Landships II

2 CM FLUGZEUG-MACHINEN KANONE Becker TYPE 2.
20mm, blow back operation wt of gun and feed 66lb, 12 rd Magasine (curved), M velocity 1,570 fs. Rate of fire 300 -350 rp Total deliveries approx 111 (includes some Type 1 and Type 3 as well. Use largely evaluation but in summer 1918 someGerman naval Zeppelins had two mounted as  defensive weapons against Allied flying boats. Gun tried out on AEG GIV, AEG GIVK (in special nose turret), Friedrichshaven GIIIA and Hansa Brandenberg W19 (the Type 1 was also mounted in the Gotha G1). One Type 2 is currently in the museum at Aberdeen proving grounds.. I'll scan some pictures 2nite - a mite busy at moment might be tomorrow.

.. the 2cm Becker.   Had spade grips, in it's late war ground role employed as AA and AT.  There are a number of pics out there. After the war,developement continued in Switzerland.

 

Photo of type 2 mounted on Friedrichhaven GIII. Harry Woodman has a page and a half on it in Early Aircraft Armament (a book well worth having even though it does contain a few howlers Sopwith I 1/2 strutter mixed up with Avro  504K for example) However Woodman has since puplished a very comprehensive corrections list on the net. Interstingly enough post war development was taken over by both Oerlikon and Hispano Suiza. Another intersting fact is that it was first patented in America in 1915 and offerd to the US government who showed no interest whatsoever.

-- Edited by Centurion at 18:10, 2006-07-19