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20 mm caliber is a specific size of popularautocannon ammunition. The dividing line between smaller-caliber weapons, commonly called "guns", from larger-caliber "cannons" (e.g.machine gun vs.autocannon), is conventionally taken to be the 20 mm round, the smallest caliber of autocannon. All 20 mmcartridges have an outsideprojectile (bullet) diameter andbarrel bore diameter of approximately 0.787 inches (20.0 mm). These projectiles are typically 75 to 127 mm (3–5 in) long, cartridge cases are typically 75 to 152 mm (3–6 in) long, and most areshells, with an explosive payload and detonatingfuze.
Weapons using this caliber range fromanti-materiel rifles andanti-tank rifles to aircraft autocannons andanti-aircraft guns.
Twenty millimeter caliber weapons are generally not used to target individual soldiers, but rather objects such as vehicles, buildings, or aircraft.
Each weapon is listed with its cartridge type appended.
| Weapon | Country of origin | Cartridge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neopup PAW-20 | 20×42 mm | ||
| Denel NTW-20 | 20×82 mm Mauser | ||
| Denel Vektor GA-1 | |||
| Vidhwansak | |||
| Anzio 20mm rifle | 20×102 mm | ||
| Arash anti-materiel rifle | |||
| M61 Vulcan | |||
| M197 electric cannon | |||
| M39 cannon | |||
| GIATM621 | |||
| ZVI PL-20 Plamen | |||
| NexterNarwhal 20A | Based on theM621 | ||
| Şahi 20-102 | [2] | ||
| XM301 | |||
| Denel NTW-20 | 20×110 mm Hispano | ||
| Metallic RT-20 | |||
| Truvelo CMS 20x110mm | |||
| Yugoimport-SDPR M71/08 | Single barrel development ofZastava M55 | ||
| Oerlikon KAE (KAA/KAB) | 20×128 mm | Formerly known as Oerlikon 204GK/5TG | |
| Meroka CIWS | |||
| Oerlikon KAD | 20×139 mm | Formerly known as Hispano-Suiza HS.820 | |
| GIATM693/20 mm modèle F2 | |||
| Rheinmetall Rh 202 | |||
| Denel Land Systems GI-2 | |||
| NexterNarwhal 20B | Based on the20 mm F2 |
(incomplete list)
| Dimensions | Name | Date | Bullet diameter | Case length | Rim | Base | Shoulder | Neck | Cartridge length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.3х95R Ghan | 21 (.827) | 95 (3.74) | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 20х150R | ~21 (~.827) | 150 (5.9) | - | - | - | - | - |
The usual nomenclature of ammunition indicates the diameter of projectile and the length of the cartridge that holds it; for example, 20×102 mm is a 20 mm projectile in a 102 mm long case.
Though this designation is often assumed to be unique, this is not always the case, e.g. there are three different 20×110 mm types which are not compatible. These may be distinguished in that some cartridge designations may include additional letters or names as a suffix, e.g. the various different types of 20×110 mm might be distinguished as20×110 mm Hispano,20×110 mm RB and20×110 mm USN.