autocannon
Noun
Meaning
autocannon (plural autocannons or autocannon)
A fully automatic projectile weapon similar to a machine gun, but firing shells instead of bullets and larger in calibre.
Examples
In most Western IFVs, the comparatively large smoothbore guns on the BMP and later variants of the Ratel have now been discarded in favour of smaller calibre autocannon.
The Su-35's armament includes a GSh-30-1 30mm autocannon with 150 rounds, along with 17,630 pounds of payload on twelve external points.
Further armament experiments from March to June 1941 resulted in the P-38E combat configuration of four M2 Browning machine guns, and one Hispano 20mm (.79in) autocannon with 150 rounds.
Finally, the tank had a 20mm autocannon so that it could fight off attack helicopters.
James Puckle 's 1718 early autocannon was one of the first inventions required to provide a specification for a patent.
Some of the most widely used types of modern cannon are howitzers, mortars, guns, and autocannon, although a few superguns —extremely large, custom-designed cannon—have also been constructed.