25mm Bushmaster
M242
Overview
Bushmaster
The original 25mm Bushmaster with its four slot muzzle brake.
Source: Alliant Techsystems -
© copyright lies with original owner
United States - McDonnell Douglas (1985 - 2002)
United States - Alliant Techsystems (2002 - 2018)
United States - Northrop Grumman (2018 - present)
Description
Introduction
The Bushmaster is a 25mm autocannon of US origin. It was developed in the early 1970's for the M2 Bradley mechanized infantry combat vehicle. The Bushmaster has proven to be a reliable and versatile weapon system that has been used on a wide number of vehicles, various naval applications and a few aircraft mountings. Later developments include the Bushmaster II and III that fire the more powerful 30mm and 35mm rounds respectively.
Design
The Bushmaster is a single barrel chaingun with double belt feed. The externally powered chain driven mechanism results in an extremely reliable weapon with a limited rate of fire. The mechanism also ensures that little gasses escape into the crew compartment and that the shell cases are gently ejected forward.
Firepower
The Bushmaster fires the 25x137mm NATO round that was first developed for use with the Swiss KBA autocannon. A wide variety of US and NATO ammunition is available. The rate of fire is selectable at 100 or 200 rpm. In theory 500 rpm is possible but most mounts cannon provide enough power. The maximum effective range is about 2 km while the slant range for high explosive rounds is 3 km. With depleted uranium APDS rounds the Bushmaster was even used sucessfully against T-55 tanks.
Platforms
The Bushmaster is best known for its use on the M2 Bradley mechanized infantry combat vehicle. It has also been used on a wide variety of other combat vehicles, including the LAV-25. The Bushmaster is also used on a manually operated pedestal mount on US Navy ships or in the Israeli Typhoon turret.
Details
Media
M2 bradley
The 25mm Bushmaster is fitted as main armament on the M2A3 Bradley.
Source: US Army (photographer unknown)
Copyright: public domain
Mk 38 Mod 1
A 25mm Bushmaster on a manually operated MK 38 Mod 1 naval mount.
Source: US Navy (Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns)
Copyright: public domain
Mk 38 Mod 2
An externally operated MK 38 Mod 2 naval mount firing its 25mm Bushmaster cannon as indicated by the shell casings in the air.
Source: US Navy (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky)
Copyright: public domain
Platforms
M2 Bradley
The M242 Bushmaster is the main armament of the M2 Bradley. With over 6.000 Bradley's produced this is one of the most prominent applications of the Bushmaster.
Desert Warrior
Variant of the British Warrior developed for Kuwait. This variant has a different turret which is armed with the 25mm Bushmaster and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles.
25mm DS25M
The DS25M naval self-defense gun mount is armed with the 25mm Bushmaster I.
However, the most common variant is the DS30M armed with 30mm Bushmaster II.
Related articles
35mm Bushmaster III
Bushmaster III is an upscaled Bushmaster autocannon. It fires the powerful 35x228mm round.
25mm Oerlikon KBA
The M242 Bushmaster fires the same ammunition as the Swiss Oerlikon KBA, which is a competitor to the Bushmaster.