View source for MG 151 cannon

{{Short description|WWII-era German aircraft autocannon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Maschinengewehr MG 151
|image= MG151 and MG151-20 variants from German Manual, 1942.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption= MG 151/20 – normal (fig.1) vs. electric (fig.3) ignition<br>MG 151/15 – normal (fig.2) vs. electric (fig.4) ignition
|origin= [[Germany]]
|type= Aircraft cannon
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged= Yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=[[#Users|See ''users'']]
|wars=[[#Wars|See ''wars'']]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer= Waffenfabrik Mauser AG
|production_date=1940-1941 – ''MG 151/15''<br>1941-1945 – ''MG 151/20'' (Nazi Germany)
|number=
|variants=[[#MG 151/15 specifications|MG 151/15 (see specs)]]<br>[[#MG 151/20 specifications|MG 151/20 (see specs)]]
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label =
|weight=
|length=
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber=
|action=
|rate=
|velocity=
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
}}
The '''''Maschinengewehr'' (MG) 151''' is a belt-fed [[autocannon]] for aircraft use, developed in [[Nazi Germany]] from 1934 to 1940 and produced by [[Waffenfabrik Mauser]] during [[World War II]]. It was originally produced in 15.1&nbsp;mm caliber from 1940, with a [[15×96mm]] cartridge, but due to demand for higher effect against aircraft, especially with the introduction of [[mine shell]]s for the [[MG FF cannon|20 mm MG-FF/M]] aircraft cannon, the design was rechambered to 20&nbsp;mm caliber in 1941, using a newly developed [[20×82mm]] cartridge which traded projectile velocity for explosive power. The initial 15&nbsp;mm variant then became known as the '''MG 151/15''', with the new 20&nbsp;mm variant becoming the '''MG 151/20'''.

The MG 151/20 cannon was widely used on German [[Luftwaffe]] [[combat aircraft]] throughout World War II, mainly as offensive armament, but also seeing some use as defensive guns. Existing MG 151/15 guns saw use as aircraft armament throughout the war, albeit more limited compared to the MG 151/20, but also as anti-aircraft guns in various configurations, such as the [[Sd.Kfz. 251#Variants|SdKfz 251/21 ''Drilling'']] half-track which carried three MG 151/15.

Post-war, salvaged MG 151/20 saw usage by many nations. France had salvaged many guns and became the main user and exporter of the MG 151/20 during the [[Cold War]], fitting it to not only [[aircraft]], but also armoured fighting vehicles as [[anti aircraft]] weaponry. France continued exporting the gun all the way into the 1960s, then primarily as flexible dorsal [[gunship]] armament for the [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Aérospatiale SA-3160 and SA-3164 Alouette III]] utility helicopter. SA-3160s armed with MG 151/20s were bought by [[Portugal]], [[Rhodesia]] and [[South Africa]] in 1966 and saw service until the early 1990s. South Africa reused the 20×82mm cartridge from the MG 151/20 to chamber their [[Denel NTW-20]] anti-materiel rifle.

== Development and wartime history ==
The pre-war German doctrine for arming single-engine [[fighter aircraft]] mirrored that of the French. This doctrine favoured a powerful autocannon mounted between the cylinder banks of a [[V engine]] and firing through the propeller hub, known as a ''moteur-canon'' in French (from its first use with the [[Hispano-Suiza 8#Variants|Hispano-Suiza HS.8C engine]] in World War I, on the [[SPAD S.XII]]) and by the cognate ''Motorkanone'' in German by the 1930s. The weapon preferred by the French in this role was the [[Oerlikon FF|20 mm Oerlikon FF S model]], but this proved too big for German engines. Mauser was given the task of developing a gun that would fit, with a minimum sacrifice in performance. As a stop-gap measure, the [[MG FF cannon]] was developed from the Oerlikon FF and put in widespread use, but its performance was lackluster.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=161–162}}

[[File:Fw 190 weapons arrangement.jpg|thumb|left|On the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]A-5 interceptor two MG 151/20 were fitted in wing roots]]

