photos and info: Becker machinegun/cannon 1918

[Volker_Nemsch]

I´m looking for photos and informations about the Becker machinegun/cannon of 1918.

I´ve seen some of them in the military museum Koblenz. But I need some additional information.

Thanks in advance!

[Volker_Nemsch]

OK, no answer up to now. But this leads to the next question: was the Becker-gun only a prototype and never used in frontline aircraft?

:

[Immo_Frese]

Volker,
my info on the Becker 20 mm Kanone is very limited. All I know is that there have been an anti-tank gun (with some success), an AA-gun (without success) and the aircraft gun which was at least mounted in the gondolas of Zeppelin airships. The rate of fire was very high for this calibre with 400 rounds per minute, but the gun had only a twelve -round magazin, so I assume it wasn't very effective.
Don't know if it was ever used with front line planes but there was a special ring mount invented for its use by Franz Schneider of Johannisthal.

Immo

[jado]

Volker:

Just sent you via e-mail approx two and a half pages from Harry Woodmans' Early Aircraft Armament on the Becker.
To long for answer here. Just to let you know attachment OK!

VBR
Joe

[Volker_Nemsch]

Who can tell me where to find photos of this gun?

Thank you both Immo and Joe for your help (Joe, I received your mail and it contains a lot of information). If you would send it to the WEBMASTER he probably will put it into the AIRCRAFT/AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT section.

8)

Up to now, thank you very much!

* *

Who can tell me where to find photos of this gun?

Thank you both Immo and Joe for your help (Joe, I received your mail and it contains a lot of information). If you would send it to the WEBMASTER he probably will put it into the AIRCRAFT/AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT section.

First, I don´t think Arms and Armour press or Harry Woodmann would like that idea with all it´s copyright implications....

But in addition to that, the best stuff I´m aware off on the Becker canon is actually the article by Pete Grosz in OtF 7/2:

"The 2 cm Becker Aircraft canon - development and use"

24 (TWENTYFOUR) pages on the Becker canon, all you need to know....

Just to give some additional information from that article:

- the Becker canon was actually first tested in the field in 1916 (so it´s no 1918 design)

Main aircraft using (or intended for use )the Becker canon included:

- The Albatros D VI and Caspar D I fighters both specifically designed with that canon in mind)
- The AEG G IV k armoured ground attack aircraft
- the AEG J II (20 examples build with a Becker canon)
- The AGO S I Schlachtflugzeug
- The Albatros D II (photos of the installation in the article)
- the Albatros J I (the aircraft in which the Becker saw it´s first major use, with a total of 8 test aircraft delivered for frontline evaluation in early ´18

There were a myriad of other´s intended for use of the Becker (or actually using it), like the AEG CIV, the AEG G II, the AEG J I, AGO C I, Albatros C V, Albatros J II, Dornier Gs I,Friedrichshafen G III, Gotha G I, Gotha G IV, Gotha G IX, Brandenburg W 19, W 23, W 33, W 34, W 35, Junkers J I, Cl I, LVG C V and Oertz W 5

The canon was intensivly used in evaluation aircraft, at least one aircraft (Alb J I 768/17) being captured by the allies.

And as you may have seen from the Woodman scans, the later developments of that design were used by many combatants in the 39/45 sequel....

Finally, I also have some shots of the Koblenz Becker (which, IIRC, is actually an early model) - nothing you will not hae seen already, I guess. But did yiou also notice the equally interesting 1918 TuF (Tank und Flieger) 13 mm development of the Spandau displayed over there? Now THAT is an interesting gun....


(The other) Volker