Mike (I eat robots for breakfast) Metlay was talking about the 30 mm
cannon he saw on "Predator". (See how often I get time to read the
mailing list?) I got to see one of those close up a couple of weeks
ago at the air show here in town.
They had this A-10 ("Thunderbolt II" or "Warthog" - take your pick)
sitting on the pad. The gun is mounted in the nose about eye level
for most U.S. males. It has six enormous barrels. Looking into
one gives a calidescopic effect. The riflings have the tightest
twist I've ever seen. Looked like about 1 full revolution for each
6 inches or so of travel.
I think Mike's comment about "lightly" armored is true only in the
sense of light for TL10 and up. :=)
I think the other reason they are considered non-portable is because
of the weight of the ammo. *I* don't want to carry a grav sled
with 100 rds/second of 30 mm ammo.
Richard