Description
20mm Display Round with Hispano-Suiza 20x110mm Brass Case and M61 Vulcan 20x102mm Projectile – Hispano-Style Color Codes
This 20mm display round combines a Hispano-Suiza-pattern 20x110mm brass cartridge case with a 20mm projectile from the M61 Vulcan 20x102mm ammunition family. The projectile has been repainted using Hispano-Suiza-style ammunition color coding to give the assembled round the appearance of an earlier Hispano service cartridge.
This is an important distinction for collectors: the case and projectile come from two different 20mm ammunition systems. This is a mixed-component display assembly, not an original factory-loaded Hispano-Suiza or M61 Vulcan cartridge.
Historical Significance
The Hispano-Suiza 20mm cannon family became one of the most important aircraft armament systems of World War II. The original HS.404 design led to British and American versions that armed a wide range of Allied aircraft.
In U.S. service, the Hispano-derived system included the 20mm Automatic Gun M1 and 20mm Aircraft Automatic Gun AN-M2. The U.S. Army was publishing dedicated technical manuals for these weapons by 1943.
The Hispano family used the long 20x110mm cartridge, while later aircraft-gun development moved toward more compact ammunition.
The M61 Vulcan represents the next major generation of American aircraft cannon technology. Developed during the early Cold War, the six-barrel rotary cannon used the shorter 20x102mm cartridge and became a standard aircraft gun on generations of U.S. fighters.
This display round therefore combines components representing two major periods of 20mm aircraft armament: the World War II Hispano era and the Cold War M61 Vulcan era.
What This Item Is
The lower portion is a 20x110mm Hispano-Suiza-pattern brass cartridge case.
The projectile is from the 20x102mm Vulcan ammunition family. While both systems use nominal 20mm projectiles, the complete cartridges are different in case length, chamber dimensions, ammunition design, and weapon application.
The projectile has been painted to reproduce a Hispano-Suiza-style color scheme. The paint is therefore part of the display configuration and should not be used to identify the projectile's original Vulcan ammunition type.
This assembly should not be confused with a documented military loading. It is best described as a collector/display round assembled from components of two different U.S./Allied 20mm cannon families.
Hispano-Suiza 20x110mm Case
The 20x110mm Hispano cartridge was associated with weapons including:
- Hispano-Suiza HS.404
- British Hispano Mk I and Mk II cannon
- U.S. 20mm Automatic Gun M1
- U.S. 20mm Aircraft Automatic Gun AN-M2
- U.S. 20mm Automatic Gun M3
- U.S. M24-series 20mm aircraft cannon
Period U.S. technical documentation illustrates 20x110mm Hispano-family service ammunition assembled with brass cartridge cases. One surviving Army illustration shows the M97 HEI cartridge in this general brass-case configuration.
M61 Vulcan Projectile
The M61 Vulcan uses the 20x102mm ammunition family, a separate cartridge system developed for high-rate aircraft and antiaircraft cannon.
Numerous projectile types have been produced for the 20x102mm family, including target-practice, armor-piercing, high-explosive incendiary, tracer, and later multipurpose designs.
Because the original model designation of the projectile in this display assembly has not been provided, it is identified only as a Vulcan-family 20mm projectile. It should not be cataloged as an M55, M56, M53, PGU-series, or other specific model without supporting markings.
Key Features
- Caliber: 20mm
- Type: Mixed-component display round
- Cartridge case family: Hispano-Suiza 20x110mm
- Case material: Brass
- Projectile family: M61 Vulcan 20x102mm
- Projectile model: Not confirmed
- Projectile finish: Repainted
- Paint scheme: Hispano-Suiza-style color coding
- Hispano period: World War II through early Cold War
- Vulcan period: Cold War through modern service
- Collector configuration: Yes
- Factory-original complete cartridge: No
- Included: One assembled 20mm display round
Why This Item Matters
This unusual assembly makes the differences between two major generations of 20mm aircraft cannon ammunition easy to appreciate.
The long brass Hispano case represents the cannon ammunition carried by Allied aircraft during World War II, while the Vulcan projectile represents the later 20x102mm system developed for high-rate rotary cannon.
For a display collection, the combination creates an attractive brass-case round while also providing an opportunity to explain how 20mm aircraft ammunition changed between the piston-engine fighter era and the jet age.
About This Item
This item consists of a Hispano-Suiza 20x110mm brass case fitted with a Vulcan-family 20mm projectile.
The projectile has been painted in Hispano-Suiza-style colors for display. These colors represent the chosen display appearance and do not establish the projectile's original military load type.
The item may show scratches, brass tarnish, oxidation, paint wear, staining, handling marks, or other signs of age and storage.
This listing is for one assembled display round only. The Hispano-Suiza cannon, M61 Vulcan cannon, ammunition links, feed equipment, boxes, and other accessories are not included.
Ideal For
- 20mm ammunition collections
- Hispano-Suiza HS.404 displays
- M61 Vulcan collections
- WWII aircraft-armament displays
- Cold War aviation collections
- Aircraft-cannon development exhibits
- Military museums
- Cartridge-reference collections
- Cross-era aviation displays
- Educational collections
Approx length 7", Approx width 1", Approx height 1", Approx weight .5 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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