Quote:
Originally Posted by SHERMAN
The 105mm was fine for its time, that time is the 1960s. Today, a 105mm would have a hard time against any real opponent. APFSDS-DU goes a long way to even the match but still, a 105mm just dosent have the abilety to punch a hole in the frront armor of tanks designed from the 1980s and onwards. A Merkava Mk 4 would seriously laugh at a 105mm round, unless someone came out with somthing new in the last year
There is no major diffrence between 125 and 120, the question is the design of the penetrator adn the materials, as well as the length of the gun itself. A 55 calibers long 120 with DU rounds is certinly more lethal than any 125mm i know of.
As far as future guns I am not sure if size is the solution. I hope they field ETC guns in 15 years time. If it takes longer they should look into 140mm as an intrim solution. Loading 140mm rounds would probably require an automated loader which, exept for the Leclerc, most western tanks dont have as a policy...
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Do not sell the 105mm short inregards to the MGS system, granted it is not the ultimate vehicle to engage heavies with but for ambush purposes I think that you would find that a 105mm M900A1 round will do some damage at close range engagements.
The Germans went to L55 to get out of the DU business, switched to Tungsten so stretch tube was needed, incase of emergency though L55 can fire NATO projectiles exception being UK projectiles. Rest assured that 120mm will be around for quite awhile, there is no justification for going to a bigger caliber just as it is not warranted for the U.S to switch to L55 gun tubes because of DU projectiles. Auto loaders have been tested in M1 series tanks, the switch will not be too painful.