The 50-mm cannon MK 214 A was a bomber developed for defense cannon for the jet fighter Messerschmitt Me 262 . By the end of the war only two Me 262s were equipped with this cannon.
At a conference in early January 1945 showed Adolf Hitler out that aircraft would be required by a powerful weapon for defence against Allied bombers. However, this weapon should have such a large range that it can be used even beyond the range of the defensive armament of a bomber. When discussing an existing 50-mm cannon for installation into the fighter jet Messerschmitt Me 262 was proposed. Hitler took up this proposal and called for the immediate implementation.
Development
As a basis for development of the 50-mm MK 214 A, was 5 cm PaK 38 ( anti-tank gun ), which as already Kwk 39 (Kampfwagenkanone) was used. In 1944, an aircraft cannon of heavy calibre was requested, created from the Pak 38 at the company Rheinmetall ‘s 50 mm BK 5 (this was including in the Me 410 built-in) and at the company Mauser , the 50-mm MK 214 A.
After several attempts, including the 50-mm BK 5 , on the 11th of March 1945 the installation of the 50-mm cannon MK 214 A V2 autoloader in a Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a.
To accommodate the cannon, the bug was rebuilt, the normal armament (4 × 30 mm MK 108 ) is removed and the nose wheel modified to allow retract (rotated 90 °) below the gun is flat. The gun then stood about two meters above the nose cone out.
This variant of the Messerschmitt 262 was designated Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a/U4. The first flight of the prototype (W.Nr.111899) on 19 March 1945.
When the factory testing, also were target practice next to the flight tests, carried out with the cannon. In this case, satisfactory results were obtained, both on the ground and in the air.
Use
Then, the prototype of which was Jagdverband 44 passed where the machine by Major Wilhelm Herget was flown. At the only use of this Me 262 A-1a/U4 16 April 1945 against Allied bombers but the cannon failed because of jamming.
End War
Only flown this aircraft in use was blown when the war ended. The second test aircraft (W.Nr.170083, ID: 083 V) with a 50-mm Mk 214 A was the end of April / beginning of May 1945, on the airfield Lechfeld of advancing units of the U.S. armed forces looted. In a later ferry flight to Cherbourg it crashed. The German pilot was with the parachute rescue. Another A-1a/U4 Me 262 was still under construction when the war ended and was in Augsburg captured by British forces.
Another variant
In the search for an effective anti-aircraft gun in the so-called intermediate calibre (between 3.7 cm and 8.8 cm) for the altitude range between 1500 and 3000 meters, it was decided in late 1944, the MK 214 A use as such. For this purpose, they should be in the modified carriage of the device 58 can be used. The development contract was awarded in early 1945 the company Duerkopp in Bielefeld. However, no 5-cm Flak 214 more completed until the war ended.
Technical specifications of the 50-mm MK 214 A
Manufacturer: Mauser
Calibre : 50 mm x 420 mm
Mass: 490 kg
Overall length: 4.16m
Cadence : 150 rounds / min
V ° of the projectile: 920 m / s
Bullet weight: 1.54 kg
