M61 Vulcan

In June 1946, the General Electric Company was awarded the contract for "Project Vulcan." Rather than focusing on hitting power as European designers were doing with their slow-firing 30mm aircraft cannons, the project focused on a pre-war .60 caliber (15mm) anti-tank rifle cartridge, aiming for a rate of fire no less than 6,000 rounds per minute. The early T45 model using the .60 caliber round had issues with insufficient damage, and alternatives in 20mm and 27mm were tested, the T171 and T150 guns. In 1956 the T171 20mm gun was standardized by the US Army and US Air Force as the M61 20mm Vulcan aircraft gun.

The M61 Vulcan is an externally powered six-barrel rotary gun having a rate of fire of up to 7,200 rounds per minute. The firing rate is selectable at 4,000 or 6,000 rounds per minute. Each of the gun's six barrels fires only once during each revolution of the barrel cluster. The six rotating barrels contribute to long weapon life by minimizing barrel erosion and heat generation. The gun's rate of fire, essentially 100 rounds per second, gives the pilot a shot density that will enable a "kill" when fired in one-second bursts. The gun fires electrically primed 20x102mm ammunition and usually uses a hydraulic motor for power, though there is a self-powered version, the GAU-4 (M130 in Army service) which was used in the SUU-23/A / M25 gunpod. This variant uses an electric motor to spin up the barrel cluster, then sustains itself via gas operation.

While the initial M61 was troubled by issues with misfeeds and FOD damage to aircraft mounting it due to using linked ammunition, the linkless M61A1 Vulcan cannon is a proven gun, having been the US military's close-in weapon of choice dating back to 1959 when it was first fielded on the F-104C. The F-104, F-105, X-32, F-14, later models of the F-106, F-111, F-4, B-47, B-52 (until the 1990s) and B-58 all used the M61, as do the Air Force's F-15, F-16 and F-22, and the Navy's F/A-18. The primary use of the cannon is in the extremely short range (less than 2,000 feet) air-to-air environment, where more sophisticated air-to-air missiles are ineffective. Alternately, the cannon has limited usefulness in a ground strafing role.

While originally manufactured by General Electric, it is no longer produced by them; GE Armament Systems was sold to Martin Marietta; after their merger with Lockheed, it was produced by Lockheed Martin Armament Systems, which was bought by General Dynamics in 1997.

The M61 Vulcan Cannons used in the film industry have been converted to percussion primer cases using a sub caliber cartridge adapter.

M61 Vulcan

Specifications

GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm

GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20x102mm

• General Electric M61 Vulcan Cannon.
• Caliber: 20x102mm
• Length: 73.80 inches
• Barrel Length:
• Weight:
  • Gun: 248 pounds
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,380 feet per second
• Cyclic rate of fire: 4,000-6,000 rounds per minute

