Rheinmetall RMK30
Encyclopedia
The RMK 30 is a recoilless
30 mm caliber
autocannon
firing caseless 30 x 250 mm ammunition cartridges. The gun was developed by the German company Mauser
, which is now a subsidiary of the Rheinmetall
group.
The German BWB required a new recoilless machine cannon, therefore the development of the RMK 30 started in 1993. Contrary to former recoilless weapons it is capable of firing salvos or fully automatic without producing recoil. It is a three-chamber revolver cannon
, the revolver and firing mechanism are driven by an electric motor
, allowing variable rates of fire of up to 300 rounds/min. Part of the propellant gases is ejected to the rear of the cannon, compensating for the recoil and allowing lightweight and less rigid mounts.
Though recoilless the RMK 30 has a higher muzzle energy than conventional 30 mm autocannons.
RMK 30 cannons have been proposed as upgrade for the Bundeswehr
's (German armed forces) Tiger UHT
attack helicopters. The UHT version currently lacks a gun, since the German Army
was not happy with the recoil, accuracy and the range of the French GIAT 30
mm cannon which is fitted to other Tiger versions.
In 1996 it was tested mounted on a Wiesel AWC.
An unusual study (Project MORAINE) suggests mounting an RMK 30 gun in a retractable mast on a Type 212 submarine
. Such masts would extend the capabilities of submarine
s, which currently lack appropriate means to fight small surface targets or just give warning shots. This study has directly led to the Muraena
concept.
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
30 mm caliber
30 mm caliber
30 mm caliber ammunition is usually used in autocannon. Such ammunition includes NATO standard 30 × 173 mm and 30 × 113 mm and Soviet 30 × 165 mm ammunition widely used around the world....
autocannon
Autocannon
An autocannon or automatic cannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon firing a shell as opposed to the bullet fired by a machine gun. Autocannons often have a larger caliber than a machine gun . Usually, autocannons are smaller than a field gun or other artillery, and are mechanically loaded for a...
firing caseless 30 x 250 mm ammunition cartridges. The gun was developed by the German company Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
, which is now a subsidiary of the Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
group.
The German BWB required a new recoilless machine cannon, therefore the development of the RMK 30 started in 1993. Contrary to former recoilless weapons it is capable of firing salvos or fully automatic without producing recoil. It is a three-chamber revolver cannon
Revolver cannon
A revolver cannon is a type of autocannon commonly used as an aircraft gun. It uses a cylinder with multiple chambers, like those of a revolver handgun, to speed up the loading-firing-ejection cycle. Some examples are also power-driven, to further speed the loading process, but this is by no means...
, the revolver and firing mechanism are driven by an electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
, allowing variable rates of fire of up to 300 rounds/min. Part of the propellant gases is ejected to the rear of the cannon, compensating for the recoil and allowing lightweight and less rigid mounts.
Though recoilless the RMK 30 has a higher muzzle energy than conventional 30 mm autocannons.
RMK 30 cannons have been proposed as upgrade for the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
's (German armed forces) Tiger UHT
Eurocopter Tiger
The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.-Origins:...
attack helicopters. The UHT version currently lacks a gun, since the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
was not happy with the recoil, accuracy and the range of the French GIAT 30
GIAT 30
The GIAT 30 is a series of 30 mm cannon developed to replace the DEFA 550 series weapons on French military aircraft.Introduced in the late 1980s, the GIAT 30 is a revolver cannon with electric ignition and automatic recocking...
mm cannon which is fitted to other Tiger versions.
In 1996 it was tested mounted on a Wiesel AWC.
An unusual study (Project MORAINE) suggests mounting an RMK 30 gun in a retractable mast on a Type 212 submarine
Type 212 submarine
The German Type 212 class, also Italian Todaro class, is a highly advanced design of non-nuclear submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG and Fincantieri S.p.a. for the German and Italian Navy. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion system using...
. Such masts would extend the capabilities of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, which currently lack appropriate means to fight small surface targets or just give warning shots. This study has directly led to the Muraena
Muraena gun
The Muraena gun is a is a mast-mounted gun system for submarines proposed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft. The system is a hoistable, mast-mounted automatic gun designed specifically for submarines. HDW expects to complete the system development by 2007. The unique design enables the submarine to...
concept.