ShVAK cannon

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	Weapon: ShVAK cannon Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1936 Caliber: 20×99mmR Action: Gas Operated Fully Automatic Overall Length (mm): 1679.0 Overall Length (in): 66.1 Weight (kg): 38.00 Weight (pounds): 83.78 Effective Range (m): 1200 m Effective Range (yards): 1312.34

The ShVAK cannon (Shpitalny-Vladimirov Aviatsionny Krylyevoy) was a Soviet 20mm autocannon developed in the early 1930s by Boris Shpitalny and Semyon Vladimirov. Based on the earlier 7.62mm ShKAS machine gun, the ShVAK used a gas-operated, belt-fed mechanism and was chambered in 20x99mm or 20x96mm ammunition depending on the version. Despite its relatively light projectile, the ShVAK achieved a high rate of fire-around 750 rounds per minute-which made it effective against lightly armored aircraft and ground targets. It was designed to be mounted in wings, fuselage, or synchronized to fire through a propeller arc, and had a compact form factor well-suited for single-engine fighters.

The ShVAK entered service in the mid-1930s and became one of the most widely produced aircraft cannons of World War II, with over 100,000 units manufactured. It equipped numerous Soviet aircraft, including the Yakovlev Yak-1/3/7/9 series, Lavochkin LaGG-3 and La-5, the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, and various bombers. Its versatility also led to use in armored vehicles such as the T-60 light tank and in naval installations. Despite some issues with ammunition quality and early reliability concerns, wartime refinement made it a staple of Soviet aerial firepower throughout the conflict.

In service, the ShVAK was valued for its high rate of fire and adaptability, although its lighter 20mm round was sometimes criticized for insufficient stopping power compared to heavier German autocannons like the MG 151/20. Nonetheless, it proved lethal in air-to-air combat and strafing roles. The cannon became symbolic of Soviet fighter design during World War II and remains notable as one of the earliest examples of a mass-produced autocannon effectively integrated into a wide range of platforms. After the war, it was gradually replaced by more powerful weapons such as the B-20 and NR-23.

The ShVAK cannon used 20mm ammunition variants designed specifically for different combat roles. The primary cartridge was the 20x99mm ShVAK round, which included high-explosive (HE), high-explosive incendiary (HEI), armor-piercing incendiary (API), and fragmentation variants. The HEI rounds were especially effective against aircraft structures, while the API types could penetrate light armor and engine blocks. Some early production models used slightly shorter 20x96mm rounds, but this was quickly standardized. Compared to Western 20mm ammunition, Soviet rounds were lighter and had smaller bursting charges, but their high velocity and volume of fire helped compensate in dogfights and strafing runs.