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Osombie		USAF pilots	Mounted in AC-130	2012
R2B: Return to Base		South Korean pilots	Mounted in F-15K Eagles	2012
Transformers: Dark of the Moon		Starscream		2011
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen		Starscream		2009
Death Race	Tyrese Gibson	Joe "Machine Gun" Mason	Mounted on 2004 Dodge RAM 4WD	2008
Transformers		U.S. Air Force pilots	Mounted in F-22 Raptors	2007
Transformers		Starscream		2007
Tears of the Sun		U.S. Navy pilots	Mounted in F/A-18A Hornets	2003
Detention			Mounted on F-15 Eagle	2003
XXX		Colombian Army soldiers	Chin-mounted on Bell 212 helicopter	2002
Behind Enemy Lines			Mounted in F/A-18F Super Hornet	2001
Armageddon	Ben Affleck	A.J. Frost	Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles	1998
Armageddon	Steve Buscemi	Rockhound	Mounted on "Armadillo" vehicles	1998
Air Force One		US Air Force pilots	Mounted in F-15 Eagles	1997
Independence Day	Will Smith	Cpt. Steven Hiller	Mounted in F/A-18 Hornet	1996
Independence Day	Bill Pullman	President Thomas J. Whitmore	Mounted in F/A-18 Hornet	1996
Independence Day		US military pilots	Mounted in F/A-18 Hornets	1996
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion			Mounted on JASDF F-1	1996
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe			Mounted on JASDF F-4 and F-15	1995
Iron Eagle II	Mark Humphrey	Capt. Matt "Cobra" Cooper	Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcons	1988
Iron Eagle II		Soviet pilots	Mounted in F-4E Phantom IIs	1988
Top Gun			Mounted in F-14A Tomcats	1986
Iron Eagle	Louis Gossett Jr.	Col. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair	Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon	1986
Iron Eagle	Jason Gedrick	Doug Masters	Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon	1986
Iron Eagle	Tim Thomerson	Col. Ted Masters	Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon	1986
The Jewel of the Nile	Michael Douglas	Jack Colton	Mounted in F-16 Fighting Falcon	1985
Blue Thunder	Roy Scheider	Officer Frank Murphy	Mounted in "Blue Thunder" helicopter	1983
Lone Wolf McQuade			Seen in weapons shed	1983
The Final Countdown		U.S. Navy pilots	Mounted in F-14A Tomcats	1980

Television

Actor	Character	Title / Episode	Note	Date
		Ultimate Weapons	on AC-130A Project Gunship II	2009 - 2012
	US Navy pilots	The Blacklist	Mounted on F-14 Tomcat	2013 - 2015
	US Air Force Pilots	The Blacklist	Mounted on F-22A Raptors	2013 - 2015

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Enemy Engaged: Apache/Havoc			Mounted in F-16C Fighting Falcon & F/A-18C Hornet, non-playable	1998
Metal Gear Solid		Handheld with ammo drum backpack	Non-playable, used by Vulcan Raven	1998
Battlefield 2			Mounted in F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18A Hornet	2005
Project Reality			Mounted in F/A-18C Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-16C Fighting Falcon	2005
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies			Mounted in various fighters	2001
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War			Mounted in various fighters	2004
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation			Mounted in various fighters	2007
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon			Mounted in various fighters	2011
Homefront	Sentry tower		Untapered, short barrel cluster	2011
Battlefield 3			Mounted in F/A-18E & F/A-18F Super Hornet	2011
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames			Mounted on various vehicles	2008

Anime

Title	Character	Note	Date
Appleseed	Multipede Cannon	Two mounted on front of Multipede Cannon	1988
New Dominion Tank Police	Leona	Mounted on Bonaparte mini-tank	1993
801 T.T.S. Airbats	Arisa Mitaka	Mounted on F-15J Eagle	1993
Macross Zero		Mounted on F-14s	2002-2004
Yukikaze	FAF forces	Mounted on APCs	2002 - 2005
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig	JSDA soldiers	Mounted on Jigabachi attack helicopters	2004 - 2005
Upotte!!		Mounted on F-22 Raptors	2012 - ????
Case Closed: The Darkest Nightmare		Mounted on a helicopter	2016

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20x102mm

File:M197Gatling2.jpg

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20x102mm

M197 Vulcan chin-mounted on an AH-1Z "Viper", a newer version of the AH-1 Cobra.

This is a three barreled version of the M61 Vulcan and most commonly seen mounted in the chin turret of the AH-1 Cobra series of attack helicopters.

Specifications

• General Dynamics M197 Gatling Cannon
• Caliber: 20mm
• Length: 73.80 inches
• Barrel Length:
• Weight: 146.3 pounds
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,380 feet per second
• Cyclic rate of fire: 750 to 1,500 rounds per minute

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Iron Eagle			Mounted in AH-1F Cobras	1986
In the Army Now			Mounted in AH-1F Cobra (stock news footage)	1994
Courage Under Fire			Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup)	1996
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion			Mounted on JGSDF AH-1S Cobras	1996
Con Air			Mounted in AH-1 Cobras (Mockup)	1997
War of the Worlds			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras	2005
Battle: Los Angeles			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras	2011
American Sniper			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra	2014
Godzilla Resurgence			Mounted on Fuji AH-1 Cobras	2016

