Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf and Unterlüß. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. The company is also involved in a variety of advanced metal-working and milling technologies. This has allowed it to provide special high-quality components for small arms in addition to its heavy weapon production.

In 1993 Rheinmetall acquired the Mauser AG and in 1996 and 1999 the majority share-holdings of STN Atlas and Oerlikon Contraves, all of which are major European defense companies. STN Atlas has later been split their into Atlas Elektronik and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, the latter is a full subsidiary of Rheinmetall now.

Rheinmetall made bomb fuses during World War 2, notably a double-capacitor design which was particularly dangerous to defuse should the bomb not explode on impact. Many bomb disposal personnel were killed. The patent for the fuse was filed in the UK two years before Hitler came to power and the UK Armed Forces spotted this and the patent then helped enormously with disarming these particular bombs. The US Patent Office put a 32-year secrecy order on a similar patent by the University of Illinois in 1948.

Products

* 7.5cm Kwk 42 (L/70) tank gun that was used in the famed German Panther tank of World War II
* 88 mm gun - Flak and anti-tank gun of World War II
* Rheinmetall L44 - 120mm main gun of Leopard 2, M1A1 and A2 and Type 90 MBT
* Rheinmetall L55 - enhanced L44, main gun of Leopard 2A6 and later
* Rheinmetall LTA2 - main gun of TAM tank
* MG3 - 7.62mm universal machine gun
* 155 mm L52 Artillery Gun - main gun of PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer
* MK 20 Rh202 - 20mm autocannon, primary armament of Marder, Luchs and Wiesel armoured fighting vehicles
* Jacket cradle of Oto Melara

External links

* Rheinmetall corporate homepage