Production of the MG 151 in its original 15&nbsp;mm calibre format began in 1940. After combat evaluation of the 15&nbsp;mm cartridge as the main armament of early [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]F-2 fighters, the cannon was redesigned with a larger cartridge as the 20&nbsp;mm MG 151/20 in 1941. Combat experience showed that a more powerful explosive shell was preferable to a higher projectile velocity.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=165}} The MG 151/20 cartridge was created by expanding the neck of the cartridge to hold the larger explosive [[Shell (projectile)|shell]] used in the MG FF cannon, and shortening the length of the cartridge case to match the overall length of the original 15&nbsp;mm cartridge.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=165}} These measures simplified conversion of the 15&nbsp;mm to the 20&nbsp;mm MG 151/20, requiring only a change of barrel and other small modifications. A disadvantage of the simplified conversion was reduction of projectile [[muzzle velocity]] from {{convert|850|m/s}} for the 15&nbsp;mm shell to {{convert|700|m/s|abbr=on}} for the larger and heavier 20&nbsp;mm shell.{{sfnp|Johnson|1944|pp=384–385}} A 20 mm AP projectile could penetrate only 10–12&nbsp;mm of armor at 300 m (at 60 degrees), compared to 18&nbsp;mm penetration for the 15&nbsp;mm under the same conditions but this was not seen as a significant limitation.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=165}} The 20&nbsp;mm version became the standard inboard cannon from the Bf 109F-4 series.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=165}} The 20&nbsp;mm MG 151/20 offered more predictable trajectory, longer range and higher impact velocity than the {{convert|580|m/s|abbr=on}} cartridge of the earlier MG FF cannon.{{sfnp|Johnson|1944|pp=384–385}} The MG FF was retained for flexible, wing and upward firing ''[[Schräge Musik]]'' mounts to the end of the war.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=163}}

The German preference for explosive power rather than armor penetration was taken further with the development of the mine shell which had been first introduced for the MG FF (in the Bf&nbsp;109&nbsp;E-4) and later for the MG 151/20. Even this improvement in explosive power turned out to be unsatisfactory against the four-engine bombers that German fighters were up against in the second part of the war. By German calculations, it took about 15–20 hits with the MG 151/20 to down a heavy bomber but this was reduced to just 3–4 hits for a 30&nbsp;mm shell with the [[Brisance|shattering]] effects of its [[hexogen]] explosive filling used by the long-barreled [[MK 103]] and shorter barreled [[MK 108 cannon]]. Only four or five hits with 20&nbsp;mm calibre cannon were needed for frontal attacks on heavy bombers ([[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]) but such attacks were difficult to execute. The 30&nbsp;mm MK 108 cannon thus replaced the MG 151/20 as the standard, engine-mount ''Motorkanone'' centre-line armament starting with the Bf&nbsp;109&nbsp;K-4 and was also retrofitted to some of the G-series.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=166–167}}

Eight hundred MG 151/20 were exported to Japan aboard the Italian submarine {{ship|Italian submarine|Comandante Cappellini||2}} in August 1943 and used to equip 388 Japanese [[Kawasaki Ki-61]]-I ''Hien'' fighters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.markkaiser.com/japaneseaviation/hien.html |title=Ki-61 Hien survey |last=Kaiser |first=Mark |date=1999 |website=Japanese Aviation |access-date=2009-06-04 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731101040/http://www.markkaiser.com/japaneseaviation/hien.html |archive-date=2009-07-31}}</ref> The 20&nbsp;mm MG 151/20 was also fitted on the [[Macchi C.205]], the [[Fiat G.55]] and [[Reggiane Re.2005]] of the Italian ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' and [[IAR 80#IAR.81|IAR 81B and 81C]] of the Romanian Royal Air Force.{{sfnp|Williams|Gustin|2003|pp=238, 274–275}}

An unknown number of cannons were converted for usage in the ground use role in early 1945, predominantly within ''[[Volkssturm]]'' units serving in the [[Posen (region)|Posen]] area. Its effectiveness in this role are unknown but it was photographed on parade in Posen November 1944 with the ''Wartheland Volkssturm'' units.{{sfn|Kissel|2005|p=91}}

=== Postwar use ===
[[File:20 TorKK MG-151 2 Torpin Tykit 3.JPG|thumb|Two MG 151/20 cannon fitted to a Finnish ''TorKK MG-151 2'' anti-aircraft mounting. Cannons of Torp museum (2011)]]

