30mm Mark 108 German WW2 Luftwaffe Autocannon
$19,500.00
In stock
SKU
30mm Mark 108 German WW2 Luftwaffe Autocannon
Toggle Nav
The #1 Online Source for Military Museum Displays • Movie Props • Training Aids • Historical Artifacts
Rare! Only two Avalible...
Bring one of the most recognizable aircraft cannon designs of the Second World War into your collection with this original restored display30mm Mark 108 German WW2 Luftwaffe Autocannon. Developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig and fielded by the Luftwaffe from 1943 onward, the Mk 108 was designed as a compact, hard-hitting heavy aircraft cannon intended to destroy Allied bombers with the fewest possible hits. In collector terms, it is one of the defining German aircraft guns of the late war period and a centerpiece-grade item for any serious aviation ordnance collection.
The Mk 108 is best known for combining a 30mm bore, a very high destructive payload, and a compact, relatively light gun body that allowed it to be installed in a wide range of German fighter and bomber-destroyer aircraft. It became especially associated with aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Bf 110, Me 262, and other late-war Luftwaffe interceptors, where its mission was clear: bring down heavily built Allied bombers quickly and decisively.
The Mk 108 – Germany’s Late-War Heavy Aircraft Cannon
The Mk 108 was developed during the war as a purpose-built heavy aircraft cannon for air combat against bombers. Unlike higher-velocity cannon such as the MG 151/20 or Mk 103, the Mk 108 prioritized short-range hitting power, compact size, and a high rate of fire over long-range ballistic performance. That tradeoff gave German fighters a weapon that was especially effective in close-range interception, where even a small number of hits could cripple or destroy a large target.
In live service configuration, the Mk 108 fired 30×90mmRB ammunition and is widely associated with the Luftwaffe’s Minengeschoss concept—thin-walled high-explosive shells carrying a large bursting charge for maximum destructive effect against aircraft structures. This was one of the major reasons the Mk 108 earned such a formidable reputation: it did not need many hits to do catastrophic damage to an enemy bomber.
Technical Characteristics of the Live Gun
The live Mk 108 is generally described as:
- Caliber: 30mm
- Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig
- Type: German WWII aircraft autocannon
- Operation: Advanced primer ignition blowback
- Overall length: approximately 41.5 inches
- Barrel length: approximately 22.8 inches
- Weight: about 58 kg / 128 lbs
- Cyclic rate: commonly cited around 600–650 rounds per minute
- Muzzle velocity: roughly 500 m/s
Those figures tell the story of the weapon well. The Mk 108 was not designed to be a long-range precision gun. It was built to deliver a dense, highly destructive burst at close range, exactly where German fighters were expected to attack Allied bomber streams.
Combat Role and Historical Importance
The Mk 108 became one of the Luftwaffe’s most important late-war heavy aircraft guns because it matched the realities of the air war over Europe. By 1943 and 1944, German fighters needed more destructive firepower to deal with heavily defended four-engine bombers. The Mk 108 answered that need.
It was used in a wide variety of Luftwaffe installations, including:
- Bf 109 fighter and interceptor variants
- Bf 110 bomber destroyers and night fighters
- Me 262 jet fighters, where multiple Mk 108s gave the aircraft tremendous short-range striking power
- Other specialized late-war fighter and interceptor fits
That service history makes the Mk 108 one of the most historically important late-war German aircraft cannon designs and an essential item for collectors focused on Luftwaffe fighter armament.
About This Specific Display Gun
This example is offered as an original restored display 30mm Mk 108 autocannon. It is an authentic historic autocannon restored for presentation and collection purposes.
Original WWII German Aircraft Cannon
- Original Mk 108-pattern German WWII aircraft autocannon
- A highly desirable centerpiece for Luftwaffe, aircraft armament, and WWII aviation collections
- Correctly represents the late-war heavy 30mm fighter cannon that armed some of Germany’s most important interceptors
Professionally Restored for Display
- Restored for strong visual presentation
- Ideal for museum display, private collection, aircraft armament exhibit, or hangar office presentation
- Preserves the mechanical and visual character that made the Mk 108 one of the most recognizable autocannons of the war
Display-Only Configuration
- Sold strictly as a display gun
- Intended for collecting, educational, and museum purposes
- Not represented as functional or live-fire capable
Why This Piece Matters
The Mk 108 is one of the standout aircraft cannon designs of the Second World War. It represents the Luftwaffe’s shift toward heavier, more destructive air-to-air weaponry in the face of mass Allied bomber raids. For collectors, it sits at the intersection of aviation history, ordnance development, and late-war fighter technology.
This is the kind of item that works equally well in:
- A dedicated Luftwaffe aircraft armament collection
- A WWII aviation museum display
- A restoration-oriented parts and hardware collection
- A high-end office, shop, or hangar display where original military aviation hardware makes a statement
Ideal For
- Luftwaffe and German WWII ordnance collections
- Fighter and interceptor armament displays
- Museum exhibits on late-war aircraft cannon development
- Collectors of original aircraft guns and autocannons
- Aviation history displays centered on bomber interception and late-war air combat
Ammunition and links are for representation only and are not included. If you're interested in any of the rounds or links, please message us to see what's in stock.
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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times