Madsen 20 mm cannon

Madsen 20 mm cannon
Madsen 20 mm cannon
Type	Autocannon
Place of origin	Denmark
Service history
Used by	Denmark Finland Ireland Germany Hungary
Wars	World War II Winter War Continuation War Chinese Civil War
Specifications
Weight	55 kilograms (121 lb)
Length	2,500 millimetres (98 in)
Barrel length	1,200 millimetres (47 in)
Cartridge	20 x 120 mm
Caliber	20 mm
Rate of fire	350 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	790 metres per second (2,592 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500 metres (1,640 ft)
Maximum firing range	1,800 metres (5,906 ft)
Feed system	Drum magazine

20x120 mm Madsen
Type	Autocannon
Place of origin	Denmark
Production history
Manufacturer	Kynoch
Specifications
Rim diameter	28.9mm[1]

The 20 mm AA Machine Cannon M/38 was produced by the Danish company Dansk Industri Syndikat (Danish Industry Syndicate) - DISA - in Herlev near Copenhagen and was used by the military of Denmark in different types of mounting. This cannon was originally constructed by Colonel V. H. O. Madsen and was therefore widely known as the 20 mm Madsen Cannon. A version with a necked-out 23 mm round was also produced, generally known as the 23 mm Madsen.

The mountings were also produced by DISA in the following types:^[2]

• Light Field Mount - Primary anti tank mount, could be folded up and stowed on a motorcycle sidecar
• Universal Mount - Dual purpose mount, fitted with wheels it could be towed by its crew.
• Mobile Anti-Aircraft Mount - Dedicated AA mount.
• Tri-axial Mount - Light weight mount intended for fortifications and naval use

There were also a number of locally designed mounts.

This type of machine cannon was a very well functioning weapon, which was exported by DISA to several countries.

The 20 mm machine cannons of the Danish Army were responsible for knocking out eleven armoured cars and two Panzer I's during the German invasion before the order to surrender came through.^[3]

Madsen cannon at Nuoli gunboat

Self-propelled Mounts

• Landsverk L-60 - Light tanks made in Sweden by AB Landsverk and employed by:
  •  Ireland - 2
• Landsverk Lynx - Armored cars made in Sweden by AB Landsverk and employed by:
  •  Denmark - 3
• Landsverk L-180 - Armored Cars made in Sweden by AB Landsverk and employed by:
  •  Denmark - 2 (Madsen 20mm M 1933)
  •  Ireland - 8

References

1. An introduction to collecting 20 mm cannon cartridges
2. Jessen, Halvor (1946). Automatic Standard Arms of Modern Warfare XI. Compagnie Madsen.
3. Gert, Lausen. "The German occupation of Denmark".

External links

• Kurze Beschreibung der Munition Fur Die 20mm Madsen Kanone Gegen Luftziele und Tanks (The title, in English, is "Short Description of the Ammunition for the 20mm Madsen Cannon Against Airborne Targets and Tanks.")
• Pictures of the 20 mm machine cannon in different mountings