[Ribbon-Grey]

M39(A2)



The M39 was developed by the Springfield Armory, based on the World War II-era design of the German Mauser MG 213C, a 30 mm cannon developed for the Luftwaffe, but not used in combat. The same design inspired the British ADEN cannon and the French DEFA, but American designers chose a smaller 20mm round to increase the weapon's rate of fire and muzzle velocity at the expense of hitting power.

Initially designated the T-160, the new gun was installed for combat testing on a number of F-86 Sabre aircraft under the "Gunval" program in late 1952, and used in action over Korea in early 1953. It was subsequently adopted as standard armament of the F-86H fighter-bomber, F-100 Super Sabre, F-101A and F-101C Voodoo, and the F-5 Freedom Fighter. Current models of the F-5 Tiger II still use the M39A2 version of this weapon, with 280 rounds per gun in single-seat models and 140 rounds per gun in two-seat aircraft.

Compatible Aircraft:
F-5E Tiger II

Source:
- no solid source available -

*Original Article by "Millie"*

[Skylman2014]

List of compatible aircraft added.

[EstovakianHarrierPlus]

I fixed the topic title from M39(A2) to M39A2.