Description

This weapon is based upon the German Mauser MK 30 mm Model F gun and uses standard NATO ammunition. Effectively, this weapon is a scaled-down version of OTO-Breda's 40 mm/70 mounting. These mountings for these weapons are unmanned, gyro-stabilized and joystick controlled. The optical sighting system is line-of-sight stabilized with the aim-off automatically calculated while the target is kept in sight. OTO-Breda (later OTO-Melara and now Leonardo) claimed that this system is effective against surface targets at ranges up to 3,000 meters (3,300 yards).

OTO-Melara currently offers these weapons in either single or twin above deck mountings with local or remote control or in Compact-style mountings with below-deck magazine. These mountings are also shared with the 25 mm Compact.

Sea Cobra was a joint design between Marconi and OTO-Breda. This weapon was first tested in Britain at the Fraser Gunnery Range in the summer of 1988. The first operational installations were for the Italian Customs Service.

Gun Characteristics

Designation Gun: 30 mm/82 (1.2") Mauser MK 30-1 Model F
Ship Class Used On Coastal Patrol Boats
Date Of Design 1984
Date In Service 1988
Gun Weight 340 lbs. (154 kg)
Barrel only: 132 lbs. (60 kg)
Gun Length oa 131.9 in (335 cm)
Bore Length about 97 in (246 cm)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire up to 800 rounds per minute per gun

Ammunition

Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round HEI PGU-13: 1.50 lbs. (0.681 kg)
API PGU-14: 1.53 lbs. (0.694 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights HEI PGU-13: 0.83 lbs. (0.378 kg)
API PGU-14: 0.60 lbs. (0.272 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 0.33 lbs. (0.150 kg)
Cartridge 30 x 173 mm
Muzzle Velocity HE: 3,410 fps (1,040 mps)
APDS: 4,000 fps (1,220 mps)
Working Pressure 24.2 tons/in2 (3,800 kg/cm2)
Approximate Barrel Life 5,000 rounds
Ammunition stowage per gun Single Mountings: 160 ready rounds

Twin Mounting
   Type A: 2,000 ready rounds
   Type B: 1,000 ready rounds

Range

Effective range with 0.7 lbs. (0.32 kg) HE
Distance Time of Flight
3,300 yards (3,000 m) 5.36 seconds

Mount/Turret Data

Designation Single 30 mm Compact Naval Mount 1: Mod 559, Mod 564, Mod 563
Twin 30 mm Compact Naval Mount 2: Type A, Type B
Twin Sea Cobra
Weight Without Ammunition
   Mod 559: 3,307 lbs. (1,500 kg)
   Mod 564: 4,034 lbs. (1,830 kg)
   Mod 563: 4,167 to 4,365 lbs. (1,890 to 1,980 kg)
   Type A: 7,275 lbs. (3,300 kg)
   Type B: 7,055 lbs. (3,200 kg)
   Sea Cobra: N/A

With Ammunition
   Mod 559: 3,594 lbs. (1,630 kg)
   Mod 564: 4,321 lbs. (1,960 kg)
   Mod 563: 4,453 to 4,652 lbs. (2,020 to 2,110 kg)
   Type A: 10,803 lbs. (4,900 kg)
   Type B: 8,818 lbs. (4,000 kg)
   Sea Cobra: N/A

Elevation Single Mountings: -15 / +75 degrees
Types A and B: -13 / +85 degrees
Sea Cobra: -15 / +85 degrees
Elevation Rate Single Mountings: 80 degrees per second
Types A and B: 75 degrees per second
Sea Cobra: N/A
Train 360 degrees
Train Rate Single: 140 degrees per second
Types A and B: 130 degrees per second
Sea Cobra: N/A
Gun recoil N/A
  • ^Mod 559 is intended to be controlled only by an external FCS and/or by an emergency external aiming device (such as an Optical Director). Mod 564 has the external FCS supplemented by an electro-optic TV Micro Fire Control System (MFCS) which acts as a redundant system if the main FCS fails. The MFCS has an off-mount console equipped with a TV monitor and target indicators which can be remotely controlled from the ship's bridge. Mod 563 adds a manned on-mount control position with the operator utilizing the MFCS. This model is also available with a two axis stabilization of the line of fire.
  • ^The difference between the Type A and Type B is simply in the number of ready-rounds on-mount. The Type A carries 2,000 rounds while the Type B carries 1,000 rounds.

Additional Pictures

Sources

"The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1991/92" by Norman Friedman
"Defense & Armament Heracles International" Issue #69, January 1988
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ATK
OTO-Melara
Rheinmetall AG
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Special help by Matthew Rodchenko

Page History

21 May 2006 - Benchmark
19 April 2019 - Corrected typographical error, reorganized notes