Tank Guns of Present and Future..

[Kunal Biswas]

Images and discussion of tank mounted main guns.

[Kunal Biswas]

The Rheinmetall 120 mm gun is a smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by the West German Rheinmetall-DeTec AG company, developed in response to Soviet advances in armor technology and development of new armored threats. Production began in 1974, with the first version of the gun, known as the L/44 as it was 44 calibers long, used on the German Leopard 2 tank and soon produced under license for the American M1A1 Abrams and other tanks. The American version, the M256..

Calibre 120 mm
Breech type Vertical sliding breechblock Semi automatic/hand operated
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 5300 mm
Ordnance mass 3,780 kg.
Barrel life 400 - 500EFC
Max Chamber Pressure ?

[Kunal Biswas]

The gun, known as the M256, was based on the L/44 tank gun, although manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal and modified to increase the resistance of the barrels to fracture and fatigue..

Calibre 120 mm
Breech type Vertical sliding breechblock Semi automatic/hand operated
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 5625 mm
Ordnance mass 3,317 kilograms
Barrel life 1500EFC
Max Chamber Pressure 7,100 bar

[Kunal Biswas]

The IMI 120 mm gun is a smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI). It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was developed by IMI from 1983 to 1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank.It was first revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III. In 1998 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to Israeli Military Industries for this development, which gave Israel the means to produce tank guns independently.MG253 have compressed gas recoil system and a thermal sleeve developed by Vishay Industries.

Calibre 120 mm
Breech type Vertical sliding breechblock Semi automatic/hand operated
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 5560 mm
Ordnance mass 3,300 kilograms
Barrel life 1500EFC
Max Chamber Pressure 7,250 bar

[Kunal Biswas]

The 120 mm rifled gun for MBT Arjun MK-1 is made of special steel produced by the latest ESR/Vacuum Arc Remelting process. This has enhanced the performance and fatigue life of the gun barrel. The gun barrel has been partially autofrettaged to a pressure of 800 MPa to achieve a proof pressure of the order of 612 MPa.

Calibre 120 mm rifled
Breech type Vertical sliding breechblock Semi automatic/hand operated
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 6050 mm
Ordnance mass 2025 kg
Barrel life 500 EFC
Proof Pressure 6120 bar / 612 MPa

[Kunal Biswas]

The German government began the development of the Leopard 3, although this was canceled after the fall of the Soviet Union. On 29 October 1991, the governments of Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany agreed to cooperate in the development of a modernization program for the Leopard 2. Part of this program included the introduction of a longer 120 mm tank gun, a cheaper alternative to a brand new tank gun, increasing the maximum range of the gun by an estimated 1,500 m (1,600 yd). Although the gun is longer, allowing for a higher peak pressure from the propellant, the geometry remains the same, allowing the gun to fire the same ammunition as that fired from the shorter version. The longer barrel allows ammunition to attain higher velocities; for example, with new kinetic energy penetrators ammunition can reach velocities of around 1,750 m/s (5,700 ft/s). The new barrel weighs 1,347 kg (2,970 lb).

Calibre 120 mm
Breech type Vertical sliding breechblock Semi automatic/hand operated
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 6600 mm
Ordnance mass 4,160 kg.
Barrel life 1500EFC
Max Chamber Pressure 7,600bars

[Kunal Biswas]

The 2A46M lines of mainguns were developed by the Spetstekhnika design bureau in Ekaterinburg (former Sverdlovsk), and are manufactured at the Motovilikha artillery plant in Perm. FEATURES Armor-piercing, high-explosive, hollow charge or hard core shells can be fired from the tank gun. The gun performs reliably at the temperature range +50°C under conditions of rain, iceing (on condition the operation instructiones are observed).

Caliber, 125 mm
Breech type Horizontal wedge, semiautomatic
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 6000mm
Ordnance mass 2500kg
Barrel life1200 EFC
Chamber Pressure 6500 bar / 650MPA

[Kunal Biswas]

The gun design meets NATO standards and can fire all types of 120 mm NATO ammunition. More over the gun design makes it possible to fire Ukraininan 120 mm guided missile.

Calibre 120 mm
Breech type semiautomatic with horizontal placement of the wedge
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 6000 mm
Ordnance mass 4,715 kilograms
Barrel life ?
Max Chamber Pressure 7,060 bars/ 706 MPa

[Kunal Biswas]

125 mm KBM1M tank gun is intended for installation in main battle tanks T-72, T-72AG, T-72MP, as well as in their modifications, These Gun originally originated from 2A46M..

Calibre 125 mm
Breech type semiautomatic with horizontal placement of the wedge
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 6000 mm
Ordnance mass 4,400 kilograms
Barrel life ?
Max Chamber Pressure 6500bars/ 650 MPa

[AliceInWonderland]

How is EFC measured? There seems to be a huge disparity between some guns at 500-600 while others can go 1500..

[Kunal Biswas]

Details:
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armamen...DavidSmith.pdf

[LowLamah]

After the recommended barrel life, what is done to the barrel? Is it scrapped? Re-bored?

This thread is great so far, I'd like to see it continue.

[Kunal Biswas]

How is EFC measured? There seems to be a huge disparity between some guns at 500-600 while others can go 1500..

Regular Rounds, If special rounds are used like newer generation AP the barrel life De-grade faster coz of high barrel pressure than regular Rounds..

After the recommended barrel life, what is done to the barrel? Is it scrapped? Re-bored? .

I think they are scrapped or melted down for newer once, I can be wrong..

[Kunal Biswas]

RUAG Land Systems’ 120 mm CompactTank Gun allows improving the fire powerof many battle tanks to today’s standard.This new gun is a logical development from 105 mm tank guns. With a specifically de-signed muzzle brake the 120 mm CompactTank Gun is also suitable for lighter combatvehicles of the 20 to 30 t class.

More Details Here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4056872/Co...k-Gun-Brochure

[Kunal Biswas]

The cannon can be made into new tanks, as well as modernization of T 64, T 72, T 80UD and T 84.

Calibre 140 mm
Firing mechanism Electrical
Ordnance length 7000 mm
Max Chamber Pressure 5640bars