25 mm caliber

M793 Target Practice with Tracer (TP-T) rounds for the MK-38 being inspected.

The 25×137 mm cartridge is one of the standard cannon and autocannon cartridges used by NATO forces. The 25×184 mm cartridge is also used by NATO forces.

Usage

The 25 mm round can be used in both an anti-materiel and anti-personnel fashion. When operating in an infantry mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with HE rounds can effectively kill large numbers of opposing troops either in the open or in light fortifications. When operating in an anti-material mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with AP rounds can disable many aircraft and vehicles, including some main battle tanks.

The US military uses 25 mm weapons in their AV-8B Harrier, AC-130 gunship, M2 Bradley, LAV-25, F-35 Lightning II and as a standard ship-based munition in the Mk 38 autocannon.

Types of 25 mm ammunition

A diagram of the M791 25x137 mm round.

Several sub-types of 25 mm ammunition are available—the most common being armor piercing, high explosive, sabot, tracer, and practice rounds. Cartridges are usually composed of a combination of the aforementioned categories. For example, the M791 pictured to the right is an armor-piercing discarding sabot with tracer (APDS-T) round. It is used against lightly armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and aerial targets such as helicopters and slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft.

Weapons using the 25×137 mm cartridge

• M242 Bushmaster
• GAU-12 Equalizer
• GIATs, 25M811
• Oerlikon KBA

Weapons using the 25×184 mm B cartridge

• Oerlikon KBB
• Oerlikon KBD

See also

• Caliber
• .50 BMG
• 14.5×114mm
• 20 mm caliber
• 23 mm caliber
  • 23×115 mm
  • 23×152 mm
• 25 mm caliber
  • 25×40 mm
  • 25×59 mm
• 30 mm caliber
• List of cartridges (weaponry), pistol and rifle

Further reading

• U.S. Army Field Manual 3-22.1

External links

• Federation of American Scientists: 25mm Ammunition
• UXO Safety Information