Denel NTW-20
Encyclopedia
The NTW-20 is a South Africa
n anti-materiel rifle
or large-calibre sniper rifle
, developed by Denel
's Mechem division in the 1990s. The weapon was designed by Tony Neophytou (co-designer of the innovative Neostead combat shotgun
) and intended for deployment against a wide variety of targets, including parked aircraft, telecommunication masts, power lines, missile sites, radar
installations, refineries, satellite dish
es, gun emplacements, bunker
s and personnel, using a range of specialized projectiles. As with other weapons of this type, it can also be used for counter sniping
and ordnance disposal (shooting explosive ordnance from a safe distance).
Development of the system began in August 1995 under the Aerotek name and a working prototype was ready for testing four and a half months later. This rapid progress was made possible by Neophytou's extensive expertise in the field of recoil reduction systems, having worked on helicopter turrets in the past. In order to further reduce the amount of research and development, the project recycled the barrel, bolt and barrel extension of the existing Vektor GA1 automatic cannon. The rifle was accepted into service with the South African National Defence Force
(SANDF) in 1998.
and 14.5mm) requires changing the bolt, barrel, sighting gear and magazine. (A third variant, the NTW 20x110 has also been developed, but is not designed for barrel caliber switching.) Caliber switching the NTW 20/14.5 can be accomplished simply in the field without specialized tools. The magazine protrudes from the left side of the receiver. The NTW can be disassembled and packed into two backpacks for carriage. A muzzle brake
is fitted on the end of the barrel which absorbs an estimated 50%-60% of recoil. This is further supplemented by a buffered slide in the receiver.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n anti-materiel rifle
Anti-materiel rifle
An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment rather than against other combatants ....
or large-calibre sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
, developed by Denel
Denel
Denel Ltd is a South African state owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate established in 1991. It was created when the manufacturing subsidiaries of Armscor were split off in order for Armscor to become the procurement agency for South African Defence Force , now known as the South...
's Mechem division in the 1990s. The weapon was designed by Tony Neophytou (co-designer of the innovative Neostead combat shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
) and intended for deployment against a wide variety of targets, including parked aircraft, telecommunication masts, power lines, missile sites, radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
installations, refineries, satellite dish
Satellite dish
A satellite dish is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna designed to receive microwaves from communications satellites, which transmit data transmissions or broadcasts, such as satellite television.-Principle of operation:...
es, gun emplacements, bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
s and personnel, using a range of specialized projectiles. As with other weapons of this type, it can also be used for counter sniping
Counter-sniper tactics
Counter-sniper tactics involves tactics used by a sniper against another sniper.The occurrence of sniper warfare has led to the evolution of many counter-sniper tactics in modern military strategies...
and ordnance disposal (shooting explosive ordnance from a safe distance).
Development of the system began in August 1995 under the Aerotek name and a working prototype was ready for testing four and a half months later. This rapid progress was made possible by Neophytou's extensive expertise in the field of recoil reduction systems, having worked on helicopter turrets in the past. In order to further reduce the amount of research and development, the project recycled the barrel, bolt and barrel extension of the existing Vektor GA1 automatic cannon. The rifle was accepted into service with the South African National Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
(SANDF) in 1998.
Features
The NTW 20/14.5 is one of the few firearms in existence that allow the changing of the caliber without completely disassembling and reworking the weapon. Switching between the two calibers of the NTW (20mm20 mm caliber
The 20 mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon and not a heavy machine gun....
and 14.5mm) requires changing the bolt, barrel, sighting gear and magazine. (A third variant, the NTW 20x110 has also been developed, but is not designed for barrel caliber switching.) Caliber switching the NTW 20/14.5 can be accomplished simply in the field without specialized tools. The magazine protrudes from the left side of the receiver. The NTW can be disassembled and packed into two backpacks for carriage. A muzzle brake
Muzzle brake
Muzzle brakes and recoil compensators are devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm or cannon to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire...
is fitted on the end of the barrel which absorbs an estimated 50%-60% of recoil. This is further supplemented by a buffered slide in the receiver.
Variants
| 20x82 mm | 14.5x114 mm | 20x110mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | 20x82 mm 20 mm caliber The 20 mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon and not a heavy machine gun.... (20 mm Mauser) |
14.5x114 mm Russian | 20x110 mm Hispano-Suiza Hispano-Suiza HS.404 The Hispano-Suiza HS.404 was an autocannon widely used as both an aircraft and land weapon in the 20th century by British, American, French, and numerous other military services. The cannon is also referred to as Birkigt type 404, after its designer. Firing a 20 mm caliber projectile, it delivered... |
| Operation | manual bolt action | ||
| Feed | 3-round box-type, detachable magazine | Single shot | |
| Weight (empty) | 30.5 kilogram | 33.8 kilogram | 31.5 kilogram |
| Overall length | 1795 mm (70.7 in) | 2015 mm (79.3 in) | 1795 mm (70.7 in) |
| Rifling (1 full turn) | 560 mm (22 in) | 406 mm (16 in) | |
| Length of barrel | 1000 mm (39.4 in) | 1220 mm (48 in) | 1000 mm (39.4 in) |
| Muzzle velocity | 720 m/s (2,362.2 ft/s) | 1000 m/s (3,280.8 ft/s) | 820 m/s (2,690.3 ft/s) |
| Muzzle energy | 28,500 J | 32,675 J | ~43,706 J |
| Effective range | > 1500 m (1,640.4 yd) | > 2300 m (2,515.3 yd) | > 1800 m (1,968.5 yd) |