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M61 Vulcan
In June 1946, the General Electric Company was awarded the contract for "Project Vulcan". In 1956 the T171 20mm gun was standardized by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force as the M61 20mm Vulcan aircraft gun.
The M61 20mm Vulcan is an externally powered, six-barrel, rotary-fire 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. The gun fires standard electrically primed 20mm ammunition.
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 M61 20mm cannon is a proven gun, having been the US military's close-in weapon of choice dating back to the 1950s. The F-104, F-105, X-32, F-14, later models of the F-106, F-111, F-4, B-47, B-52 (until the 1990's), B-58, all used the M61, as does the Air Force's F-15, F-16 and F-22, and the Navy's F/A-18. 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 has limited usefulness in a ground strafing role.
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
- General Electric M61 Vulcan Cannon.
- Caliber: 20mm
- 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
| Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starscream | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | 2009 | ||
| Tyrese Gibson | Joe "Machine Gun" Mason | Death Race | Mounted on a 2004 Dodge RAM 4WD | 2008 |
| U.S. Air Force pilots | Transformers | Mounted in F-22 Raptors | 2007 | |
| Starscream | Transformers | 2007 | ||
| Stealth | M167 VADS towed mounting | 2005 | ||
| Colombian Army soldiers | XXX | Chin-mounted on Bell 212 helicopter | 2002 | |
| Behind Enemy Lines | Mounted in F/A-18F Super Hornet | 2001 | ||
| Ben Affleck | A.J. Frost | Armageddon | Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles | 1998 |
| Steve Buscemi | Rockhound | Armageddon | Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles | 1998 |
| Bill Pullman | President Thomas J. Whitmore | Independence Day | Mounted in F/A-18 Hornet | 1996 |
| Mark Humphrey | Capt. Matt "Cobra" Cooper | Iron Eagle II | Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcons | 1988 |
| Soviet pilots | Iron Eagle II | Mounted in F-4E Phantom IIs | 1988 | |
| Louis Gossett Jr. | Col. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair | Iron Eagle | Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon | 1986 |
| Jason Gedrick | Doug Masters | Iron Eagle | Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon | 1986 |
| Tim Thomerson | Col. Ted Masters | Iron Eagle | Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon | 1986 |
| Michael Douglas | Jack Colton | The Jewel of the Nile | Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon | 1985 |
| Roy Scheider | Officer Frank Murphy | Blue Thunder | Mounted in "Blue Thunder" helicopter | 1983 |
| Lone Wolf McQuade | Seen in weapons shed | 1983 | ||
| U.S. Navy pilots | Themselves | The Final Countdown | Mounted in F-14A Tomcats | 1980 |
Television
| Actor | Character | Title / Episode | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Weapons | on AC-130A Project Gunship II | 2009 - 2012 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy Engaged: Apache/Havoc | Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcon, F/A-18C Hornet, & M163 VADS, non-playable | 1998 | ||
| Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | Mounted on N. Korean IFV | 2005 | ||
| Metal Gear Solid | Non-playable | 1998 | ||
| Battlefield 2 | Mounted in F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18A Hornet | 2005 | ||
| Project Reality | Mounted in M167 VADS anti-aircraft turret and F-16C Fighting Falcon | 2005 | ||
| Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies | Mounted in various fighters | 2001 | ||
| Top Gun: Combat Zones | Mounted in various fighters | 2001 | ||
| Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War | Mounted in various fighters | 2004 | ||
| Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War | Mounted in various fighters | 2006 | ||
| Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation | Mounted in various fighters | 2007 | ||
| 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 | ||
| World in Conflict | Mounted in M167 & M163 VADS | 2007 | ||
| Mercenaries 2: World in Flames | Mounted on various vehicles | 2008 | ||
| Project Reality: Vietnam | Mounted on M163 VADS | 2012 |
Anime
| Character | Film Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multipede Cannon | Appleseed | Two mounted on front of Multipede Cannon | 1988 |
| Leona | New Dominion Tank Police | Mounted on Bonaparte mini-tank | 1993 |
| FAF forces | Yukikaze | Mounted on APCs | 2002 - 2005 |
| JSDA soldiers | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig | Mounted on Jigabachi attack helicopters | 2004 - 2005 |
General Dynamics M197 Vulcan
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.
