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Rheinmetall Rh-120

January 09, 2023

The Rheinmetall Rh-120 is a 120 mm smoothbore tank gun designed and produced in former West Germany by the Rheinmetal-DeTec AG company, it was developed in response to Soviet advances in armour technology and development of new armoured threats. Production began in 1974, with the first version of the gun, known as the L/44 as it was 44 calibres long, used on the German Leopard 2 tank and soon produced under license for the American M1A1 Abrams and other tanks. The 120-millimetre (4.7 in) gun has a length of 5.28 metres (17.3 ft), and the gun system weighs approximately 3,317 kilograms (7,313 lb).

Rheinmetall Rh-120
A diagram of M256 gun
TypeSmoothbore tank gun
Place of originWest Germany
Service history
In service1979–present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerRheinmetall
ManufacturerRheinmetall
Specifications
MassL/44: 1,190 kg (2,620 lb) gun barrel
L/44: 3,780 kg (8,330 lb) gun mount
L/55: 1,347 kg (2,970 lb) gun barrel
L/55: 4,160 kg (9,170 lb) gun mount
LengthL/44: 5.3 m (17 ft)
L/55: 6.6 m (22 ft)
Barrel length44–55 calibres
Shell120 x 570 mm R
Caliber120 millimetres (4.72 in)
Muzzle velocityL/44: 1,530 to 1,650 m/s (5,000 to 5,400 ft/s)
L/55: 1,640 to 1,750 m/s (5,400 to 5,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range4,000 metres (4,400 yd) with DM63[1]
8,000 metres (8,700 yd) with LAHAT anti-tank guided missile[2]
Muzzle of a Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 tank gun on a Spanish Leopard 2E

By 1990, the L/44 was not considered powerful enough to defeat future Soviet armour, which stimulated an effort by Rheinmetall to develop a better main armament. This first involved a 140-millimeter (5.5 in) tank gun named Neue Panzerkanone 140 ('new tank gun 140'), but later turned into a compromise which led to the development of an advanced 120 mm gun, the L/55, based on the same internal geometry as the L/44 and installed in the same breech and mount. The L/55 is 1.32 metres (4.3 ft) longer, generating increased muzzle velocity for rounds fired through it. As the L/55 retains the same barrel geometry, it can fire the same ammunition as the L/44.

This gun was retrofitted into German and Dutch Leopard 2s, and chosen as the main gun of the Spanish Leopard 2E and the Greek Leopard 2HEL. It was tested on the British Challenger 2 as a potential replacement for its rifled L30 120 mm cannon.

A variety of ammunition has been developed for use by tanks with guns based on Rheinmetall's original L/44 design. This includes a series of kinetic energy penetrators, such as the American M829 series, and high-explosive anti-tank warheads. Recent ammunition includes a range of anti-personnel rounds and demolition munitions. The LAHAT, developed in Israel, is a gun-launched anti-tank guided missile which has received interest from Germany and other Leopard 2 users. It is designed to defeat both land armour and combat helicopters. The Israelis also introduced a new anti-personnel munition which limits collateral damage by controlling the fragmentation of the projectile.