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Note/Episode	Date
JAG - Season 3			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra; "The Court-Martial of Sandra Gilbert" (S3E02)	1997
JAG - Season 9			mockup mounted on AH-1 Cobra; "Posse Comitatus" (S9E08)	2004
NCIS - Season 2			mockup mounted on AH-1 Cobra; "Vanished" (S2E03)	2004

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Project Reality			Mounted in AH-1Z Viper	2005
Battlefield 2			Mounted in AH-1Z Viper	2005
Close Combat: First to Fight			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra	2005
Black			Stock footage: mounted on AH-1 Super Cobra	2006
Crysis			Mounted on N. Korean helicopters and U.S. VTOL craft	2007
World in Conflict			Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobras and Agusta A129 Mangustas	2007
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames		mounted on vehicles	part of a RWS	2008
Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising			Mounted on AH-1Z Viper	2009
Marines: Modern Urban Combat			Mounted on AH-1Z Viper	2010
Homefront			Seen only in stock footage of AH-1 Supercobra	2011
Battlefield 3			Mounted in AH-1Z Viper	2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3			Mounted in AH-1W Super Cobra	2011
Battlefield 4			Mounted in AH-1Z Viper	2013

Anime

Character	Film Title	Note	Date
JGSDF soldiers	Memories	Mounted on AH-1S Cobra	1995
Mobsters	Cowboy Bebop	Mounted on casino ship	1998 - 1999
US Marines	Geobreeders	Mounted on AH-1W Super Cobra	1999 - 2000
Rebel	Excel Saga	Mounted on AH-1 Cobra	1999 - 2000
RAH-66 Comanche helicopter	Najica Blitz Tactics	"Mission: 011 - The Sad Parting Mission with Girl's Sincerity"	2001
JGSDF soldiers	Digimon Tamers	Mounted on AH-1 Cobra	2001 - 2002
	Sweat Punch ("Beyond")	Mounted of futuristic helicopter	2001 - 2007
JMSDF soldiers	Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex	Mounted on Oniyama assault helicopters	2002 - 2003
JMSDF pilots	Zipang	Mounted on MVSA-32J Umidori tilt-rotor aircraft	2004

Vulcan Air Defense System

M167A2 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence System) - 20x102mm HEIT-SD. This is the towed variant; the VADS version mounted on the M113 APC is M163. This can be distinguished as an A2 Product Improved VADS (PIVADS) by having two wheels on each side: the A2 update also made improvements to the fire control and targeting systems.

The Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) was a ground-based anti-aircraft version of the M61A1 developed to replace the obsolete WW2-era M45 Quadmount in the 1960s after the cancellation of the overly ambitious MIM-46 Mauler SAM system in 1965, with the towed M167 VADS entering service in 1967. The M113-mounted self-propelled version, the M163 VADS, entered service in 1969, replacing the M42 Duster. The two systems used a round developed specifically for them, the M246 High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct (HEIT-SD). As a point of trivia, the cancellation of Mauler and its naval variant also led to the adoption of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow by the US Navy (which had been anticipating the navalized Sea Mauler and had already designed the Knox-class frigates around it) and the development of the British Rapier SAM system.

The VADS is a powered mounting which is manually aimed by the gunner with the radar only a rangefinder, and has an effective range of about three quarters of a mile against airborne targets and 1.25 miles against ground targets. The gun is electrically operated, using the vehicle's power supply for the M163 and either a generator or its own integral APU for the M167.

