MG FF Aircraft Cannon
Feed Type: Drum
Caliber: 20mm
Weight: 53 Lbs (26.3 kg)
Length: 52.8 In. (1.37m)
Shell: 20 x 80 mm
Muzzle Velocity:
MG FF: ~600 m/s
MG FF/M: ~585 m/s (with AP or HE)
MG FF/M: ~700 m/s
Rate Of Fire:
MG FF: 520 rpm
MG FF/M: 540 rpm
Round Types:
High Explosive
Incendiary
Armor Piercing
MG FF/M: HE/M (high explosive mine shell)
Round Weights:
MG FF: 134 g
MG FF/M: 90 g HE/M 4.82 Oz. (Explosive)
The MG FF was a drum-fed, 20 mm aircraft autocannon, developed in 1936 by Ikaria Werke Berlin of Germany. It was a derivative of the Swiss Oerlikon FF F cannon, itself a development of the German World War I Becker 20 mm cannon, and was designed to be used in fixed or flexible mountings, as both an offensive and a defensive weapon. It saw widespread use in those roles by the German Luftwaffe, particularly during the early stages of World War II, although from 1941 onwards it was gradually replaced by the 20 mm MG 151/20. Compared to rival designs, such as the Hispano-Suiza HS.404 - which had been developed from the larger Oerlikon FF S - the MG FF had some disadvantages, such as low rate of fire and low muzzle velocity, as well as limited ammunition storage in its drums. On the other hand, it was much lighter and shorter. Wing installation on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters was not easy, as the drum required substantial space, and as a consequence the ammunition storage was initially reduced to 60 shells per drum. An ammunition drum of 90-round nominal capacity was developed for the Fw 190 A-5, and retrofitted to some earlier variants. There were also experiments with belt feedings.