After World War II, numbers of ex-Luftwaffe MG 151/20 cannon were removed from inventory and from scrapped aircraft and used by various nations in their own aircraft. The [[French Air and Space Force|French ''Armée de l'air'']] (AdA) and [[French Army Light Aviation|French Army aviation arm]] (''Aviation légère de l'armée de Terre, ''ALAT) used MG 151/20 cannon as fixed and flexible armament in various aircraft, including helicopters. The AdA and ALAT jointly developed a rubber-insulated flexible mount for the MG 151/20 for use as a door gun, which was later used in combat in Algeria aboard several FAF/ALAT [[Piasecki H-21]]C assault transport helicopters and on [[Sikorsky H-34#France|Sikorsky H-34]] gunship helicopters.{{sfnp|Windrow|1997|p=43}} French Matra MG 151 20 mm cannons were used by Portugal and [[Rhodesia]] fitted to their Alouette III helicopters, while [[Denel]] designed its [[Vektor GA-1|own variant]] for the [[South African Air Force]].{{sfnp|Petter-Bowyer|2005|pp=278–279}}<ref name=SAAF>{{cite web |url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/42/ga-1-20mm-cannon |title=GA 1 20mm Cannon |website=SAAF: Unofficial Website of the South African Air Force |access-date=2013-06-18}}</ref>

== MG 151 applications ==
=== Aircraft ===
{{div col}}
* {{flagicon|France|naval}} [[Bloch MB.175T]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloch MB-175T |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/bloch-mb-175t-aviation-france-10317.htm |website=aviafrance.com |access-date=2024-02-13}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Dornier Do 17]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Dornier Do 217]]
* {{flagicon|Italy|1861}} [[Fiat G.55 Centauro]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Focke-Wulf Ta 152]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Heinkel He 162]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Junkers Ju 87]]
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[IAR 79]]
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[IAR 80]]
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[IAR 81]]
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kawasaki Ki-61#Variants|Kawasaki Ki-61-I-Hei]]
* {{flagicon|Italy|1861}} [[Macchi C.205]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Messerschmitt Me 210]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II#Variants|Reggiane Re.2001 CN Falco II]]
* {{flagicon|Italy|1861}} [[Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario]]
* {{flagicon|France}} [[SNCASO SO.8000 Narval]]
* {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mörkö-Morane|Valmet MSv "Mörkö-Morane"]]
{{div col end}}

=== Armoured fighting vehicles ===
* {{flagicon|France}} [[AMX-13]]t (SAMM S232 AA-turret)
* {{flagicon|France}} [[AMX-50]]t (SAMM S36Z AA-gun mount)
* {{flagicon|France}} [[FCM 12t]] (SAMM S232 AA-turret)
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Lorraine 155 mm]]
* {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Sd.Kfz. 251#Variants|SdKfz 251/21 ''Schützenpanzerwagen'' ''Drilling'']]

=== Helicopters ===
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Aérospatiale Alouette III SA-3160]] – as gunships
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Aérospatiale Alouette III SA-3164]] – single prototype, also known as "Alouette-Canon"
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw]] – as gunships
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Sikorsky H-34|Sikorsky H-34A Pirate]] – gunship variant<ref>{{cite web |title=Sikorsky S.58/H 34 armé "Pirate" |url=http://avions-de-la-guerre-d-algerie.over-blog.com/article-20685086.html |website=avions-de-la-guerre-d-algerie.over-blog.com |access-date=2024-02-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=" Vous avez dit Pirate ?"... |url=https://www.aha-helico-air.asso.fr/pirate.htm |website=aha-helico-air.asso.fr |access-date=2024-02-13}}</ref>

<gallery widths="150" heights="100">
File:MG 151 cannon Fiat G.55.JPG|An MG 151/20 cannon in the wing of the Italian [[Fiat G.55]] fighter
File:Fiat G.55 OR.jpg|[[Fiat G.55]] gun arrangement, with MG 151/20's as motor- and wing guns
File:Sdkfz 251.21 drilling (cropped).jpg|[[Sd.Kfz. 251#Variants|SdKfz 251/21 ''Drilling'']] anti-aircraft half-track, armed with three MG 151/15
File:Sud SA.3160 Alouette III ‘29’ (22915706612) (MG 151).jpg|South African [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Aérospatiale SA-3160 Alouette III]] with flexible dorsal MG 151/20
</gallery>

