MG 151 (15 mm)

This page is about the German autocannon MG 151 (15 mm). For the 20 mm version, see MG 151 (20 mm).

Description

Note: Gunpods containing MG 151 (15 mm) have reduced accuracy compared to those mounted conventionally

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Aircraft

• Bf 109 F-2
• Bf 109 F-4 (Suspended)
• Bf 109 F-4/trop (Suspended)
• Do 335 A-0 (Suspended)
• Do 335 A-1

Tanks

• AMX-50 Foch
• Sd.Kfz.251/21

Ships

• LS 3
• VS-8
• VS-10

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.

Available ammunition

The cannon is mounted on planes, tanks, and ships which all have a different belt content.

Aircraft

• Default: AP-T · IT · IT · HEF-T
• Universal: AP-T · HEF-T · AP-T · HEF-T
• Air targets: API-T · HEF-T · HEF-T · HEF-T
• Armoured targets: AP-I(c) · AP-I(c) · AP-I(c) · HEF-T

Penetration statistics
Belt	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Default	33	32	28	24	21	18
Universal	33	32	28	24	21	18
Air targets	26	25	17	7	2	2
Armoured targets	39	37	31	25	20	16

Tanks

• Default (AMX-50 Foch): AP-T · HEF-T · HEFI-T
• Pzgr. L'spur: AP-T · HEF-T
• Brsprgr. L'spur: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · AP-I
• Pzbrgr.: AP-I · AP-I · AP-I · HEFI-T
• H-Pzgr.: HVAP-T · AP-I · AP-I · AP-T

Penetration statistics
Belt	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Default (AMX-50 Foch)	33	31	23	16	11	7
Universal	33	31	23	16	11	7
Brsprgr. L'spur	34	32	22	14	9	6
Pzbrgr.	34	32	22	14	9	6
H-Pzgr.	39	35	23	16	11	7

Ships

• Universal: API-T · HEF
• 15 mm APIT belts: API-T · API-T · API-T · HEF
• 15 mm HEIT belts: HEF · HEFI-T* · HEF · API-T

Penetration statistics
Belt	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Universal	33	31	23	16	11	7
15 mm APIT belts	33	31	23	16	11	7
15 mm HEIT belts	33	31	23	16	11	7

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good AP-I round which can penetrate roof armour of low tier tanks, and does a decent amount of damage to aircraft
• All ammunition belts do a good amount of damage against aircraft for its calibre
• Good rate of fire
• Good muzzle velocity

Cons:

• All ammunition types have a different muzzle velocity
• Often come with small amount of ammo
• It acts more like a heavy machine gun rather than a cannon
• Even though AP-I shell can go through an armoured target, however, overall damage is limited due to low calibre

History

The Germans during the inter-war period shared some elements of their air doctrine with the France. The concept of the Motorkanone emerged in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) which had an autocannon mounted between the cylinder banks of a V-engine and firing through the propeller hub. The Oerlikon FF was preferred by France, but was too heavy for German fighters so they adopted it as the MG FF only as a stopgap measure. In 1940, the MG 151 was developed by Mauser and used to arm the Messerschmidt Bf 109 F-2, however, by 1941, the design was further improved into the MG 151 (20 mm) for a more powerful explosive shell. The MG 151 in its 15mm caliber was also used on the Dornier Do 335 in underwing pods. The Leicht-S-Boot of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) also uses the 15mm MG 151 as did the Sd.Kfz.251/21 an attempt to provided an expedient anti-aircraft vehicle. This vehicle was quickly upgraded to the 20mm version. After World War II, the MG 151 saw some action in French service. This service was primarily the 20mm version, but the 15mm variant was planned for the AMX-50 Foch.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• MG 151 (20 mm): up-gunned 20mm variant
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Germany anti-aircraft guns
15 mm	MG 151
20 mm	FlaK38 · Rh202
30 mm	MK103/38
37 mm	FlaK36 · FlaK43 · FlaK44
	Foreign:
35 mm	Oerlikon KDA (Swiss)