BK 37

The Bordkanone BK 37 ("(on-)board cannon 37") was a 37mm anti-tank/bomber autocannon based on the earlier 37 mm Flak 18 made by Rheinmetall. It was mounted on World War II Luftwaffe aircraft such as the anti-tank or bomber-destroyer versions of the Junkers Ju 87D-3 and G-2, Henschel Hs 129B-2/R3, Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2/R1-3, and others. The cannon could be attached under the wings or fuselage of the aircraft as a self-contained pod with a 12-round magazine. It fired APCR (Tungsten hard core) ammunition or high explosive shells in 37x263B mm caliber at 160 rounds per minute.

pecifications

* Type: single-barrel automatic cannon
* Caliber: 37 mm (1.46 in)
* Cartridge: 37 mm x 263
* Operation: Short Recoil
* Length: 3.63 m (11 ft 11 in)
* Weight: 295 kg (650 lb)
* Rate of fire: 160 rpm
* Muzzle velocity: 1,170 to 780 m/s (3,836 to 2,557 ft/s)
* Projectile weight: APCR 380 g, HE 640 g, AT 685 g

ee also

*Vickers S gun
*COW 37 mm gun
*37 mm Gun M3

References

* Rapid Fire, Anthony G. Williams, Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2000. ISBN 1-84037-435-7.