Becker M2 20mm cannon

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	Weapon: Becker M2 20mm cannon Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1916 Overall Length (mm): 1200.0 Overall Length (in): 47.24 Weight (kg): 30.00 Weight (pounds): 66.14

The Becker M2 20mm cannon, developed during World War I by the German Becker company, was one of the earliest automatic cannons of its kind. Designed primarily as an aircraft weapon, the M2 operated using a delayed blowback mechanism and fired 20 mm high-explosive rounds at a modest rate of fire. It was a lightweight and innovative weapon for its time, specifically intended to provide aircraft with a more powerful armament compared to standard machine guns.

Production of the Becker Type M2 began in 1916 and continued until the end of the war in 1918. While only around 500 units were produced, its development marked a significant milestone in the evolution of automatic cannons. Limited by the constraints of wartime production and materials, the cannon saw service primarily with the German Luftstreitkrafte, where it was mounted on various aircraft for use against other aircraft, balloons, and ground targets.

The Becker M2 gained a reputation as an innovative but somewhat underutilized weapon due to its relatively low production numbers and the rapid pace of aviation advancements during the war. After the war, the design formed the basis for later developments, most notably influencing the Oerlikon series of autocannons. Its legacy lies in its pioneering role in automatic cannon technology, paving the way for the widespread use of similar weapons in aviation and ground warfare.