30mm Emerlec EE-30
Mark 74
Overview
30mm Emerlec 30
Forward view of South Korean navy EE-30 gun mount.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Mark 74 (US Navy service)
EE-30
Emerlec 30mm
Nigeria
Greece
Description
Introduction
Late Cold War era naval anti-aircraft of American origin. Developed by Emerson Electric for the US CPIC program for the development of a new generation of coastal patrol boats. Designed for dual anti-surface and anti-aircraft use. Although the CPIC program never went beyond a single prototype for testing, the EE-30 gun mount was exported to various US allies.
Design
The EE-30 is an enclosed gun mount with a single operator. On either side of the mount a 30mm Oerlikon KCB gas operated belt fed autocannon is fitted in a mount behind the operator. Each gun is fed by a single continuous belt.
Fire control
The mount has both remote and local fire control. In remote control the guns are slaved to a radar or optronic director. The local fire control includes a reflex sight and joystick operation of the gun mount. The EE-30 can be used in an attempt to engage large subsonic anti-ship missiles such as the Soviet P-15 Termit (NATO: SS-N-2 Styx). However, it cannot be considered a close-in weapon system since the external fire control equipment was often not geared towards early detection and tracking of sea skimming or supersonic missiles.
Firepower
Firepower of the EE-30 is significant. Each 30mm KCB autocannon as a 600 rpm cyclic rate of fire. Combined rate of fire 1.200 rpm. Effective anti-aircraft range is quoted as 2.75 km. Large surface vessels can be engaged out to 6 km, with shorter effective ranges for smaller targets. A total of 985 round are available per gun. Both HEI and SAPHEI ammunition can be used. Both types have a muzzle velocity of over 1.000 m/s, allowing of accuracy even at extended ranges compared to World War 2 era autocannon.
Platforms
The EE-30 is mostly used on a variety of patrol boats and fast attack craft. Usually one or two guns mounts per vessel. South Korea also used four mounts on the early batch of Ulsan class frigates. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia employ a single mount on their minehunters.
Users
Although developed for a US Navy requirement, it was only acquired for testing. The EX-74 was officially classified as the Mark 74 gun mount. Export sales were more successful, with about or over 100 mounts produced. Notable export customers include South Korea, the first operator, Nigeria and Greece. South Korea switched to other medium caliber gun mounts, reportedly due to unsatisfactory reliability of the EE-30 gun mount.
Details
Media
30mm Emerlec 30
Artist impression of Emerlec 30 gun mount. Note the ammunition storage below deck.
Source: Orbis publishing
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
30mm Emerlec 30
Rear view of an EE-30 gun mount on a South Korean Ulsan class frigate in 2019.
Source: Travel Archive
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
30mm Emerlec 30
Forward view of South Korean navy EE-30 gun mount. Note the operator using the reflex sight in the gun mount.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
30mm Emerlec 30
Greek navy Laskos class fast missile craft with 30mm EE-30 gun mount located in the middle of the ship behind the bridge.
Source: Hellenic Navy
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
30mm Emerlec 30
Two Nigerian navy minehunters, based on the Italian Lerici class. Note the EE-30 gun mount on the bow.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
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The EE-30 is armed with two 30mm Oerlikon KCB autocannon.