A revolver cannon is a type of autocannon. It uses a cylinder (like that of a revolver) with multiple chambers to speed up the loading-firing-ejection cycle. It differs from a Gatling gun in having only a single barrel. Revolver cannons were invented by Mauser late in WW2 as aircraft guns, and have since been produced by many different European manufacturers (whereas the US and to a lesser extent Russia favour the Gatling gun).

Revolver cannons have a lower sustained rate of fire than Gatling guns, but reach maximuum fire rate faster because the moving mass (multiple breechs) is lighter. By comparison, Gatling type guns spin the whole multiple barrel and breech assembly which in equal calibre versions can weigh hundreds of kilogrammes.

The leading current example is arguably the Mauser BK-27.

See also

• Aden cannon
• DEFA cannon
• M39 cannon

External links

List of Military Gatling & Revolver cannons