Cannon Shooting Compilation: 20mm to 76mm

This video provides an in-depth look at the Japanese Type 97 anti-tank rifle. Curatorial Assistant Joe Ford breaks down its features, including the muzzle brake, gas system, recuperator, sights, and magazine. The video also covers the rifle's disassembly, revealing the recoil springs, bolt, locking piece, and barrel removal. It explains the gas split, recuperator function, and the open-bolt semi-automatic trigger mechanism. The discussion extends to its in-service deployment, requiring an 11-man crew, its transport, penetration capabilities, and its evolving role throughout World War II, as well as its successors and common misconceptions.

The Solothurn S18-1000 is a self-loading anti-tank rifle chambered in 20x138mm, featuring an 8-round magazine. Its unique charging mechanism involves a three-turn ratchet crank. The video demonstrates its operation and live fire, highlighting the significant recoil and cycling action in slow motion.

The Lahti L39 is a semi-automatic 20mm anti-tank rifle with a unique mechanical operation requiring manual bolt cycling via a crank handle after each shot. Its significant recoil and muzzle blast are managed by its weight and integrated skis. A critical safety warning emphasizes keeping hands clear of the trigger guard due to the violent action.

This review details Germany's 3.7cm PAK, an early WWII anti-tank gun. Initially effective, its 37mm caliber became obsolete against heavier armor by 1941, earning it the nickname 'Door Knocker'. Late-war upgrades like the Stielgranate 41 shaped charge offered limited effectiveness at short range.

The Bofors 37mm long anti-tank gun, designed in Sweden between 1932-1934, was a key weapon for the Finnish military in WWII. While effective against light Soviet tanks like the T-26 and BT series, its 40mm penetration at 300 meters was insufficient for later heavy tanks such as the T-34. The gun features a recoiling action, optional auto-eject, and practical controls praised for durability.

The Swiss MG11 Maxim gun is presented as a pinnacle of Maxim machine gun design, featuring significant Swiss-led improvements. Key upgrades include a lighter DWM 1909 pattern action, a sophisticated tripod with advanced adjustments, and a 1930s modernization package for enhanced usability. It served Switzerland until 1951, showcasing remarkable longevity and engineering.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.