it's very old article dating back to 2005 and i specifically posted it to mention how recoil dampening mechanism works on the NTW-20 with that image.
Thank You !! For posting this old but excellent article, and it does conclude few things for me ....period !!!
Firstly, the sentence from article "
The NTW-20 gives a user a cannon capability in a rifle configuration " ...speaks volumes....
Unlike the run of the mill, so called Anti Material Rifles in .50 BMG(12.7×99mm NATO), this bad boy comes 20x82mm and 14.5 x 114mm....both significantly more powerful than .50 BMG......This extra velocity / Energy is very useful in penetrating hard targets (bunkers/shelters like on LOC), light armoured vehicles and Radars etc.....
It's recoil mechanism is unique (uses hydraulic system)...and is very versatile(3 calibers) ....And, how many 20mm, man portable canons...do we know exist ??
Imagine, this weapon being carried by two operators(barrel & receiver,two back packs), who are a part of a SF team, who have infiltrated an enemy airfield.....While a diversionary attack is mounted, they quickly assemble this weapon and start picking out the watchtowers followed by the the Hellos/ Aircraft.......no sanbagged watchtower/bunker is safe and they can hit them from a standoff distance(out of range of enemy machine guns)....Then they melt away in darkness ....awesome !!!
Another scenario... two teams of operators (two such rifles)..Take out the first and last vehicles of the enemy HVT(high value target)....One 20mm each through, engine block(fireball) and then pick off each vehicle in the stranded convoy...total massacre !!!
Then, many believe that this gun is too heavy to be mobile and deployed quickly.....I was one of them, till a defence professional pointed me towards this (I was told that this is a real Denel NTW-20 gun, but obviously, the ammo is not)