Image: Airborne 20 mm Gun Mk 2 Land Service No. 2. (IWM)
Year
1944
Weapon Type
Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
Origin & Designer
Britain+Poland/Sten
Numbers Produced
20.000 (All Models)
Crew
5
Calibre
20mm (20x110RB)
Elevation
-5° to +85°
Traverse
360°
Breech
[@breech]
Recoil
Spring
Gun Sight
[@gun_sight]
Gun Mount
[@gun_mounts]
Carriage
Two Wheeled Carriage
Trailers
[@trailers]
Gun Shield
[@gun_shield]
Armoured Plate
[@armoured_plate]
Barrel Length
2.178mm (L/72.4)
Overall Length
2.78m
Width
[@width]
Height
[@height]
Weight
218 kg
Round Weight
125g (HE)
Muzzle Velocity
850 m/s
Feed
30 Round Box or 60 Round Drum
Magazine Capacity
[@magazine_capacity]
Practical Rate of Fire
220 r.p.m.
Rate of Fire
[@rate_of_fire]
Maximum Rate of Fire
450 r.p.m
Maximum Ceiling
2.200m
Maximum Ground Range
4.389m
Maximum Range
[@maximum_range]
Armour Penetration
[@armour_penetration]
Traction
Motorized (Jeep)
Variants
Universal 20 mm Gun Mk. 2 with cradle No. 2. Airborne 20 mm Gun Mk 2 Land Service No. 2.
Notes
The Polsten was developed by Polish designers that escaped from the Germans and reached Britain. These along with British designers worked together and came up with a cheap but effective 20mm automatic gun. Made with less parts than the earlier Oerlikon the Polsten was issued in the same way and mounted on various carriages and mounts.