autocannons

Automatic heavy weapons

Autocannons are automatic weapons larger than machine guns, typically mounted on military vehicles, aircraft, or ships.

They fire explosive or armor-piercing shells in rapid succession, usually 20mm to 57mm in caliber.

The term distinguishes them from both smaller automatic weapons and larger artillery pieces that fire single rounds: The infantry fighting vehicle's 30mm autocannon tore through the concrete barrier.

firing

burst

Break apart suddenly

salvoSimultaneous weapons discharge
volleySimultaneous firing burst
barrageSustained, overwhelming attack

sustained · tracer · belt-fed · magazine · cyclic · suppressive · strafing · continuous · rapid-fire · high-explosive

military

artillery

Large-caliber battlefield weapons

turretProtruding fortified structure
armoredProtected by metal covering
caliberBore diameter or quality

ordnance · gunnery · anti-aircraft · flak · warship · destroyer · tank · infantry · bunker · convoy

mechanism

ammunition

Weapon projectiles and charges

recoilBackward force from discharge
cartridgeSealed container for supplies
shellsProtective outer layers

barrel · bolt · chamber · gas-operated · blowback · Gatling · linkless · breech · extractor · casing

systems

targeting

Selecting as objective

turretProtruding fortified structure
gyrostabilizerSpinning device preventing roll
servomechanismFeedback-controlled automatic mechanism

sensors · stabilization · radar-guided · computerized · tracking · elevation · traverse · rangefinder

autocannons

burst

artillery

ammunition

targeting

autocannons

Opposites

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