ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' || || || Mounted in F/A-18E/F Super Hornets || 2022
|-
|-
|}
|}
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| ''[[Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig]] || JSDA soldiers || Mounted on Jigabachi attack helicopters || 2004 - 2005
| ''[[Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig]] || JSDA soldiers || Mounted on Jigabachi attack helicopters || 2004 - 2005
|-
|-
|  ''[[Upotte!!]]'' || || Mounted on F-22 Raptors || 2012 - ????
|  ''[[Upotte!!]]'' || || M61A2 mounted in F-22s, M61A1 mounted in F-14 || 2012
|-
|-
|''[[Case Closed: The Darkest Nightmare]]'' ||  || Mounted on a helicopter || 2016
|''[[Case Closed: The Darkest Nightmare]]'' ||  || Mounted on a helicopter || 2016
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==General Dynamics M197 Vulcan==
==General Dynamics M197 Vulcan==
[[Image:M197Gatling.jpg|thumb|400px|General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20x102mm]]
[[Image:M197Gatling.jpg|thumb|400px|General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20x102mm]]
[[Image:M197VulcanAH-1Z “Viper”.jpg|thumb|400px|M197 Vulcan chin-mounted on an AH-1Z "Viper", a newer version of the AH-1 Cobra.]]
[[File:XM301b.jpg|thumb|right|400px|General Dynamics XM301 - 20x102mm. This variant was developed for the RAH-66 Comanche, and never entered production.]]
[[File:XM301b.jpg|thumb|right|400px|General Dynamics XM301 - 20x102mm. This variant was developed for the RAH-66 Comanche, and never entered production.]]


This is a three barreled version of the M61 Vulcan and most commonly seen mounted in the chin turret of the AH-1 Cobra series of attack helicopters. While a 1,500 round per minute rate of fire was possible, AH-1s had their rate of fire limited to 750 rounds a minute, with a two-stage trigger allowing the gunner to fire 16-round burst or unrestricted full-auto. The full 1,500rpm rate was available on the USMC's GPU-2 gun pod. The Marine Corps reduced the fire rate of M197 cannon mounted on AH-1T and AH-1W attack helicopters to 650 rounds a minute
This is a three barreled version of the M61 Vulcan and most commonly seen mounted in the chin turret of the AH-1 Cobra series of attack helicopters. While a 1,500 round per minute rate of fire was possible, AH-1s had their rate of fire limited to 750 rounds a minute, with a two-stage trigger allowing the gunner to fire 16-round burst or unrestricted full-auto. The full 1,500rpm rate was available on the USMC's GPU-2 gun pod. The Marine Corps reduced the fire rate of M197 cannon mounted on AH-1T and AH-1W attack helicopters to 650 rounds a minute.


