The Alqatat Gunsmiths 40mm Gun Series is a series of light anti-aircraft guns and autocannons build by Alqatat Gunsmiths for the Sultan's Navy, the Armies of the Five Deserts and export customers. Unlike with the Alqatat Gunsmiths 20mm Gun Series, all guns of this series use the same shell, the 40x160mm shell.
The 40mm Gun Series is not related to Ceantar's Ceantar C-44 40mm AA Gun and its derivates.
Design
Versions
Mark I
- single mount
- scaled up version of preceeding 37mm canons, many problems, scrapped by 1940
Mark II
- single mount
- better, but not ideal
- used on SPAAGs
Mark III
- Mark II or Mark VI on double mount, with follow the pointer control and remote power control
Mark IV
- Mark II or Mark VI on quad-mount, with Gyro Rate Unit and later 50cm-radar on the battery
Mark V
- Mark II or Mark VI on octo-mount, with Gyro Rate Unit and later 50cm-radar on the battery
Mark VI
- improved cannon
- used on SPAAGs
Mark VII
- remote controlled turret
Mark VIII
- CIWS turret
Mark IX
- CIWS Turret with two barrels
Ammunition: 40x160mm shell
| Designation | Type | Introduction | Weight | Effective Firing Range | Muzzle Velocity | Phased out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Explosive | 1925 | 1 kg | 1,000 m | 590 m/s | Phased out 1960 | |
| Armour Piercing | 1926 | 1.1 kg | 750 m | 600 m/s | Phased out 1980 | |
| High Explosive | 1956 | 0.9 kg | 1,250 m | 650 m/s | In reserves since 2000 | |
| High Explosive | 1999 | 0.75 kg | 1,500 m | 650 m/s | In service | |
| Amour Piercing | 1976 | 1.1 kg | 1,300 m | 650 m/s | In service | |
| Armour Piercing, rocket assited | 2003 | 1.56 kg | 2,000 m | Mach 1 | In service | |
| Tracer | 1938 | 0.8 kg | 1,450 m | 600 m/s | Phased out 1965 | |
| Variable Time | 1979 | 1.1 kg | 1,250 m | 650 m/s | In service | |
| Tracer | 1962 | 0.75 kg | 2,000 m | 650 m/s | In service |
Users
History
- originally developed in 1925 to counter the rising need for light AA-guns on Kyrenaian vessels to counter planes and small boats of rebelling territories (Decolonization Wars (1923-1965)).
