30 mm caliber

Ammunition in 30 mm is typically not used against personnel but rather as an anti-materiel or armor-piercing round. Rounds of this size can be effective against lightly armored vehicles as well as fortified bunkers. It is also a popular caliber for shipboard close-in weapons systems (CIWS), such as the Russian AK-630 and Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation use their 30 mm weapons in a variety of vehicles, including the Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter, Mi-28 attack helicopter, Ka-50 attack helicopter, and the BMP-2, BMP-3, and BTR-90 infantry fighting vehicles. The most modern anti-aircraft gun systems in use by Russia are chambered in 30 mm.

The U.S. military uses 30 mm weapons in their A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, AC-130 gunship (AC-130J Ghostrider variant), and in the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter (30×113mm). It was going to be used in the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, until the project was canceled. The United States Navy uses 30 mm weapons on the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock and on Freedom and Independence-class littoral combat ship as part of the surface warfare (SuW) package.^[1][2] In 2012, the Navy decided to replace the Mk 110 57 mm cannons on Zumwalt-class destroyer with the Mk 46 GWS (Gun Weapon System), a navalized mounting of the Mk44 Bushmaster chain gun.^[3][4] In 2022, the United States Coast Guard announced plans to install 30 mm Mk44 chain guns on newly-built Polar Security Cutters (PSCs), though existing cutters would retain their 25mm Mark 38 mounts.^[5]

30 mm weapons are used in a variety of roles. As a result, ammunition in 30 mm comes in several varieties: armor-piercing (AP), high-explosive (HE), airburst, and target practice (TP) rounds. Both AP and HE cartridges commonly possess incendiary or tracer elements, which may be noted in its designation; API and HE-T are Armor-Piercing Incendiary and High-Explosive Tracer respectively.^[6]

• Examples of 30 mm rounds and cannons
• 
  Swiss 30×173mm
• 
  Soviet 30×165mm
• 
  The DU penetrator of a 30×173 mm round used in the GAU-8
• 
  French 30×150mmB
• 
  30×113mmB rounds being loaded into an AH-64D Apache Longbow

More information Cartridge, Era ...