===Specifications===
===Specifications===
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!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
|-
|-
| ''[[Iron Eagle]] |||| ||  Mounted in AH-1F Cobras || 1986
| ''[[Iron Eagle]]'' |||| ||  Mounted in AH-1F Cobras || 1986
|-
|-
| ''[[In the Army Now]] |||| ||  Mounted in AH-1F Cobra (stock news footage) || 1994
| ''[[Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth]]'' |||| ||  Mounted to ASTOL-MB93s, unused. || 1992
|-
|-
| ''[[Courage Under Fire]] || ||   || Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup) || 1996
| ''[[In the Army Now]]'' |||| || Mounted in AH-1F Cobra (stock news footage) || 1994
|-
|-
| ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' || || || Mounted on JGSDF AH-1S Cobras || 1996
| ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'' || ||   || Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup) || 1996
|-
|-
| ''[[Con Air]] |||| || Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup)|| 1997
| ''[[Gamera 2: Assault of the Legion]]'' || || || Mounted on JGSDF AH-1S Cobras || 1996
|-
|-
| ''[[War of the Worlds (2005)|War of the Worlds]] ||||  || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras || 2005
| ''[[Con Air]]'' ||||  || Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup)|| 1997
|-
|-
| ''[[Battle: Los Angeles]] ||||   || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras || 2011
| ''[[War of the Worlds (2005)|War of the Worlds]]'' |||| || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras || 2005
|-
|-
| [[American Sniper]] || || || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra || 2014
| ''[[Battle: Los Angeles]]'' ||||   || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras || 2011
|-
|-
| ''[[Godzilla Resurgence]]''|| ||  || Mounted on Fuji AH-1 Cobras || 2016
| ''[[American Sniper]]'' ||  ||  || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra || 2014
|-
| ''[[Shin Godzilla]]''|| ||  || Mounted on Fuji AH-1 Cobras || 2016
|-
|-
|}
|}
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===Anime===
===Anime===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffffff"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Title'''
!width="275"|Title
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Character'''
!width="275"|Character
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Note'''
!width="300"|Note
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Date'''
!width="100"|Date
|-
|''[[The Abashiri Family]]'' || Police || "Explosion of violence!! We don't have justice!" (E01) || 1991
|-
|-
|''[[Imma Youjo]] ||  || "Inma Yōjo" (Ep01) || 1995
|''[[Imma Youjo]] ||  || "Inma Yōjo" (Ep01) || 1995
|-
|-
| [[Memories]] || JGSDF soldiers || Mounted on AH-1S Cobra || 1995
|''[[Memories]]''|| JGSDF soldiers || Mounted on AH-1S Cobra || 1995
|-
|-
| [[Cowboy Bebop]] || Mobsters || Mounted on casino ship || 1998 - 1999
|''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''|| Mobsters || Mounted on casino ship || 1998 - 1999
|-
|-
| [[Devil Lady]] || SAT || mounted on combat helicopters || 1998-1999
|''[[Devil Lady]]''|| SAT || mounted on combat helicopters || 1998-1999
|-
|-
|''[[Magic User's Club]]||JASDF|| Mounted on AH-1S Cobra ||1999
|''[[Magic User's Club]]''||JASDF|| Mounted on AH-1S Cobra ||1999
|-
|-
| [[Geobreeders]] || US Marines || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra || 1999 - 2000
| [[Geobreeders]] || US Marines || Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra || 1999 - 2000
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="270"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Character'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Character'''
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| ''[[Under Siege]]||  || || Mounted on USS ''Missouri'' || 1992
| ''[[Under Siege]]||  || || Mounted on USS ''Missouri'' || 1992
|-
|-
| ''[[Gamera: Guardian of the Universe]]'' || || || Mounted on JMSDF destroyers || 1995
| ''[[Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe]]'' || || || Mounted on JMSDF destroyers || 1995
|-
|-
| ''[[Behind Enemy Lines]] ||  ||  || Mounted on USS ''Carl Vinson'' || 2001
| ''[[Behind Enemy Lines]] ||  ||  || Mounted on USS ''Carl Vinson'' || 2001
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|}
|}


[[Category: Gun]]
<br clear=all>
[[Category: Machine Gun]]
[[Category:Gun]]
[[Category:Cannon]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 30 December 2023

In June 1946, the General Electric Company was awarded the contract for "Project Vulcan." Rather than focusing on hitting power as European designers were doing with their slow-firing 30mm aircraft cannons, the project focused on a pre-war .60 caliber (15mm) anti-tank rifle cartridge, aiming for a rate of fire no less than 6,000 rounds per minute. The early T45 model using the .60 caliber round had issues with insufficient damage, and alternatives in 20mm and 27mm were tested, the T171 and T150 guns. In 1956 the T171 20mm gun was standardized by the US Army and US Air Force as the M61 20mm Vulcan aircraft gun.

The M61 Vulcan is an externally powered six-barrel rotary gun having a rate of fire of up to 7,200 rounds per minute. The firing rate is selectable at 4,000 or 6,000 rounds per minute. Each of the gun's six barrels fires only once during each revolution of the barrel cluster. The six rotating barrels contribute to long weapon life by minimizing barrel erosion and heat generation. The gun's rate of fire, essentially 100 rounds per second, gives the pilot a shot density that will enable a "kill" when fired in one-second bursts. The gun fires electrically primed 20x102mm ammunition and usually uses a hydraulic motor for power, though there is a self-powered version, the GAU-4 (M130 in Army service) which was used in the SUU-23/A / M25 gunpod. This variant uses an electric motor to spin up the barrel cluster, then sustains itself via gas operation.