== MG 151/15 specifications ==
{{Infobox weapon
|name= MG 151/15
|image=
|image_size =
|caption=
|origin= [[Germany]]
|type= Aircraft cannon
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged= Yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery= yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=[[#Users|See ''users'']]
|wars=[[#Wars|See ''wars'']]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer= Waffenfabrik Mauser AG
|production_date=1940-1941
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label =MG 151/15
|weight={{convert|38.1|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|1.916|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|1.254|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|width=
|height=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=[[15×96mm]] Mauser
|caliber={{convert|15.1|mm|abbr=on}}
|action=[[Short recoil]], [[open-bolt]]
|rate=680–740&nbsp;rpm
|velocity={{convert|850|to|960|m/s|abbr=on}} {{sfnp|Johnson|1944|pp=384–385}}
|range={{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}}
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
}}
* Barrel length: 1254&nbsp;mm (L/83 [[caliber length]])
* Rifling: 8 grooves, right hand twist, 1 turn in 16"
* Muzzle velocity:
** 850&nbsp;m/s (AP-T)
** 960&nbsp;m/s (HE-T, HEI-T)
** 1030&nbsp;m/s AP(WC)
* Projectile types:
** AP-T weighing 72&nbsp;g
** HE weighing 57&nbsp;g. HE filler: 2.8&nbsp;g
** AP(WC) weighing 52&nbsp;g

== MG 151/20 specifications ==
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Maschinengewehr MG 151/20
|image= File:Mauser MG 151.JPG
|image_size = 300
|caption= Preserved MG 151/20.
|origin= [[Germany]]
|type= Aircraft cannon
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged= Yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer= Waffenfabrik Mauser AG
|production_date=1941-1945
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight= {{convert|42.7|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}
|length= {{convert|1.766|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|part_length= {{convert|1.104|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|width=
|height=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=[[20×82mm]] Mauser
|caliber= {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on}}
|action=[[Short recoil]], [[open-bolt]]
|rate= 600–750&nbsp;rpm
|velocity={{convert|705|to|805|m/s|abbr=on}}{{sfnp|Johnson|1944|pp=384–385}}{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=165}}
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
}}

Two versions of the 20&nbsp;mm MG 151 were built. Early guns used a [[Centerfire ammunition|percussion priming]] system, and later E-models used [[Electronic firing|electrical priming]]. Some rounds were available with a timer self-destruct and/or tracer (or glowtracer). There were also different types of high-explosive shell fillings with either standard ''Pentrit A'' which was [[pentaerythritol tetranitrate]] (PETN) and aluminium, HA 41 ([[RDX]] mixed with Aluminium powder which had a 40 percent increased high explosive and incendiary effect),{{sfnp|L.Dv. 4000/10|1944|}} and a compressed version where more explosives (HA 41) were compressed into same space using large pressures (MX).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://michaelhiske.de/Wehrmacht/Luft/HandbuchBordwaffenMunition/Teil05/Blatt084.htm|title=Handbuch Bordwaffenmunition, Teil 5: 2 cm Munition; 2 cm M-Gesch.Patr. X m. Zerl.}}</ref>
* Rifling: 1 turn in 23 calibers
* Effective range:800&nbsp;m
* Muzzle velocity was 805&nbsp;m/s (HEI-HC ([[Mine shell|M]])) and 705&nbsp;m/s (HE-Tracer, armor piercing)

Ammunition types:
* Tracer ammo
** I-T – Incendiary, Tracer
** API-T – Armour-Piercing Incendiary, Tracer
** APHEF-T – Armour-Piercing High-Explosive Fragmentation, Tracer
** HEF-T – High-Explosive Fragmentation, Tracer
** HEFI-T – High-Explosive Fragmentation, Tracer
** AP-T – Armour-Piercing, Tracer
* Tracerless ammo
** I – Incendiary
** API – Armour-Piercing Incendiary
** APHEF – Armour-Piercing High-Explosive Fragmentation
** HEI-HC ([[Mine shell|M]]) – High-Explosive Incendiary, High Capacity

