|
30mm Aden Revolver Cannon off a Hawker Hunter Jet Aircraft. **1998 UK DEACTIVATION CERTIFICATED** & Signed Prototype Hawker Hunter photograph by Bill Bedford (Chief Hawker Siddeley Test Pilot 1956 - 1967). Sn - 21795 The British 30mm Aden revolver cannon was developed from the WW2 German Mauser MK 213 aircraft revolver cannon. This gun was originally made in 20mm and 30mm calibre and was developed by Mauser but never became operational. This gun was developed from an earlier design, the MG 213A which utilized a gas-driven operation. The MG 213, had a direct movement of the revolver cassette which was changed to a diagonal cam with a follower. This actuated a rammer that both fed cartridges into the cylinders and revolved the cassette. Sealing of the chamber was accomplished by packing the cylinder and breech with heat resistant steel. This allowed chamber to revolve while the gas pressure was very high. The revolver cassette had five chambers and at least 3 chambers contained rounds whilst in operation, feeding, firing, and extracting. The gun was looked at for development after WW2 by Switzerland, France, Britain, and the America. The British ADEN cannon was developed eight years later, while the US M39E cannon, first designated T-160, was rushed into combat evaluation during the Korean War. The British developed the cannon in a 20mm high velocity version and a 30mm low velocity short case, the 30 x 84B. Both of these rounds had the same overall length so both cartridges could use the same gun with different chambers and barrels. The 20mm round was dropped from the weapon trials and two 30mm rounds were then used in the trials. One had a 86mm cartridge case which was called the 30mm LV (Low Velocity) Aden and the other with a 110mm cartridge case called the 30mm HV (High Velocity) Aden. Both rounds had the same overall length, the difference being the projectile weight and size, the HV having a lower explosive content. At the outcome of the trials, the 30mm HV gun was adopted and was fitted to the RAFs Hawker Hunter jet fighter. This is a 30mm HV Aden revolver cannon in excellent condition and was originally fitted to a Hawker Hunter aircraft. The gun was one of 4 guns that was fitted to a removable belly pack on that aircraft. This cannon was also fitted in the Harrier VTOL aircraft. The 30mm Aden gun was last used in trials as a 25mm cannon in the late 1990s but was never adopted. The cannon is in excellent condition and is complete with its alloy blast tube, a spare alloy magazine feeder and other fittings. The cannon is bolted to a custom wheeled steel tubular trolly to move the cannon around and display it. Also included is a framed, signed Hawker Hunter prototype photograph by Bill Bedford (the Chief Hawker Siddeley Test Pilot 1956-1967) dated December 1966 measuring approximately 14 x 11 inches. Deactivated in 1998, the cannon is complete with 3 inert rounds in their disintegrating steel links. The price includes the 1998 deactivation certificate and UK delivery which is by arrangement and at cost. Sn 21795 £6,750.00
|
|