While the initial M61 was troubled by issues with misfeeds and FOD damage to aircraft mounting it due to using linked ammunition, the linkless M61A1 Vulcan cannon is a proven gun, having been the US military's close-in weapon of choice dating back to 1959 when it was first fielded on the F-104C. It was the primary gun armament for all subsequent Air Force fighters until the F-35A as well as the defensive armament for the B-52H and the B-58. It was also the primary gun armament for all Navy/Marine Corps fighters and attack aircraft starting with the A-7E/A-7C except for the AV-8 Harrier series and the F-35B/C. The primary use of the cannon is in the extremely short range (less than 2,000 feet) air-to-air environment, where more sophisticated air-to-air missiles are ineffective. Alternately, the cannon allows the carrying aircraft to engage in strafing runs in support of ground troops, though the 20mm round is not particularly effective against heavily armored vehicles.

While originally manufactured by General Electric, it is no longer produced by them; GE Armament Systems was sold to Martin Marietta; after their merger with Lockheed, it was produced by Lockheed Martin Armament Systems, which was bought by General Dynamics in 1997.

The M61 Vulcan Cannons used in the film industry have been converted to percussion primer cases using a sub caliber cartridge adapter.

M61 Vulcan

Specifications

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
GE M61A1 Vulcan Cannon with unfired rounds - 20x102mm
  • General Electric M61 Vulcan Cannon.
  • Caliber: 20x102mm
  • Length: 73.80 inches
  • Barrel Length:
  • Weight:
    • Gun: 248 pounds
  • Muzzle Velocity: 3,380 feet per second
  • Cyclic rate of fire: 4,000-6,000 rounds per minute

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Ah Boys to Men Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots Mounted in F-16C/D Fighting Falcons 2012
Osombie USAF pilots Mounted in AC-130 2012
R2B: Return to Base South Korean pilots Mounted in F-15K Eagles 2012
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Starscream 2011
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Starscream 2009
Death Race Tyrese Gibson Joe "Machine Gun" Mason Mounted on 2004 Dodge RAM 4WD 2008
Transformers US Air Force pilots Mounted in F-22 Raptors 2007
Transformers Starscream 2007
Tears of the Sun US Navy pilots Mounted in F/A-18A Hornets 2003
Detention Mounted on F-15 Eagle 2003
XXX Colombian Army soldiers Chin-mounted on Bell 212 helicopter 2002
Behind Enemy Lines Mounted in F/A-18F Super Hornet 2001
Armageddon Ben Affleck A.J. Frost Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles 1998
Armageddon Steve Buscemi Rockhound Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles 1998
Air Force One US Air Force pilots Mounted in F-15 Eagles 1997
Independence Day Will Smith Cpt. Steven Hiller Mounted in F/A-18 Hornet 1996
Independence Day Bill Pullman President Thomas J. Whitmore Mounted in F/A-18 Hornet 1996
Independence Day US military pilots Mounted in F/A-18 Hornets 1996
Gamera 2: Assault of the Legion Mounted on JASDF F-1 1996
Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe Mounted on JASDF F-4 and F-15 1995
Iron Eagle II Mark Humphrey Capt. Matt "Cobra" Cooper Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcons 1988
Iron Eagle II Soviet pilots Mounted in F-4E Phantom IIs 1988
Top Gun Mounted in F-14A Tomcats 1986
Iron Eagle Louis Gossett Jr. Col. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon 1986
Iron Eagle Jason Gedrick Doug Masters Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon 1986
Iron Eagle Tim Thomerson Col. Ted Masters Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon 1986
The Jewel of the Nile Michael Douglas Jack Colton Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon 1985
Blue Thunder Roy Scheider Officer Frank Murphy Mounted in "Blue Thunder" helicopter 1983
Lone Wolf McQuade Seen in weapons shed 1983
The Final Countdown US Navy pilots Mounted in F-14A Tomcats 1980
Top Gun: Maverick Tom Cruise Cpt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell Mounted in F-14A Tomcat 2022
Top Gun: Maverick Mounted in F/A-18E/F Super Hornets 2022

Television

Actor Character Title / Episode Note Date
Ultimate Weapons on AC-130A Project Gunship II 2009 - 2012
US Navy pilots The Blacklist Mounted on F-14 Tomcat 2013 - 2015
US Air Force Pilots The Blacklist Mounted on F-22A Raptors 2013 - 2015

Video Games

Game Title Appears as Mods Notation Release Date
Time Crisis II Mounted on armored cruiser. Handheld variant is also appeared. both unusable 1997
Metal Gear Solid Handheld with ammo drum backpack Unusable, used by Vulcan Raven 1998
Crisis Zone Mounted on M2 Bradley, unusable 1999
Time Crisis II Mounted on armored cruiser. Handheld variant is also appeared. both unusable 2001
Time Crisis: Crisis Zone Mounted on M2 Bradley, unusable 2004
Battlefield 2 Mounted in F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18A Hornet 2005
Project Reality Mounted in F/A-18C Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-16C Fighting Falcon 2005
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Mounted in various fighters 2007
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Mounted on various vehicles 2008
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Mounted in various fighters 2011
Homefront Sentry tower Untapered, short barrel cluster 2011
Battlefield 3 Mounted in F/A-18E & F/A-18F Super Hornet 2011
Rising Storm 2: Vietnam M195; mounted on the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter 2017
Ironsight Mounted on Hellbird drone 2018

Anime

Title Character Note Date
Appleseed Multipede Cannon Two mounted on front of Multipede Cannon 1988
New Dominion Tank Police Leona Mounted on Bonaparte mini-tank 1993
801 T.T.S. Airbats Arisa Mitaka Mounted on F-15J Eagle 1993
Devil Lady SAT mounted on F-16 1998-1999
You're Under Arrest: The Movie Japanese sailor Mounted on patrol vessel Yashima 1999
Macross Zero Mounted on F-14s 2002-2004
Yukikaze FAF forces Mounted on APCs 2002 - 2005
Area 88 Mercenaries 2004
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig JSDA soldiers Mounted on Jigabachi attack helicopters 2004 - 2005
Upotte!! M61A2 mounted in F-22s, M61A1 mounted in F-14 2012
Case Closed: The Darkest Nightmare Mounted on a helicopter 2016

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20x102mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
General Dynamics XM301 - 20x102mm. This variant was developed for the RAH-66 Comanche, and never entered production.

This is a three barreled version of the M61 Vulcan and most commonly seen mounted in the chin turret of the AH-1 Cobra series of attack helicopters. While a 1,500 round per minute rate of fire was possible, AH-1s had their rate of fire limited to 750 rounds a minute, with a two-stage trigger allowing the gunner to fire 16-round burst or unrestricted full-auto. The full 1,500rpm rate was available on the USMC's GPU-2 gun pod. The Marine Corps reduced the fire rate of M197 cannon mounted on AH-1T and AH-1W attack helicopters to 650 rounds a minute.

Specifications

  • General Dynamics M197 Gatling Cannon
  • Caliber: 20mm
  • Length: 73.80 inches
  • Barrel Length: 60 inches
  • Weight: 146.3 pounds
  • Muzzle Velocity: 3,380 feet per second
  • Cyclic rate of fire: 750 or 1,500 rounds per minute.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Iron Eagle Mounted in AH-1F Cobras 1986
Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth Mounted to ASTOL-MB93s, unused. 1992
In the Army Now Mounted in AH-1F Cobra (stock news footage) 1994
Courage Under Fire Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup) 1996
Gamera 2: Assault of the Legion Mounted on JGSDF AH-1S Cobras 1996
Con Air Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup) 1997
War of the Worlds Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras 2005
Battle: Los Angeles Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras 2011
American Sniper Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra 2014
Shin Godzilla Mounted on Fuji AH-1 Cobras 2016

Television

Title Actor Character Note/Episode Date
JAG - Season 3 Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra; "The Court-Martial of Sandra Gilbert" (S3E02) 1997
JAG - Season 9 mockup mounted on AH-1 Cobra; "Posse Comitatus" (S9E08) 2004
NCIS - Season 2 mockup mounted on AH-1 Cobra; "Vanished" (S2E03) 2004
KochiKame mounted on the AH-1S Cobra (Ep. 01) 2009

Video Games

Game Title Appears as Mods Notation Release Date
Time Crisis: Crisis Zone Mounted on U.R.D.A.'s choppers, unusable 2004
Project Reality Mounted in AH-1Z Viper 2005
Battlefield 2 Mounted in AH-1Z Viper 2005
Close Combat: First to Fight Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra 2005
Black Stock footage: mounted on AH-1 Super Cobra 2006
Crysis Mounted on N. Korean helicopters and US VTOL craft 2007
World in Conflict Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras and Agusta A129 Mangustas 2007
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames mounted on vehicles part of a RWS 2008
Xenus 2: White Gold Mounted on AH-1 Cobra 2008
Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising Mounted on AH-1Z Viper 2009
Marines: Modern Urban Combat Mounted on AH-1Z Viper 2010
Homefront Seen only in stock footage of AH-1 Supercobra 2011
Battlefield 3 Mounted in AH-1Z Viper 2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Mounted in AH-1W Super Cobra 2011
Battlefield 4 Mounted in AH-1Z Viper 2013
Ghost Recon Breakpoint Mounted under the nose of Cobra attack helicopters 2019

Anime

Title Character Note Date
The Abashiri Family Police "Explosion of violence!! We don't have justice!" (E01) 1991
Imma Youjo "Inma Yōjo" (Ep01) 1995
Memories JGSDF soldiers Mounted on AH-1S Cobra 1995
Cowboy Bebop Mobsters Mounted on casino ship 1998 - 1999
Devil Lady SAT mounted on combat helicopters 1998-1999
Magic User's Club JASDF Mounted on AH-1S Cobra 1999
Geobreeders US Marines Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra 1999 - 2000
Ceres, Celestial Legend Guards Mounted on combat helicopter 2000
Excel Saga Rebel Mounted on AH-1 Cobra 1999 - 2000
Najica Blitz Tactics RAH-66 Comanche helicopter "Mission: 011 - The Sad Parting Mission with Girl's Sincerity" 2001
Digimon Tamers JGSDF soldiers Mounted on AH-1 Cobra 2001 - 2002
Sweat Punch ("Beyond") Mounted on futuristic helicopter 2001 - 2007
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex JMSDF soldiers Mounted on Oniyama assault helicopters 2002 - 2003
Zipang JMSDF pilots Mounted on MVSA-32J Umidori tilt-rotor aircraft 2004

Animation

Title Voice Actor Characters Notation Date
Love, Death & Robots - Season 1 mounted on Frank's Mech in "Suits" (S1E04); mounted on Dropships in "Lucky 13" (S1E13) 2019

Vulcan Air Defense System

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M167A2 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence System) - 20x102mm HEIT-SD. This is the towed variant; the VADS version mounted on the M113 APC is M163. This can be distinguished as an A2 Product Improved VADS (PIVADS) by having two wheels on each side: the A2 update also made improvements to the fire control and targeting systems.

The Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) was a ground-based anti-aircraft version of the M61A1 developed to replace the obsolete WW2-era M45 Quadmount in the 1960s after the cancellation of the overly ambitious MIM-46 Mauler SAM system in 1965, with the towed M167 VADS entering service in 1967. The M113-mounted self-propelled version, the M163 VADS, entered service in 1969, replacing the M42 Duster. The two systems used a round developed specifically for them, the M246 High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct (HEIT-SD). As a point of trivia, the cancellation of Mauler and its naval variant also led to the adoption of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow by the US Navy (which had been anticipating the navalized Sea Mauler and had already designed the Knox-class frigates around it) and the development of the British Rapier SAM system.

The VADS is a powered mounting which is manually aimed by the gunner with the radar only a rangefinder, and has an effective range of about three quarters of a mile against airborne targets and 1.25 miles against ground targets. The gun is electrically operated, using the vehicle's power supply for the M163 and either a generator or its own integral APU for the M167.

