MK 108 cannon

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	Weapon: MK 108 cannon Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1943 Overall Length (mm): 1057.0 Overall Length (in): 41.61 Weight (kg): 58.00 Weight (pounds): 127.87

The Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 108 was a German 30x90 mmB autocannon developed during World War II to provide the Luftwaffe with a lightweight, compact, and high-rate-of-fire weapon for use against enemy aircraft. Designed in 1940 and entering service in 1943, it used a simple blowback-operated mechanism and low chamber pressure, which allowed for a short and inexpensive production cycle. The MK 108 was engineered specifically for short-range air combat, firing a heavy 330 g high-explosive shell at a relatively modest muzzle velocity of around 540 m/s, but delivering devastating destructive power with even a few hits.

Production of the MK 108 began in 1942 and continued until the end of the war, with approximately 10,000-12,000 units manufactured. Its simplicity meant it could be produced with fewer machining operations compared to earlier cannons, a critical advantage for Germany's strained wartime industry. The MK 108 was installed in a wide variety of Luftwaffe aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4, Bf 110, Me 262 jet fighter, and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8/R2 "Sturmbock" bomber interceptor. It was also fitted in nose and wing mounts, and in the Me 262's case, in a quartet of nose-mounted guns capable of delivering a massive volume of fire in mere seconds.

The MK 108 earned notoriety for its role in Germany's late-war bomber interception strategy. Although its low muzzle velocity made it ineffective at long ranges or against maneuvering fighters, its powerful Minengeschoss (thin-walled high-explosive) ammunition could destroy or cripple a heavy bomber with just one or two hits. This made it a fearsome weapon in close-range engagements, particularly against Allied heavy bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and Lancaster. Despite its short effective range of around 600 meters, the MK 108's destructive efficiency and ease of manufacture made it one of the most iconic and distinctive Luftwaffe cannons of the war.