Description
20mm GAU-4 / XM130 / M61 / M61A1 Vulcan Bearing Retainer Body
Item Overview
General Electric Corporation bearing retainer body for the 20mm Vulcan autocannon family. This major structural component sits at the forward end of the gun housing, immediately behind the six-barrel cluster. It forms the main body of the retainer assembly shown in military technical manuals and connects several of the gun’s major assemblies.
Identification and Features
The body has a circular bearing opening, a flanged connection for the rear housing, and mounting locations for the two recoil adapters. Its distinctive outline can be seen in both the complete-gun illustrations and the exploded parts drawings.
- Component: Bearing Retainer Body.
- Manufacturer: General Electric Corporation.
- G.E. Part Number: 7269476.
- U.S. Army Part Number: 7269888.
- Associated Autocannons: 20mm GAU-4, XM130, M61, and M61A1 Vulcan.
Function
The bearing retainer body contains the seat for the ball bearing that supports the gun’s rotating rotor assembly. The rear housing bolts to this body, as do the two recoil adapters. It therefore serves as a structural connection between the rotor support, rear housing, and recoil-adapter mounting points. Paragraph 1-23 of the illustrated military manual describes the retainer assembly’s bearing-seat and recoil-adapter mounting functions.
Documented End-Item Application
This bearing retainer body is identified for the 20mm GAU-4 / XM130 / M61 / M61A1 Vulcan autocannon family. The accompanying M61/M61A1 illustrations show the related retainer assembly installed around the forward portion of the rotor. In Figure 2, sheet 3 of 3, the retainer assembly is identified as item 44, separately from the rear housing and rotor assembly.
Product History
This General Electric component belongs to the Vulcan gun family, which entered military service during the 1950s. Period technical illustrations document its place in the gun’s housing structure. Figure 1-16 identifies the related unit as the Retainer assembly, while the exploded views show its relationship to the bearing, rotor, and rear housing. The bearing retainer body is the principal structural piece of that assembly.
Parent-Equipment History
Vulcan-family aircraft applications included the F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-4E Phantom II, A-7D Corsair II, B-58 Hustler, B-52H Stratofortress, F-15 Eagle, and F-16 Fighting Falcon. These aircraft place the parent gun family across several generations of American fighter, strike-aircraft, and bomber history.
Weapon-System Background
The Vulcan is a six-barrel, 20mm rotary cannon based on the Gatling principle. Sharing the firing cycle among six barrels reduces the heat and wear concentrated in any one barrel. The M61A1 uses external power to drive its rotating mechanism. The bearing retainer body belongs to the stationary support structure surrounding that mechanism.
History of Use
The Vulcan-equipped F-105 Thunderchief saw extensive service during the Vietnam War. The gun also served in peacetime fighter units. The M61A1 displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force previously armed an F-4E Phantom II assigned to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base.
Condition
Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
A distinctive General Electric component for collections and exhibits covering the mechanical design and service history of American aircraft armament.
- Military aviation, Cold War, and Vulcan autocannon collections.
- Museum exhibits and non-firing gun displays.
- Technical reference collections studying historic rotary-cannon components.
Approx length 11", Approx width 11", Approx height 6", Approx weight 14.4-lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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