20×138mmB

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20×138mmB
Three 20x138B shells and 37 mm shell.JPG
Three 20×138B cartridges and a 37 mm shell
TypeAnti-armor/anti-air
Place of origin  Switzerland
Service history
Used bySwitzerland, Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1930
ManufacturerSwiss Solothurn
VariantsLong Solothurn
Specifications
Case typeBottleneck, belted
Bullet diameter20 mm
Neck diameter20.9 mm (0.82 in)
Shoulder diameter25.5 mm (1.00 in)
Base diameter26.86 mm (1.057 in)
Rim diameter28.48 mm (1.121 in)
Rim thickness26.86 mm (1.057 in)
Case length138 mm (5.4 in)
Overall length202.7 mm (7.98 in)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
120 grams (4.1 oz) 900 metres per second (2,950 ft/s) 47,000 J (34,655 ft⋅lbf) [1]

The 20×138mmB cartridge or Long Solothurn is a type of ammunition used mainly for anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons during World War II. The designation means the caliber is 20 mm, the length of the cartridge case is 138 mm and B indicates it is a belted case. The loaded cartridge weighs 300 grams (10.7 oz).[1]

History[]

The 20×138mmB cartridge was initially created by the Swiss Solothurn company in the early 1930s.

Users[]

The 20×138mmB cartridge is used in the following weapons:

Switzerland[]

Germany[]

  • FlaK 30 and FlaK 38 single-barrel, and Flakvierling quadruple-barrel anti-aircraft guns
  • KwK 30 and KwK 38 vehicle-mounted weapons
  • aircraft gun

Italy[]

Finland[]

Poland[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Johnson, Melvin M., Jr. (1944). Rifles and Machine Guns. William Morrow and Company. p. 385.
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