The gun was relatively light and easy to manufacture. The construction was simple with approximately 80% of the gun used stamped parts and the total number of parts kept to a bare minimum. It proved to be an effective and very reliable weapon and was optimized for a high rate of fire. Weapon maintenance was minimal and its compact size made it suitable for aircraft use.

    It had a relatively low muzzle velocity and was designed to attack bombers and not fighter aircraft. The bullet drop was 41 m (135 ft) at a range of 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). To be effective it was necessary for fighter aircraft to get in close to 200 to 300 meters, making it especially challenging for the Me 262, with its high approach speed, to hit the target without colliding into it.

    It was first used in late autumn 1943 in the Bf 110G-2 Zerstörer and in the Bf 109G-6/U4. It also saw service in the Messerschmitt Me 163, Messerschmitt Me 262, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Focke-Wulf Ta 152, Focke-Wulf Ta 154, Heinkel He 162, Heinkel He 219, Horten Ho 229 and Junkers Ju 388.

    The cannon had a distinctive pounding sound and Allied aircrews nicknamed it the "pneumatic hammer."