The idea of a multi-barreled rapid-fire weaponsIt originated in the 15th century and was embodied in some samples of artillery guns of that time. With obvious dignity, this type of guns did not take root and was, rather, an exotic illustration of the course of design thought, than a real effective system for firing.
In the XIX century, inventor R.Gatling from Connecticut, engaged in agricultural machinery, and later became a doctor, received a patent for a "revolving-and-battery gun." He was a kind man and believed that, having received such a terrible weapon, mankind would come to his senses and, fearing many victims, would stop fighting altogether.
Major Innovation in Gatling's Multiplatewas the use of gravity to automatically feed cartridges and extract cartridges. A naive inventor could not even have imagined that his offspring would become the prototype of a super-rapid machine gun of the middle and second half of the 20th century.
The development of technical thought after the Korean Warled to the emergence of new weapons for aviation. The rapid speeds of the MiGs and the Sabers left the pilots with too little time to aim carefully, and the number of guns and machine guns could not be very large. The rate of fire was limited by the fact that the trunks overheated. Out of this engineering deadlock was the six-barrel machine gun "Vulcan" M61, ripened in time for the new slaughter, the Vietnam War.
With each decade, the duration of combatcontact between opponents is reduced. The one who managed to release more charges and started shooting first is more likely to survive. Mechanical devices in such a situation simply can not cope, so the Vulcan machine gun is equipped with a 26 kW electric drive that rotates barrels producing 20-mm projectiles in turn, as well as an electrical ignition system for primers. This solution allows you to fire at speeds up to 2000 rounds per minute, and in the turbo mode - 4200.
The machine gun "Volcano" is quite massive and intendedprimarily for aviation, although it can also be used in ground defense systems. It was initially installed on Lockheed’s Starfighters, but later on they were equipped with A-10 attack aircraft. As an additional artillery container, it was also hung under the fuselage of the F-4 Phantom, after it became clear that with a maneuverable air fight, missiles alone could not do. The weight of 190 kg is not a joke, and it is still without ammunition, which at such a rate of fire requires considerable, therefore, children's toys Nerf-machine gun "Vulkan", shooting arrows, with the prototype have little in common.
In service, this weapon is relatively easythe design is made as practical as possible. To charge the machine gun "Volcano", you need to remove it, but do it simply. Problems arose in the 1950s, when survey work was carried out. A large number of shells create a powerful impact, which resulted in difficulties with piloting.
In the USSR to the creation of multi-barreledarmament started a dozen years later than in the United States. Anti-aircraft automatic cannons 6K30GSh, AK-630M-2 and other artillery units with high fire density were the answer to the Vulkan machine gun. Some improvements in the creation of initial and working torques provide certain technical and operational advantages, but the design is based on the same Gatling principle.