== US derivatives (T17, T39, T51) ==
During World War II, the US Army produced the [[0.60]]-caliber T17, a reverse-engineered copy of the German MG 151 chambered for an experimental anti-tank rifle round. A speculative order of 5,000 T17 guns was placed, but only around 300 of them were built. However, none saw service despite the availability of 6 million rounds of .60 caliber ammunition.{{sfnp|Williams|2002|pp=154}} Almost one million rounds were fired during the T17 testing program. The main US version produced, the T17E3, was made by [[Frigidaire]]; it weighed {{convert|134|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and had a rate of fire of only 600 rounds per minute. Further refinements led to the T39 and T51 versions, but these also did not enter service.{{sfnp|Chinn|1951|pp=105–153}}

=== US ammunition ===
A cartridge originally based on an armor-piercing round designed in 1939 for use with the experimental T1 and T1E1 anti-tank rifles. It was cancelled in 1944 when it became clear that modern tanks had armor too thick to penetrate with a heavy rifle cartridge. Developments showed that [[Monroe effect|shaped-charged]] [[M9 rifle grenade|rifle grenades]] and [[Bazooka|rocket launchers]] were the future of infantry anti-tank weapons, and the anti-tank rifle concept was abandoned.

Much like the British attempts to turn their stocks of obsolete .55 Boys anti-tank cartridges into a native-designed heavy machine gun cartridge, the .60-caliber cartridge was repurposed as an autocannon cartridge to succeed the older .50 Browning. The ammunition and the T17 cannon were produced from 1942 to 1946 but never proved a substantial improvement over the .50 Browning and the M2HB and M3 heavy machine guns. The cartridge was later shortened and necked up to produce the 20×102mm Vulcan autocannon round.
* '''.60 Armor-Piercing''' [15.2×114mm T1 Rifle] - A 1180-grain (76.5-gram) kinetic penetrator projectile with a velocity of 3,600 feet per second (1,100&nbsp;m/s) for a muzzle energy of over 34,000&nbsp;ft./lbs. (46 kilojoules).<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ATRart.htm |title=An Introduction to Anti-Tank Rifle Cartridges |first=Anthony G. |last=Williams |journal=The Cartridge Researcher |date=December 2004 |publisher=European Cartridge Research Association |access-date=2013-06-18 |via=Military Guns & Ammunition |archive-date=25 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225135156/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ATRart.htm |url-status=dead }} (Modified January 2013, with thanks to Szymon Sztetner.)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://weaponsman.com/?p=29717 |title=The American Cal. .60 Anti-Tank Rifle, T1 & T1E1 |date=February 2016 |website=WeaponsMan |access-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312182716/http://weaponsman.com/?p=29717 |archive-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>
* '''.60 T32 Ball''' [15.2×114mm T17 machine gun]
* '''.60 T77 Ball''' [15.2×114mm T17 machine gun]
* '''.60 T36 Incendiary''' [15.2×114mm T17 machine gun]
* '''.60 T39 Armor-Piercing Incendiary''' [15.2×114mm T17 machine gun]
* '''.60 T60 Armor-Piercing Incendiary''' [15.2×114mm T17 machine gun]

== Users (MG 151/20){{anchor|Users}} ==
* {{flag|Angola}}<ref name="angola p20">{{harvnb|Fontanellaz|Cooper|Matos|2020|page=25}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Finland}}
* {{flagcountry|France}}<ref name="ZA" />
* {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}<ref name=ZA>{{cite journal |url=http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/an_introduction_to_collecting_20.htm |title=An Introduction to Collecting 20 mm Cannon Cartridges |journal=The Cartridge Researcher |first=Anthony G. |last=Williams |date=February 2007 |publisher=European Cartridge Research Association |access-date=2013-06-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025121852/http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/an_introduction_to_collecting_20.htm |archive-date=2012-10-25 |via=Military Guns & Ammunition}}</ref>
* {{Flagcountry|Hungary|variant=1920}}
* {{flag|Italian Social Republic|1943}}
* {{flag|Empire of Japan|1868}}{{sfn|Felton|2005|p=76}}
* {{flagcountry|Portugal}}<ref name="angola p20" />
* {{flagcountry|Rhodesia}}{{sfnp|Petter-Bowyer|2005|pp=278–279}}
* {{flagcountry|Romania|variant=1881}}
* {{flagcountry|South Africa|1928}}<ref name=ZA/>

