The MG FF was a drum-fed 20 mm aircraft cannon developed in 1936 by Oerlikon and license-produced in Germany. The MG FF was designed for use at fixed or flexible mountings in Luftwaffe aircraft during World War II.>br> It had some seriouse disadvantages like low RoF and muzzle velocity as well as being drum-fed. Wing installation on Me109 and Fw 190 was not easy as the drum needed lots of space thus limiting the ammo storage to ~60 shots.
The MG FF was improved to fire a high explosive mine shot (Minengeschoß) with thinner walls but carried more explosives. This projectile was lighter and generated less recoil than earlier projectiles requiring the cannon was modified to the MG FF/M in Summer 1940.
The MG FF and FF/M saw widespread use in Fighters like Me109E, early Me109F, Me110 C to F and Fw190A-2 to A-5 as well as in some bombers like Do 217, He 111 and many other aircraft. It was often replaced with the 20 mm Mg 151/20 during 1943 but saw a come-back as primary Schräge Musik gun in the Me 110 night fighters as it perfectly fits into the rear cockpit.

Technical Data

• Weight : 26.3 kg
• Length : 1.37 m
• Muzzle Velocity : 575 to 700 m/s [1]
• Rate of Fire : 520 to 540 rounds per minute [1]
• Round types: armor piercing (AP), high explosive (HE)
  • HE(M) high explosive mine shot (only MG FF/M)

[1] depending on ammo type used

See Also:

• List of firearms
• List of common WW2 weapons