Solothurn S-18/1100
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TypeLarge caliber rifle
Anti-tank rifle
Anti-aircraft gun
Anti-tank rifle
Anti-aircraft gun
PlaceoforiginSwitzerland
UsedbySwitzerland
Hungary
Italy
Nazi Germany
The Netherlands
Hungary
Italy
Nazi Germany
The Netherlands
WarsWorld War II
| Solothurn S-18/1100 20 mm Anti-Tank Rifle | |
|---|---|
 A 20 mm Solothurn S-18/1100 AA-Mount at the Museum Altes Zeughaus Solothurn, Switzerland. | |
| Type | Large caliber rifle Anti-tank rifle Anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Switzerland Hungary Italy Nazi Germany The Netherlands |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1942—early 1943 [1] |
| Variants | Solothurn S-18/100 Solothurn S-18/1000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 54.7 kg (121 lb) |
| Length | 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) |
| Barrel length | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)[2] |
| Cartridge | Fixed QF 20×138mmB Rheinmetall |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
| Action | Selective fire |
| Rate of fire | 15-20 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 5 or 10 round magazine[2] |
The Solothurn S-18/1100 was a German 20 mm anti-tank rifle used during the Second World War by a number of combatants.
As a result of the defeat of the central-powers during World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles, Germany was forbidden from developing arms. In order to circumvent these limitations many German arms firms opened foreign subsidiaries or bought controlling interests to continue designing and selling arms. One of these companies was the Swiss Waffenfabrik Solothurn company which was owned by the German firm Rheinmetall.