Specifications
- General Dynamics M197 Gatling Cannon
- Caliber: 20mm
- Length: 73.80 inches
- Barrel Length:
- Weight: 146.3 pounds
- Muzzle Velocity: 3,380 feet per second
- Cyclic rate of fire: 750 to 1,500 rounds per minute
Film
| Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy soldiers | Iron Eagle | Mounted in AH-1F Cobras | 1986 | |
| US Army soldiers | In the Army Now | Mounted in AH-1F Cobra (stock news footage) | 1994 | |
| US Army soldiers | Courage Under Fire | Mounted in AH-1 Cobras | 1996 | |
| Con Air | Mounted in AH-1 Cobras | 1997 | ||
| US Marines | War of the Worlds | Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras | 2005 | |
| US Marines | Battle: Los Angeles | Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras | 2011 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Fist 3 | Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra | 1999 | ||
| Project Reality | Mounted in AH-1Z Super Cobra | 2005 | ||
| Battlefield 2 | Mounted in AH-1Z Super Cobra | 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 U.S. 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 | |
| Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising | Mounted on AH-1Z Super Cobra | 2009 | ||
| Lost Planet 2 | VS Gatling Gun | Can be wielded by infantry using a "chainsaw grip," large ammo drum attached to rear of weapon | Used on "Vital Suit" modular mounts and gun turrets | 2010 |
| Marines: Modern Urban Combat | Mounted on AH-1Z Super Cobra | 2010 | ||
| Homefront | Seen only in stock footage of AH-1 Supercobra | 2011 | ||
| Battlefield 3 | Mounted in AH-1Z Super Cobra | 2011 | ||
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Mounted in AH-1W Super Cobra | 2011 |
Anime
| Character | Film Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JGSDF soldiers | Memories | Mounted on AH-1S Cobra | 1995 |
| Mobsters | Cowboy Bebop | Mounted on casino ship | 1998 - 1999 |
| US Marines | Geobreeders | Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra | 1999 - 2000 |
| Rebel | Excel Saga | Mounted on AH-1 Cobra | 1999 - 2000 |
| JGSDF soldiers | Digimon Tamers | Mounted on AH-1 Cobra | 2001 - 2002 |
| Sweat Punch ("Beyond") | Mounted of futuristic helicopter | 2001 - 2007 | |
| JMSDF soldiers | Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex | Mounted on Oniyama assault helicopters | 2002 - 2003 |
| JMSDF pilots | Zipang | Mounted on MVSA-32J Umidori tilt-rotor aircraft | 2004 |
General Dynamics / Raytheon Phalanx Close-In Weapon System
This is a powered mounting 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; the cylinder houses the system's tracking radar, while the dome houses the search radar. More recently a land-based version called Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar [C-RAM] has been developed, and is used to protect point bases against rocket attacks. Rather than using the tungsten armour-piercing discarding sabot rounds of the naval version, the land-based version uses High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct [HEIT-SD] ammunition, which was originally designed for the M163 VADS self-propelled anti-air system.
Film
| Actor | Character | Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hunt for Red October | Mounted on USS Reuben James | 1990 | ||
| Terrorists | Under Siege | Mounted on USS Missouri | 1992 | |
| Behind Enemy Lines | Mounted on USS Carl Vinson | 2001 | ||
| U.S. Navy sailors | The Sum of All Fears | Mounted on USS John C. Stennis | 2002 | |
| Stealth | Mounted on USS Abraham Lincoln | 2005 | ||
| Battleship | Mounted on USS John Paul Jones | 2012 |
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 | ||
| Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War | Mounted on various warships, non-playable | 2004 | ||
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Seen in a screenshot mounted on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | 2011 |
Anime
| Character | Title | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memories ("Stink Bomb") | Mounted on JMSDF warship | 1995 | |
| Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex | Mounted on aircraft carrier | 2002 - 2003 | |
| Yukikaze | Mounted on battleships | 2002 - 2005 | |
| Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence | 2004 | ||
| The Place Promised in Our Early Days | Mounted on battleship | 2004 | |
| JMSDF sailors | Zipang | Mounted on JDS Mirai | 2004 |
| JMSDF sailors | Asobi ni Ikuyo: Bombshells from the Sky | Mounted on JMSDF warships | 2010 |