Cartridge	Era	Weapon	Country of origin	Designer	Type	Example platforms
30×29mmB	1970s–	AGS-17	Soviet Union	OKB-16	Automatic grenade launcher	BMD-3, BTR-90, BTR-D
		AGS-30	Russia	KBP Instrument Design Bureau	Automatic grenade launcher	BTR-T, GAZ-2975 Tigr, M2020 (tank)
30×85mmB	1945	MK 213	Nazi Germany	Mauser	Revolver cannon	n/a
30×86mmB type A	1945–1952	ADEN Mk.1	United Kingdom	Enfield	Revolver cannon	Hawker Hunter, Gloster Meteor
30×86mmB type B	1952–1955	ADEN Mk.2	United Kingdom	Enfield	Revolver cannon	Hawker Hunter, Gloster Meteor
30×90mmRB	1942–1951	MK 108 cannon	Nazi Germany	Rheinmetall-Borsig	Aircraft autocannon	Me 262, Me 163, Bf 109, Bf 110, Fw 190
30×92mmRB	1942–1945	Type 2	Japanese Empire	Dai-Nippon Weapons Co., Ltd.	Blowback autocannon	Mitsubishi J2M (prototype)
30×97mmB	1951–1955	DEFA 540 series	France	DEFA	Revolver cannon	Dassault M.D.452 IIC
30×111mmB	1955–	ADEN Mk.3	United Kingdom	Revolver cannon	Revolver cannon	English Electric Lightning, Hawker Hunter, Saab Draken, SEPECAT Jaguar
30×113mmB	1955–	ADEN Mk.4, 5, 6	United Kingdom	Royal Small Arms Factory	Revolver cannon	English Electric Lightning, Hawker Hunter, Saab Draken, SEPECAT Jaguar
		DEFA 550 series	France	Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armement	Revolver cannon	Dassault Mystere, Mirage series, Étendard series, SEPECAT Jaguar, Fiat G.91, AMX International AMX
		M230	United States	Hughes	Chain gun	Boeing AH-64 Apache, JLTV MADIS, Oshkosh M-ATV, Stryker M-SHORAD
		VENOM LR 30	United Kingdom	AEI Systems	Revolver cannon	Midgard 300 RWS, electro optic systems (EOS) R400 ROWS (prototype)
		30 M 781	France	GIAT	Chain gun	Eurocopter Tiger
		XM188	United States	General Electric	Rotary cannon	Bell AH-1 Cobra (prototype)
30×114mm	1944–1945	Ho-155	Japanese Empire	Nagoya Arsenal	Autocannon	Nakajima Ki-84-I Hei, Kawasaki Ki-102c Hei
30×122mm	1945	Type 5	Japanese Empire	Nihon Tokushuko	Autocannon	Yokosuka P1Y, Kyushu J7W, Mitsubishi J2M (planned)
30×136mmB	1950–1960	HSS.825	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Gas-operated autocannon	EFW N-20, Aerfer Sagittario 2, Aerfer Ariete, FFA P-16
30×138mm	1950s	HS.836	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
30×150mmB	1980s–	30 M 791	France	Nexter	Revolver cannon	Dassault Rafale
30×155mmB	1954–	NR-30	Soviet Union	Nudelman-Rikhter	Short-recoil autocannon	MiG-19, MiG-21, Su-7, Su-17, J-7
30×158mmB	1950s	HS.603	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		HS.604	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		HS.606	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
30×165mm	1980–	GSh-30-1	Soviet Union	Gryazev-Shipunov	Short-recoil autocannon	Sukhoi Su-27, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-57, Mikoyan MiG-29
		GSh-30-2	Soviet Union	Gryazev-Shipunov	Twin autocannon	Sukhoi Su-25, Mil Mi-24P
		GSh-6-30	Soviet Union	Gryazev-Shipunov	Rotary cannon	MiG-27, Kortik CIWS
		AK-630	Soviet Union	TsKIB SOO	Rotary cannon	A-213-Vympel-A CIWS
		2A42	Soviet Union	KBP Instrument Design Bureau	Gas-operated autocannon	BMP-2, BMD-2, BMD-3, Kurganets-25, T-15 Armata, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, BTR-90
		2A72	Soviet Union	KBP Instrument Design Bureau	Long-recoil autocannon	BMP-3 (also in BRM-3K version), BMD-4, BTR-82A, Uran-9
		2A38 [ru]	Soviet Union	KBP Instrument Design Bureau	Twin anti-aircraft gas-operated autocannon	2K22 Tunguska, Pantsir-S
		CRN 91	India	Ordnance Factory Medak	Light naval gun	Trinkat-class patrol vessel, Kumbhir-class landing ship, Car Nicobar-class fast attack craft
		Type 730/1130	China	713th Research Institute	Gatling gun	Type 052C destroyer, Type 001A aircraft carrier, LD-2000
30×170mm	1939–	HS.410	France	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		HS.411	France	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		HS.830	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		HS.831	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Gas-unlocked delayed-blowback autocannon	Various airborne, maritime and land-based systems.
		HS.837	Switzerland	Hispano-Suiza	Autocannon	n/a
		KCB	Switzerland	Oerlikon	Autocannon	Rebranded HS.831
		L21A1 RARDEN	United Kingdom	Enfield	Long-recoil autocannon	FV721 Fox, FV107 Scimitar, FV510 Warrior
30×173mm (STANAG 4624)	1970s–	KCA	Switzerland	Oerlikon	Revolver cannon	Saab 37 Viggen
		KCE	Switzerland	Rheinmetall Air Defence	Revolver cannon	Rheinmetall Sea Snake turret, Skyranger 30
		GAU-8 Avenger	United States	General Electric	Gatling gun	Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Signaal Goalkeeper CIWS
		Mk44 Bushmaster II	United States	Alliant Techsystems	Chain gun	Various airborne, maritime and land-based systems.
		MK 30 [de]	Germany	Rheinmetall	Automatic cannon	ASCOD, Boxer CRV, Boxer RadSPz (PuBo), Lynx KF41, Piranha III (Spanish Marines), SPz Puma, 30mm/82 Compact
		EMAK 30	South Africa	Denel Land Systems	Linkless cam gun	Badger
		Maadi Griffin	United States	Robert Stewart	Prototype anti-materiel rifle	Maadi Griffin
		30mm X-GUN	Italy	Leonardo	Automatic Cannon
		Wotan 30	Germany	Rheinmetall	Automatic cannon	Lynx KF41
		GTS-30/N	Slovakia	ZŤS – ŠPECIÁL	Gas-operated autocannon	BOV 8x8 Vydra
		GUARDIAN L-HIIT[7]	Spain	Escribano	RWS
		GUARDIAN 30[7]	Spain	Escribano	RWS	Dragon
		SENTINEL 30[8]	Spain	Escribano	RWS	Spanish Navy Peruvian Navy Royal Thai Navy
30×184mmB	1940–1945	MK 101 cannon	Nazi Germany	Rheinmetall-Borsig	Autocannon	Henschel Hs 129, Bf 110
		MK 103 cannon	Nazi Germany	Rheinmetall-Borsig	Electrically primed autocannon	Fw 190, Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz
30×210mm	1944–1992	MK 303 cannon	Nazi Germany	Krieghoff	Twin anti-aircraft autocannon	Type XXI submarine
		vz.53/59	Czechoslovakia	Praga Hostivař	Twin anti-aircraft autocannon	M53/59 Praga
30×210mmB	1969–1990s	NN-30	Soviet Union	Tulamashzavod	Twin revolver cannon	AK-230 light naval gun/CIWS
30×250mm CL	1997	RMK30	Germany	Mauser	Recoilless revolver cannon	Wiesel AWC (experimental), Eurocopter Tiger UH (experimental)

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• 20 mm caliber
• 23 mm caliber
• 25 mm caliber
• 37 mm caliber
• 40 mm grenade
• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges