20mm Giat 53T1

     Notes:  This elderly antiaircraft gun is still in use by French Foreign Legion units, usually in a ground support role, and by the forces of Chad.  It is preferred by the Legion due to its light weight and low recoil forces, which made it suitable for employment from relatively light vehicles.  It uses the same M 693 autocannon used by the Cerbere 76T2, Tarasque 53T2, and the 53T4.  Sighting equipment includes a reticule sight for antiaircraft use and a 5.2x telescopic sight for use against ground targets.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

53T1

20mm KAD

2

2 Minutes

635 kg

$30712

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

53T1

10

100B (x2)

630

APDS

4

4/3/3/2

 

10

100B (x2)

630

API

4

2/2/2/1

 

10

100B (x2)

470

HEI

C1  B5

-4C

 

20mm Giat Tarasque 53T2

     Notes:  This is an older French antiaircraft gun, using the same autocannon (M 693(F2)) that the Cerbere 76T2 twin 20mm gun uses.  It is a low-weight weapon that can be easily mounted on light trucks or towed behind smaller vehicles. The traverse and elevation mechanisms are driven by a hydraulic motor.  As with the 53T1, the sights are a basic reticule sight for antiaircraft use and 5.2x telescopic sight for use against ground targets.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

53T2

20mm KAD

3

3 Minutes

840 kg

$30651

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

Tarasque 53T2

10

100B (x2)

630

APDS

4

6/5/4/3

 

10

100B (x2)

630

API

4

3/3/3/2

 

10

100B (x2)

470

HEI

C1  B5

-4C

 

20mm Giat 53T4

     Notes:  This is a double autocannon version of the Giat 53T2 antiaircraft gun above.  It is otherwise the same as the 53T2, except for a more beefy, stable mounting and hydraulic recocking of the guns when loading them.  In addition, the guns have automatic electric cutout to stop a gun from firing if it cooks off, and the gun can be set to not fired if pointed within certain arcs (to prevent firing at friendly targets or at useless fields of fire such as targets the ammunition cannot penetrate).  As with most French antiaircraft autocannons, the gun includes a 1x reticule gunsight for antiaircraft use and a 5.2x telescopic sight for ground targets.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

53T4

20mm KAD

5

3 Minutes

2000 kg

$61049

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

53T4

20

150B (x2)

630

APDS

4

6/5/4/3

 

20

150B (x2)

630

API

4

3/3/3/2

 

20

150B (x2)

470

HEI

C1  B5

-4C

 

20mm Cerbere 76T2

     Notes:  This is basically the German Rheinmetall Twin 20mm System with the Rh-202 autocannon replaced with M-693(F2) autocannons like those mounted on the 53T2 and 53T4.  The 76T2 is designed to work in concert with the Crotale SAM missile system, and can use the same radar as the Crotale.  It is also designed to be used with a helmet-pointing system (where the gunner directs the guns by looking at a target through a visor in a specially-equipped helmet).  This helmet system, known as the DALDO, had not been bought by any country as of 2000, but is for sale. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

76T2

20mm KAD

3

3 Minutes

2150 kg

$63297

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

53T4

20

270B (x2)

630

APDS

4

6/5/4/3

 

20

270B (x2)

630

API

4

3/3/3/2

 

20

270B (x2)

470

HEI

C1  B5

-4C

 

20mm Giat Type 20 M621

     Notes:  The Giat Type 20 M621 is an electrically controlled 20mm autocannon designed for use on light vehicles and helicopters.  It is capable of semiautomatic and automatic fire.  An attached electrical box controls the selective fire aspects and burst length.  It is mounted on light vehicles such as the Land Rover as well as helicopters such as the Puma, Gazelle, and boats.  Turrets have also been devised with this gun.  It can accept most sights and night vision equipment designed for use with automatic weapons.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

Type 20 M621

20mm HS-804

1

1 Minute

49 kg

$5644

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

Giat Type 20 M621

10

100B

490

API

4

2/2/2/1

 

10

100B

370

HE

C1  B5

-4C

 

25mm Giat 53T4

     Notes:  This is a Giat 53T4 antiaircraft gun (detailed in the Heavy Weapons Handbook) with the twin 20mm autocannons replaced with a single 25mm Giat M811 autocannon.  The mount is substantially the same with small changes to handle the new autocannon, and the ammunition box is somewhat larger, but also mostly the same.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

53T4 25mm

25mm KBA

3

4 Minutes

1900 kg

$45649

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

53T4 25mm

5

300B (x2)

370

AA

C1  B8

-4C

 

5

300B (x2)

500

APFSDSDU

6

14/12/10/7

 

5

300B (x2)

500

API

6

5/4/3/2

 

5

300B (x2)

370

HE

C1  B5

-3C

 

25mm Giat Type 25 M 811

     Notes:  This is an externally powered autocannon with a dual-feed mechanism.  The feed direction is selected before firing a burst by flicking a switch.  It can be placed on any mount that can normally accept a French 20mm autocannon, and turret mountings also exist.

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

Type 25 M811

25mm KBA

1

4 Minutes

105 kg

$11413

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

Giat Type 25 M811

5

100B (x2)

370

AA

C1  B8

-4C

 

5

100B (x2)

500

APFSDSDU

6

14/12/10/7

 

5

100B (x2)

500

API

6

5/4/3/2

 

5

100B (x2)

370

HE

C1  B5

-3C

 

30mm Giat Type 30 M 781

     Notes:  This autocannon uses a mechanism similar to the 25mm Chaingun.  The cannon comes with an electronic control and power unit, and has a rate of fire up to 1-750 rounds per minute.  The Type 30 M 781 is a dual-feed weapon.  It was designed principally as helicopter armament, but a ground/vehicle mount does exist.  Weight given is with the mount. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Crew

Set Up Time

Weight

Price

Type 30 M781

30mm DEFA

1

3 Minutes

65 kg

$17369

 

Weapon

ROF

Magazine

Range

Round

Damage

Penetration

Giat Type 30 M781

5

100B (x2)

340

APHEI

C1  B5

3/3/3/2

 

5

100B (x2)

340

API

7

3/3/3/2

 

5

100B (x2)

250

HEI

C2  B10

-3C

 

5

100B (x2)

340

SAPHEI

C1  B5

4/4/3/2