Solothurn S-18/1100


Solothurn S-18/1100 20 mm Anti-Tank Cannon
Type Large caliber rifle, Anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin   Switzerland
Service history
Used by  Germany
Italy
Wars World War II
Production history
Variants Solothurn S-18/100, Solothurn S-18/1000
Specifications
Length 85 inches
Barrel length 57 inches

Cartridge 20 mm x 138 mm
Caliber 20 mm
Action automatic
Muzzle velocity 850 m/s
Feed system 10 rounds

The Solothurn S-18/1100 20 mm Anti-Tank Cannon was a Swiss anti-tank rifle used during the Second World War, and was a variant of the S-18/1000 with modifications for automatic fire. Being the first rifle between the Solothurn anti-tank rifles to have been equipped with a select-fire option, the S18-1100 was offered to some buying countries (such as Italy, Netherlands and Switzerland) as a "Universal Weapon" usable both as anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapon.

20 mm Solothurn Anti-Tank Cannon S 18-1100, AA-Mount (Museum Altes Zeughaus Solothurn, Switzerland)

As a result of its large, powerful ammunition the gun had a tremendous recoil, and its size made portability difficult. The Solothurn firearms company was owned by the German firm Rheinmetall, and used the Swiss company to manufacture arms which were prohibited for manufacture by any German firm, to get around arms limitations imposed upon them at the end of the first World War.

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