Blue Jay
Member
Suggested reading:
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Leo2_Files/tanks.140mm-gun.kruse.pdf
Problems Encountered with Higher Caliber Tank Guns (Nsdraftroom)
Note that these are a bit dated, but I'd still like to discuss the relevance of up gunning western MBTs in the present day.
For a while now there has been that idea of up-gunning NATO tanks like the German Leopard 2 with a 140mm gun, or a little more advanced Electrothermal-chemical 120mm gun, or even an exotic Electromagnetic gun such as a rail gun or coil gun. Of these weapons, however, only the 140mm gun is a viable option for the immediate present. Some tanks like the South Korean K2 Black Panther reportedly could convert to a 140mm cannon if needed. However, despite quite a few tests and experiments by a couple different nations, western MBTs retain their 120mm armaments.
Off the top of my head I can guess that advances in ammunition and also prohibitive expense are among the reasons for this. It may also be possible that guns such as the 120mm L44/55 are deemed sufficient to deal with Russian/Chinese Armor. Or are they?
Would it be prudent for NATO to standardize the 140mm gun for tanks? Or is the 120mm sufficient until techs like ETC become matured? Has Russian armor developed enough to consistently defeat current NATO MBT armament?
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Leo2_Files/tanks.140mm-gun.kruse.pdf
Problems Encountered with Higher Caliber Tank Guns (Nsdraftroom)
Note that these are a bit dated, but I'd still like to discuss the relevance of up gunning western MBTs in the present day.
For a while now there has been that idea of up-gunning NATO tanks like the German Leopard 2 with a 140mm gun, or a little more advanced Electrothermal-chemical 120mm gun, or even an exotic Electromagnetic gun such as a rail gun or coil gun. Of these weapons, however, only the 140mm gun is a viable option for the immediate present. Some tanks like the South Korean K2 Black Panther reportedly could convert to a 140mm cannon if needed. However, despite quite a few tests and experiments by a couple different nations, western MBTs retain their 120mm armaments.
Off the top of my head I can guess that advances in ammunition and also prohibitive expense are among the reasons for this. It may also be possible that guns such as the 120mm L44/55 are deemed sufficient to deal with Russian/Chinese Armor. Or are they?
Would it be prudent for NATO to standardize the 140mm gun for tanks? Or is the 120mm sufficient until techs like ETC become matured? Has Russian armor developed enough to consistently defeat current NATO MBT armament?