What is the fire rate of a GAU 8?

3,900 rounds per minute
The AN/GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gun system was specifically built to serve as a Close Air Support “Tank Buster” for the U.S. Air Force. Similar to the earlier M61 20mm Vulcan design, the Avenger uses seven barrels to achieve a rate of fire of 3,900 rounds per minute.

How much recoil does a GAU 8 have?

The average recoil force of the GAU-8/A is 10,000 pounds-force (45 kN), which is slightly more than the output of each of the A-10’s two TF34 engines of 9,065 lbf (40.3 kN). While this recoil force is significant, in practice a cannon fire burst slows the aircraft only a few miles per hour in level flight.

How fast does a 30mm round travel?

Specifications
number of barrels 7
calibre 30 mm
Ammo types PGU-14/B API Armor Piercing Incendiary [DU] PGU-13/B HEI High Explosive Incendiary PGU-15/B TP Target Practice
muzzle velocity 1067 meters/second

Can 30mm destroy a tank?

The 30mm itself is not very good at destroying tanks, but it sure can immobilize and harase them very effectively. You can imagine what it feels like when +60 30mm rounds explode right by your tank. It has a huge psychological effect on the crew and might damage vital parts like optics, cannon or the engine.

How many rounds can an a-10 carry?

Using the cannon, the A-10 is capable of disabling a main battle tank from a range of over 6,500m. The cannon can fire a range of ammunition, including armour-piercing incendiary rounds (API) weighing up to 0.75kg, or uranium-depleted 0.43kg API rounds. The magazine can hold 1,350 rounds of ammunition.

What does Gau stand for in Gau 8?

Gatling AUtocannon
8 GAU is an acronym for “Gatling AUtocannon”, “Gun, AUtomatic”, or “Gun Aircraft Unit”? 9 GAU-12/U misinformation under variants.

How much does a 30 mm shell cost?

In the case of the U.S. military, it is used primarily as an armor-piercing round for machine cannons. It is used in attack helicopters, such as the Apache AH-64. It is estimated that each 30mm round costs $100.

Can a-10 Warthog destroy a tank?

‘As pretty much everyone else answering this question has pointed out… the A-10 can fairly easily destroy a tank. As can anything else slinging either an AGM-65 Maverick or an AGM-114 Hellfire. A freakin’ Cessna, can kill a tank, people. It’s really not that hard, given the right tool for the job.

How much does a 30mm round cost?

There is no civilian variant of a 30mm round for sale. In the case of the U.S. military, it is used primarily as an armor-piercing round for machine cannons. It is used in attack helicopters, such as the Apache AH-64. It is estimated that each 30mm round costs $100.

How many rounds per minute does the GAU-8 Avenger fire?

The GAU-8/A is extremely accurate and can fire 4,200 rounds per minute without complications. The 30-mm shell has twice the range, half the time to target, and three times the mass of projectiles fired by guns mounted in comparable close air support aircraft. The GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun next to a Volkswagen Beetle.

What makes the GAU-8 / A a good gun?

The GAU-8/A provides a reliable, high-rate-of-fire, combat-proven weapon for close air support and shipboard defense missions. Each of the gun’s seven barrels contains its own breech bolt assembly, which fires once per gun revolution. This ensures long barrel life because firing loads are distributed over all seven barrels.

What is the firing rate of an AR15 rifle?

Semi auto – wildly pulling the trigger with no accuracy 45 rounds per minute. Sustainable rate of fire, 12–15 rounds per minute. After a short time the rifle would malfunction.

Why does the GAU-8 have a long barrel life?

This ensures long barrel life because firing loads are distributed over all seven barrels. Continuous rotary motion reduces impact loads on gun components, leading to long parts life and high reliability. The A-10 aircraft is specifically designed to provide close air support.