VADS (and its missile companion, the AIM-9 Sidewinder-based MIM-72 Chaparral) was always intended to be a stop-gap system, and was considered obsolete by the late 70s since Soviet attack helicopters were carrying the AT-6 Spiral with a range almost five times greater than it. However, due to the failure of the DIVADS program (which created the infamous M247 Sergeant York using the completely unsuited-for-task radar suite of an F-16, directing ancient and poorly-maintained Bofors 40mm cannon barrels left over from retired M42 Dusters in a 20-ton turret on a not-at-all-happy-about-this M48A5 Patton chassis) it was not directly replaced until 1994 when the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger entered service, though by this point the man-portable FIM-92 Stinger had largely replaced it operationally. The PIVADS (Product Improved Vulcan Air Defense System) program in 1984 upgraded stocks of M163s to the M163A2 standard and M167s to the M167A2 standard (it is not clear what A1 did for either system) with improvements to the fire control system and an extra wheel added on either side of the M167 to prevent rollovers while being towed.

Specifications

(1967-1994 (M167), 1969-1994 (M163))

• Type: Towed / self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

• Caliber(s): 20x102mm

• Weight: 2 tons (M167), 14 tons (M163, complete vehicle)

• Capacity: 500 rounds (M167), 2,100 rounds (M163)

• Rate of fire: 1,000 or 3,000 rpm (selectable)

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
R2B: Return to Base		North Korean soldiers	M167 VADS	2012
Stealth			M167 VADS	2005

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Enemy Engaged: Apache/Havoc			M163 VADS	1998
Boiling Point: Road to Hell			M167 VADS	2005
Project Reality			M167 VADS	2005
World in Conflict			M163 VADS	2007
Battlefield: Bad Company		Ground pedestal mount and mounted on Mark V Special Operations Craft	M167 VADS	2008
Homefront			M167 VADS, seen only in stock footage	2011
Project Reality: Falklands			Anachronistic M167A2 VADS	2012
Project Reality: Vietnam			M163 VADS	2012
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes		Fictional cruciform base	M167 VADS	2014
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain	M276 AA Gatling Gun	Fictional cruciform base	M167 VADS	2014

General Dynamics / Raytheon Phalanx Close-In Weapon System

Phalanx Block 1 CIWS - 20x102mm. Block 1 was a mostly internal upgrade to the original Block 0 system, improving most aspects of the system and increasing its maximum elevation to +70 degrees to deal with the threat of sea-skimming missiles that "pop up" in their terminal phase.

Phalanx Block 1 baseline 2 / Block 1A CIWS - 20x102mm. The Block 1A had a new electronic system which allowed it to integrate with other weapons systems aboard ship. The barrel restraint to increase accuracy was added by the Block 1 baseline 2 upgrade.

Phalanx Block 1B CIWS - 20x102mm. This is the current version which has a set of Optimised Gun Barrels (OGB) to increase accuracy and longevity, and Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) which enable the CIWS to engage targets with a low radar observability and surface targets.

Centurion C-RAM - 20x102mm. This is a land-based version of the Phalanx Block 1B CIWS mounted on a mobile trailer.

This is a self-contained powered mounting developed in the 1970s and first mounted to a combat vessel, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, in 1980. It is used mostly by naval vessels to engage incoming missiles, aircraft, and sea-based close-range targets. It features a distinctive white-painted cylindrical weapon control group with a domed radome at the top which results in the nickname "R2-D2" being applied to the mounting (sometimes with a crude addition related to the position of the gun: some early reliability issues with Phalanx also led to sailors muttering that CIWS meant "Captain, It Won't Shoot!"); the cylinder houses the system's tracking radar, while the dome houses the search radar.

