30mm Aden
Introduction
Aden Mk 4
Left side view of an Aden Mk 4 autocannon. Note the single barrel, revolver housing and single belt feed.
Source: Rama -
© CC BY-SA 3.0
30 mm akan m/55 (Swedish service)
Description
Introduction
The Aden is an early Cold War era autocannon of UK origin. It was developed just after World War 2 and was based on the Nazi German MK 213 prototype design. The British Aden and French DEFA are both based on the Mauser prototype and both use the jointly developed 30x113mm cartridge.
Design
The Aden is a single barrel revolver cannon. The design is derived from the Mauser MK 213C/30 prototype. It feeds from a single linked ammunition belt. As a revolver cannon the action of loading and unloading the five chambers is carried out as the revolver spins. This allows for a high rate of fire from a single barrel while loading and unloading is less violent as it is carried out in multiple steps. The combination of high rate of fire and a limited weight make the Aden suitable for aircraft use The Aden is gas operated and does not require external power.
Firepower
The Aden fires the 30x113mmB round from a single linked belt. Cyclic rate of fire is very high at 1.200 to 1.400 rounds per minute. In the Mk 5 this was further increased to 1.500 to 1.700 rpm. The 30mm caliber allows for explosive filler, making each projectile devastating to both air targets and ground targets such as light armored vehicles and infantry in the open. The 790 m/s muzzle velocity was much higher than similar caliber ammunition during World War 2. By todays standards these projectiles are considered to be on the slow side.
Platforms
The Aden was used on various fighter aircraft, both in the air superiority as in the ground attack role. Many of these even had two or four Aden fitted. Well known British aircraft include the Hunter, Lightning, Jaguar and Harrier. Swedish aircraft such as the Draken and Lansen used the Aden internally, while Viggen and Saab 105 used gun pods. Various types of gun pods were developed. These include pods of Swedish and French origin, in addition to the gun pods specifically designed for use on the Harrier.
Variants
30mm Aden
Top of of a 30mm Aden revolver cannon on display at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland in 2012
Source: MKFI -
© Public domain
List of Aden variants
Details
Media
30mm Aden
A 30mm Aden autocannon shown in an opened gun pod in the Flygvapenmuseum in 2019.
Source: Per Björkqvist
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
30mm Aden
A quad pack for the 30mm Aden and ammunition as used on the Hawker Hunter on display at the Royal Air Force Museum in 2015.
Source: Roland Turner
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
Related articles
30mm DEFA
The Aden series are contemporary to the French DEFA series and comparable in firepower and size.