Solothurn ST-5
| Solothurn ST-5 | |
|---|---|
 A Chinese Army Solothurn ST-5 AA gun was capture by the Japanese Imperial Army in Nanjing, 1937. | |
| Type | Anti-aircraft cannon |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Shell | 20×138mmB |
| Caliber | 20 mm (.79 in) |
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The Solothurn ST-5 is a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun designed by Solothurn in Switzerland which ultimately was the design basis for the highly successful 2 cm FlaK 30 series of guns used by Germany in World War II.
Solothurn was owned by the German firm Rheinmetall, which at the time was prohibited from developing certain weapons. It and other German manufacturers sought partnerships with foreign firms, often owning them outright, in an effort to circumvent the terms of the Versailles Treaty.
The ST-5 fired the 'Long Solothurn' ammunition, the cartridge 20 × 138 mm. B. The shell was 138 mm long, making it the most powerful 20 mm round available.
Users
Nazi Germany - While Germany did not adopt the ST-5, the Kriegsmarine did acquire a version of the weapon for ship-board air defense. The weapon was designated 20 mm C/30 and equipped several German naval vessels during World War II. This weapon was further refined for the other German forces as the 2 cm Flak 30 described separately.
Bulgaria
Republic of China
See also
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