On 29 Jul 2003 00:18:21 -0700, (Tony
Williams) wrote:


Revolver cannon are very tricky to get working properly, with precise
ignition timing being essential. The 25x137 ammo is of course
percussion-primed, whereas the ammo for all other revolvers has used
the more precise electric priming, which does make me wonder if they
were tackling an impossible job.

The timing issue with percussion primers has been known for decades,
therefore it would suggest that the whole project was just a thinly
disguised handout.

Someone at the RAF had to have asked the same questions w.r.t feasability
of using percussion primed rounds in such an application.

If TPTB were actually serious about providing the harrier with cannon and
commonality of ammunition. A license built GSH-30 or 301 firing what the
Rarden fires would be rather hard to argue against.

But that would have a high NiH factor. No scope for subsidising the
domestic monopoly supplier there.



There is a body of opinion which dislikes aircraft guns. The vibration
upsets the instrumentation, the muzzle gasses can be corrosive, and if
all goes well missiles will do the job....sadly, this viewpoint
ignores the fact that no military action has ever followed the script,
because the enemy has his own scriptwriters.


Quite. It was interesting to watch an interview with a Tornado pilot where
he detailed having do gun passes in close support of friendlies during the
recent Iraq conflict.





greg

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