Mauser MG 213

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Mauser MG 213

The Mauser MG 213 was a German World War II aircraft cannon developed for the Luftwaffe. It began as a 20 mm revolver cannon with a motorized firing mechanism to boost the rate of fire. To meet the need for heavier armament against bombers, Mauser later developed a 30 mm version, known as MG 213C or MK 213.

Development and fate:
- Only five prototypes (V1–V5) of the 20 mm or 30 mm versions were completed; none entered service before Germany’s defeat.
- After the war, Allied engineers studied the design.
- The 30 mm MK 213 influenced later designs: Britain’s ADEN and France’s DEFA; the US based the M39 on the 20 mm concept.

Technical notes (simplified):
- 20 mm variant: ammunition 20x135 mm; muzzle velocity about 1,050 m/s; rate of fire about 1,300–1,400 rounds per minute.
- 30 mm variant: ammunition 30x85 mm B; muzzle velocity about 530 m/s; rate of fire about 1,100–1,200 rounds per minute; designed to use shell types effective against bombers with few hits.
- Mechanism: a diagonal cam and follower moved a rammer that fed cartridges into a five-chamber revolving cassette; feeding at 5 o’clock, firing at 12 o’clock.