VADS (and its missile companion, the AIM-9 Sidewinder-based MIM-72 Chaparral) was always intended to be a stop-gap system, and was considered obsolete by the late 70s since Soviet attack helicopters were carrying the AT-6 Spiral with a range almost five times greater than it. However, due to the failure of the DIVADS program (which created the infamous M247 Sergeant York using the completely unsuited-for-task radar suite of an F-16, directing ancient and poorly-maintained Bofors 40mm cannon barrels left over from retired M42 Dusters in a 20-ton turret on a not-at-all-happy-about-this M48A5 Patton chassis) it was not directly replaced until 1994 when the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger entered service, though by this point the man-portable FIM-92 Stinger had largely replaced it operationally. The PIVADS (Product Improved Vulcan Air Defense System) program in 1984 upgraded stocks of M163s to the M163A2 standard and M167s to the M167A2 standard (it is not clear what A1 did for either system) with improvements to the fire control system and an extra wheel added on either side of the M167 to prevent rollovers while being towed.

Specifications

(1967-1994 (M167), 1969-1994 (M163))

  • Type: Towed / self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
  • Caliber(s): 20x102mm
  • Weight: 2 tons (M167), 14 tons (M163, complete vehicle)
  • Capacity: 500 rounds (M167), 2,100 rounds (M163)
  • Rate of fire: 1,000 or 3,000 rpm (selectable)

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
R2B: Return to Base North Korean soldiers M167 VADS 2012
Stealth M167 VADS 2005

Video Games

Game Title Appears as Mods Notation Release Date
Boiling Point: Road to Hell M167 VADS 2005
Project Reality M167 VADS 2005
World in Conflict M163 VADS 2007
Battlefield: Bad Company Ground pedestal mount and mounted on Mark V Special Operations Craft M167 VADS 2008
Homefront M167 VADS, seen only in stock footage 2011
Project Reality: Falklands Anachronistic M167A2 VADS 2012
Project Reality: Vietnam M163 VADS 2012
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes Fictional cruciform base M167 VADS 2014
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain M276 AA Gatling Gun Fictional cruciform base M167 VADS 2014

General Dynamics / Raytheon Phalanx Close-In Weapon System

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Phalanx Block 1 CIWS - 20x102mm. Block 1 was a mostly internal upgrade to the original Block 0 system, improving most aspects of the system and increasing its maximum elevation to +70 degrees to deal with the threat of sea-skimming missiles that "pop up" in their terminal phase.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Phalanx Block 1 baseline 2 / Block 1A CIWS - 20x102mm. The Block 1A had a new electronic system which allowed it to integrate with other weapons systems aboard ship. The barrel restraint to increase accuracy was added by the Block 1 baseline 2 upgrade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Phalanx Block 1B CIWS - 20x102mm. This is the current version which has a set of Optimised Gun Barrels (OGB) to increase accuracy and longevity, and Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) which enable the CIWS to engage targets with a low radar observability and surface targets.
Centurion C-RAM - 20x102mm. This is a land-based version of the Phalanx Block 1B CIWS mounted on a mobile trailer.

This is a self-contained powered mounting developed in the 1970s and first mounted to a combat vessel, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, in 1980. It is used mostly by naval vessels to engage incoming missiles, aircraft, and sea-based close-range targets. It features a distinctive white-painted cylindrical weapon control group with a domed radome at the top which results in the nickname "R2-D2" being applied to the mounting (sometimes with a crude addition related to the position of the gun: some early reliability issues with Phalanx also led to sailors muttering that CIWS meant "Captain, It Won't Shoot!"); the cylinder houses the system's tracking radar, while the dome houses the search radar.