The original Phalanx Block 0 has been through a number of upgrades over the years: the Block 1 upgrade in 1988 was a general improvement to the installation's systems to deal with the threat of new Russian supersonic anti-ship missiles including replacements for both radars, a higher maximum elevation and a larger magazine. Two sub-upgrades, Block 1 baselines 1 (1989) and 2 (1995), respectively switched the gun from a hydraulic to a pneumatic drive system (increasing the rate of fire from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm) and added a barrel restraint to improve accuracy. Block 1A (1997) was primarily a systems update, adding a new high-order language computing system better able to engage manoeuvring targets, and allowing for integration with the US Navy's Ship Self Defense System, allowing the Phalanx's radar to be used to target the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. Block 1B was tested in 1999 and first mounted on the frigate USS Taylor (FFG-50) in 2000. This broad upgrade increases the system's traversing speed, adds a FLIR (forward-looking infrared) and video tracker on the left side of the weapon control group to increase the Phalanx's previously mediocre effectiveness against surface targets, alters the barrel restraint, and features lengthened (L/99 instead of L/76) Optimized Gun Barrels (OGB) for improved performance. The Block 1B mounting was also the basis of the later SEA RAM system, which replaces the Vulcan with an 11-tube RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher.

A land-based derivative of Phalanx Block 1B called the Centurion Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) was first deployed in 2005 following a request from the US Army in 2004, and is used to protect point bases against rocket and mortar attacks. Rather than using the tungsten armour-piercing discarding sabot rounds of the naval version, the land-based version uses High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct (HEIT-SD) ammunition, which was originally designed for the VADS. More recently the C-RAM has been adapted to mount on a HEMMT truck meaning that it is fully mobile and self sufficient as opposed to the original C-RAM which was on a demountable towed trailer.

As a terminology note, Phalanx is an installation, not a turret, since it is mounted on the outside of a vehicle's hull rather than crossing it.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
The Detached Mission (Odinochnoye plavanye)			Mounted on USS Nimitz; seen in documentary footage	1985
The Hunt for Red October			Mounted on USS Reuben James	1990
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah			Mounted on JMSDF DDH-142 Hiei	1991
Under Siege			Mounted on USS Missouri	1992
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe			Mounted on JMSDF destroyers	1995
Behind Enemy Lines			Mounted on USS Carl Vinson	2001
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah			Mounted on Kongo-class JMSDF destroyer	2001
The Sum of All Fears			Mounted on USS John C. Stennis	2002
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla			Mounted on JMSDF destroyers	2002
Stealth			Mounted on USS Abraham Lincoln	2005
Assault Girls	Hinako Saeki	Colonel	Fictional 3-barreled variant, mounted on mecha	2009
Battleship			Mounted on US Navy warships	2012
Battleship			Mounted on JDS Myoko	2012

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Note/Episode	Date
NCIS - Season 11			Mounted on USS Benjamin Franklin; "Under the Radar" (S11E03), footage from The Sum of All Fears	2013
The Last Ship			Mounted on USS Nathan James	2014

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Crysis			Mounted on USS Constitution, main weapon for the multiplayer auto-turrets	2007
Resident Evil 4			Mounted on a Ganados held ship	2005
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots			Mounted on USS Missouri	2008
Battlefield 2			Mounted on USS Essex	2005
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory			Mounted on USS Walsh	2005
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War			Mounted on various warships, non-playable	2004
Battlefield 3			Mounted on various warships, playable in multiplayer only	2011
Battlefield 3		C-RAM	Multiplayer mode only	2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3			Seen in a screenshot mounted on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer	2011
Project Reality: Falklands			Anachronistically mounted on HMS Invincible	2012
Battlefield 4			Both Phalanx and C-RAM are seen, the C-RAM is usable in multiplayer only	2013

Anime

Title	Character	Note	Date
Memories		Mounted on JMSDF warship	1995
Najica Blitz Tactics			2001
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex		Mounted on aircraft carrier	2002 - 2003
Macross Zero		Mounted on UN Navy ships	2002-2004
Yukikaze		Mounted on battleships	2002 - 2005
Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence			2004
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig		Mounted on helicopter carrier	2004 - 2005
The Place Promised in Our Early Days		Mounted on battleship	2004
Zipang	JMSDF sailors	Mounted on JDS Mirai	2004
Hellsing		[Mounted on aircraft carrier	2006 - ????
Mobile Suit Gundam 00		Futuristic design, mounted on buildings	2007 - 2009
Cat Planet Cuties	JMSDF sailors	Mounted on JMSDF warships	2010