Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202

Rheinmetall Zwillingsflak twin-gun anti-aircraft system began development in 1968 to meet the requirements of the low-level air defence units of the German Air Force, i.e. "to engage low and very low approaching enemy aircraft with all appropriate means in time to prevent them from firing their weapons or delivering their ordnance, or at least to prevent them from carrying out an accurate attack on an air force installation." The Budget Committee of the Bundestag approved the Zwillingsflak system in December 1969. Serial production began in 1972. The first production systems reached units of the Bundeswehr in October 1972. Rheinmetall delivered the last of these in 1976. This gun was used by the Argentine Air Force, including during the Falklands War. Since 1981, it has been used by the Portuguese Army and Portuguese Air Force. ==Specifications==

• Type: single-barrel automatic cannon • Caliber: 20 × 139 mm (0.8 in) • Operation: Gas-unlocked sliding breech block, blowback, recoiling base • Length: 2612 mm (8 ft 7 in) • Barrel length: 2002 mm • Rifling angle: 6° • Weight (complete): 75 kg (165 lb) single feed; 83 kg (183 lb) dual feed • Rate of fire: 880–1,000 rpm • Effective range: 2000 m • Max. range: 7000 m • Muzzle velocity: 1,050 to 1,150 m/s (3,440 to 3,770 ft/s) • Recoil force: 550–750 kg • Projectile weight: 134 g (0.3 lb) full calibre; 108 g APDS ==Operators==

• – A total of 15 Rh 202 used by the Argentine Air Force were captured in the Falklands Conflict by the British. 9 at Port Stanley Airport and 6 at Goose Green airfield • – 1,015 ordered in 1969. Used between 1972 and 1992. Twin model now withdrawn from service, but the single barrel version still is used, usually vehicle-mounted The Indonesian Navy also operates the Rh 202 autocannon on a variety of its vessels such as the Achmad Yani-class frigates, Fathillah-class corvettes, Mandau-class FAC, and Teluk Semangka-class LSTs. • - Deployed on Fiat CM6614. • • - Deployed on Thyssen Henschel UR-416 of the Saudi Special Security Force. • - Deployed on the naval ships SLNS Sayurala (2016), SLNS Sindurala (2018) and on other vessels. • - Secondary armament on naval patrol vessels. • – Deployed on Marder 1A3 IFVs. • • • – Deployed on Marder IFVs donated by Germany. == Gallery ==

File:Luchs turret.JPEG|The turret of a German Army Luchs 2 armored reconnaissance vehicle showing a Rh 202 as the main armament. File:Wiesel120mm2.jpg|A German Army Wiesel AFV showing a Rh 202 as the main armament. File:Marder1A3.2.jpg|A German Army Marder fires its Rh202 20 mm cannon on a training exercise. File:20 mm Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon IWM 3.jpg|An Argentine Rheinmetall 20 mm twin anti-aircraft cannon, Imperial War Museum. File:Scale Rheinmetall 20 mm.JPG|Same gun, with a man nearby for a reference of scale. Markings "Fuerza Aérea Argentina" () on the side. File:LÉ Róisin starboard 20 mm Rheinmetall Rh 202 Helsinki.JPG|Naval mount, Irish offshore patrol ship LÉ Róisín (P51). File:Rheinmetall Rh202 naval mount.jpg|Another version of naval mount, Indonesian frigate KRI Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma (355). ==See also==