The original Phalanx Block 0 has been through a number of upgrades over the years. The Block 1 upgrade in 1988 was a general improvement to the installation's systems to deal with shortcomings of the Block 0 installation and the threat of new Russian supersonic anti-ship missiles: it included replacements for both radars, corrosion-resistant barrels, a higher maximum elevation and a larger magazine. The weapon also switched to using preloaded magazines and altered the magazine mounting to reduce reloading time from 20-30 minutes to less than 5. Two sub-upgrades, Block 1 baselines 1 (1989) and 2 (1995), respectively switched the gun from a hydraulic to a pneumatic drive system (increasing the rate of fire from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm and decreasing the half-second spin-up to almost zero) and added a barrel restraint to improve accuracy. Block 1A (1997) was primarily a systems update, adding a new high-order language computing system better able to engage manoeuvring targets, and allowing for integration with the US Navy's Ship Self Defense System, allowing the Phalanx's radar to be used to target the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. Block 1B was tested in 1999 and first mounted on the frigate USS Taylor (FFG-50) in 2000. This broad upgrade increases the system's traversing speed, adds a FLIR (forward-looking infrared) and video tracker on the left side of the weapon control group to increase the Phalanx's previously mediocre effectiveness against surface targets, alters the barrel restraint, and features lengthened (L/99 instead of L/76) Optimized Gun Barrels (OGB) for improved performance. The Block 1B mounting was also the basis of the later SEA RAM system, which replaces the Vulcan with an 11-tube RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher.

A land-based derivative of Phalanx Block 1B called the Centurion Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) was first deployed in 2005 following a request from the US Army in 2004, and is used to protect point bases against rocket and mortar attacks. Rather than using the tungsten armour-piercing discarding sabot rounds of the naval version (aside from the original Mark 149 projectile, which was depleted uranium), the land-based version uses High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct (HEIT-SD) ammunition, which was originally designed for the VADS. More recently the C-RAM has been adapted to mount on a HEMMT truck meaning that it is fully mobile and self sufficient as opposed to the original C-RAM which was on a demountable towed trailer.

As a terminology note, Phalanx is an installation, not a turret, since it is mounted on the outside of a vehicle's hull rather than crossing it.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
The Detached Mission (Odinochnoye plavanye) Mounted on USS Nimitz; seen in documentary footage 1985
The Hunt for Red October Mounted on USS Reuben James 1990
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Mounted on JMSDF DDH-142 Hiei 1991
Under Siege Mounted on USS Missouri 1992
Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe Mounted on JMSDF destroyers 1995
Behind Enemy Lines Mounted on USS Carl Vinson 2001
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah Mounted on Kongo-class JMSDF destroyer 2001
The Sum of All Fears Mounted on USS John C. Stennis 2002
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla Mounted on JMSDF destroyers 2002
Stealth Mounted on USS Abraham Lincoln 2005
Assault Girls Hinako Saeki Colonel Fictional 3-barreled variant, mounted on mecha 2009
Battleship Mounted on US Navy warships 2012
Battleship Mounted on JDS Myoko 2012

Television

Title Actor Character Note/Episode Date
NCIS - Season 11 Mounted on USS Benjamin Franklin; "Under the Radar" (S11E03), footage from The Sum of All Fears 2013
The Last Ship Mounted on USS Nathan James 2014

Video Games

Game Title Appears as Mods Notation Release Date
Crysis Mounted on USS Constitution, main weapon for the multiplayer auto-turrets 2007
Resident Evil 4 Mounted on a Ganados held ship 2005
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Mounted on USS Missouri 2008
Battlefield 2 Mounted on USS Essex 2005
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Mounted on USS Walsh 2005
Battlefield 3 Mounted on various warships, usable in multiplayer only 2011
Battlefield 3 C-RAM Multiplayer mode only 2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Seen in a screenshot mounted on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer 2011
Project Reality: Falklands Anachronistically mounted on HMS Invincible 2012
Battlefield 4 Both Phalanx and C-RAM are seen, the C-RAM is usable in multiplayer only 2013

Anime

Title Character Note Date
Memories Mounted on JMSDF warship 1995
Najica Blitz Tactics 2001
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Mounted on aircraft carrier 2002 - 2003
Macross Zero Mounted on UN Navy ships 2002-2004
Yukikaze Mounted on battleships 2002 - 2005
Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence 2004
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig Mounted on helicopter carrier 2004 - 2005
The Place Promised in Our Early Days Mounted on battleship 2004
Zipang JMSDF sailors Mounted on JDS Mirai 2004
Hellsing [Mounted on aircraft carrier 2006 - ????
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Futuristic design, mounted on buildings 2007 - 2009
Cat Planet Cuties JMSDF sailors Mounted on JMSDF warships 2010


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