== Wars ==
* [[World War II]]
* [[Algerian War]]
* [[Portuguese Colonial War]]
* [[Rhodesian Bush War]]
* [[South African Border War]]

== See also ==
* [[List of weapons of military aircraft of Germany during World War II]]
* [[MK 108]] 30 mm cannon
* [[MG 131]] 13 mm heavy machine gun
* [[MG 17]] 7.92 mm machine gun
* [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404]]
* [[Type 99 cannon|20mm Type 99 cannon]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/TheMachineGunVolume3ByGeorgeMChinn/page/n135 |chapter=Chapter 4: Ordnance Corps Short-Recoil-Operated Automatic Machine Gun |last=Chinn |first=George M. |author-link=George M. Chinn |date=1951 |title=The Machine Gun |volume=III |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]]}}
* {{cite book | last=Felton |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Felton |year=2005 | title=Yanagi: The Secret Underwater Trade between Germany and Japan 1942-1945 | publisher=Pen & Sword | isbn=978-1-84415-167-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Fontanellaz |first1=Adrien |last2=Cooper |first2=Tom |last3=Matos |first3=Jose Augusto |title=War of Intervention in Angola, Volume 3: Angolan and Cuban Air Forces, 1975-1985 |date=2020 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Warwick, UK |isbn=978-1-913118-61-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Melvin M. Jr. |author-link=Melvin Johnson |date=1944 |title=Rifles and Machine Guns |location=New York |publisher=[[William Morrow & Company]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Kissel |first= |year=2005 |title=Hitler's last Levy: The Volkssturm 1944–45 |publisher=Helion and Company |isbn=978-1-874622-51-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Petter-Bowyer |first=Peter J. H. |date=2005 |title=Winds of Destruction: The Autobiography of a Rhodesian Combat Pilot |location=Johannesburg |publisher=30° South |isbn=978-0-9584890-3-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Williams |first=Anthony G. |date=2002 |title=Rapid Fire: The Development of Automatic Cannon, Heavy Machine-Guns and Their Ammunition for Armies, Navies and Air Forces |location=Shrewsbury |publisher=Airlife |isbn=978-1-84037-435-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Anthony G. |last2=Gustin |first2=Emmanuel |date=2003 |title=Flying Guns WWII |location=Shrewsbury |publisher=Airlife |isbn=978-1-84037-227-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Windrow |first=Martin |date=1997 |title=The Algerian War, 1954-62 |series=Men-at Arms (No.312) |location=London |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-85532-658-3}}
* {{cite web|website=Internet Archice |date=June 1944 |volume=10 |title=Munitionsvorschrift für Fliegerbordwaffen |trans-title=Ammunition Regulation for on-board Aviation Weapons |language=de |url=https://archive.org/details/ldv400010munitionsvorschriftfuerfliegerbordwaffenteil101944/mode/2up |ref={{sfnRef|L.Dv. 4000/10|1944}} }}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Lepage |first=Jean-Denis G. G. |title=Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945: An Illustrated Guide |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hdQBTcscxyQC&q=Aircrafts+of+the+Luftwaffe |date=23 March 2009 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5280-4}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|MG 151}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/16/type-151-20mm-cannon |title=Type 151 20mm Cannon |website=SAAF: Unofficial Website of the South African Air Force}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/42/ga-1-20mm-cannon |title=GA 1 20mm Cannon |website=SAAF: Unofficial Website of the South African Air Force}}
* {{cite journal |url=http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt/mg151-aircraft-weapon-ww2.html |title=German MG-151 Type 15- and 20-mm Aircraft Weapons |date=July 29, 1943 |journal=Tactical and Technical Trends |number=30 |pages=18–20 |via=LoneSentry.com}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.wehrtechnikmuseum.de/Exponate/Artillerie/k-020MG151Dr.JPG |title=20 mm MG 151 |website=Museum für historische Wehrtechnik}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.prinzeugen.com/Weapons.htm |title=Weapons and Tactics |website=PrinzEugen.com Schnellboot Archive |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224032638/http://www.prinzeugen.com/Weapons.htm |url-status=dead }}

{{WW2 German Aerial Weapons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mg 151 Cannon}}
[[Category:Autocannon]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:20 mm artillery]]
[[Category:World War II machine guns]]
[[Category:World War II artillery of Germany]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1940]]
[[Category:Engine guns]]