Background

 
Prototype of the Leopard 2

The development of the 120 mm L/44 gun started in 1965, as the Bundeswehr felt a more powerful gun was needed for its new tanks.[3][4] The first instance of a larger Soviet tank gun was witnessed on the chassis of a modified T-55 in 1961.[5] In 1965, the Soviet Union's T-62 made its first public appearance, armed with a 115-millimetre (4.5 in) smoothbore tank gun.[6] The Soviet decision to increase the power of its tank's main armament had come when, in the early 1960s, an Iranian tank commander defected over the Soviet border in a brand-new M60 Patton tank, which was armed with the 105-millimetre (4.1 in) M68 gun, the US version of the British Royal Ordnance L7.[7] Despite the introduction of the T-62, in 1969 their T-64 tank was rearmed with a new 125-millimetre (4.9 in) tank gun,[7] while in 1972 Nizhny Tagil began production of the T-72 tank, also armed with the 125-millimetre (4.9 in) gun.[8] At the fighting at Sultan Yakoub, during the 1982 Lebanon War, the Israeli government claimed to have destroyed nine Syrian T-72s with the Merkava main battle tank, armed with an Israeli version of the American M68 105-millimetre (4.1 in) tank gun.[9] Whether true or not, the Soviets test-fired a number of Israeli M111 Hetz armor-piercing discarding sabot rounds at Kubinka, finding the 105-millimetre (4.1 in) round was able to perforate the sloped front section plate but not the turret armour of the T-72 tank.[10] In response, the Soviets developed the T-72M1.[11] This led Israel to opt for a 120 mm tank gun during the development process of the Merkava III main battle tank.[12] This case is similar to the American decision to replace the M68 105-millimetre (4.1 in) tank gun with Rheinmetall's 120 mm gun in 1976; the introduction of the T-64A had raised the question within the armour community of whether the new ammunition for the existing gun caliber could effectively defeat the new Soviet tank.[13]

In 1963, Germany and the United States had already embarked on a joint tank program, known as the MBT-70. The new tank carried a crew of three, with the driver in the turret, an automatic loader for the main gun, a 20-millimetre (0.79 in) autocannon as secondary armament, an active hydropneumatic suspension and spaced armour on the glacis plate and front turret.[14] The new tank concept also had improved armament, a 152-millimetre (6.0 in) missile-launching main gun, designed to fire the MGM-51 Shillelagh anti-tank missile.[15] However, the German Army was interested in a tank gun which could fire conventional ammunition. Although there were attempts to modify the 152-millimetre (6.0 in) tank gun to do so, the process proved extremely difficult, and the Germans began development of the future Rheinmetall 120 mm gun instead.[16]

 
An M1A1 Abrams, firing its US-built M256 120 mm tank gun

In 1967, the German ministry of defense decided to re-open a Leopard 1 improvement program, known as the Vergoldeter Leopard ('Gilded Leopard'), later renamed the Keiler ('Wild Boar'). Krauss-Maffei was chosen as the contractor, and two prototypes were developed in 1969 and 1970.[17] This program grew into the Leopard 2; the first prototype of the new tank was delivered in 1972, equipped with a 105-millimetre (4.1 in) smoothbore main gun. Between 1972 and 1975, a total of 17 prototypes were developed.[18] The new 120 mm gun's ten-year development effort ended in 1974.[4] Ten of the seventeen turrets built were equipped with 105 mm smoothbore guns, and the other seven were equipped with larger, 120 mm, guns.[19] Another program aimed to mount the 152-millimetre (6.0 in) missile-gun was also begun in an attempt to save components from the MBT-70, but in 1971 the program was ended for economic reasons.[20] Instead, the Germans opted for Rheinmetall's 120 mm L/44 smoothbore tank gun.[21]

Design features

 
The smoothbore barrel of an Austrian Leopard 2A4

Rheinmetall's L/44 tank gun has a calibre of 120 mm, and a length of 44 calibres (5.28 metres (17.3 ft)).[22] The gun's barrel weighs 1,190 kilograms (2,620 lb),[23] and on the M1 Abrams the gun mount weighs 3,317 kilograms (7,313 lb),[24] while the new barrel (L/55) is 55 calibres long, 1.30 metres (4.3 ft) longer. The bore evacuator and the gun's thermal sleeve, designed to regulate the temperature of the barrel, are made of glass-reinforced plastic, while the barrel has a chrome lining to increase barrel life.[4] Originally the gun had an EFC barrel life of ~1,500 rounds,[25] but with recent advances in propellant technology, the average life has increased even further.[26] The gun's recoil mechanism is composed of two hydraulic retarders and a hydropneumatic assembly.[4]

Variants

Rh-120 L/44 120 mm

Production of the German Leopard 2 and the new 120 mm tank gun began in 1979, fulfilling an order for the German Army.[27] Although the American M1 Abrams was originally armed with the M68A1 105 mm gun (a version of the L7),[28] the United States Army had planned to fit the tank with a larger main gun at a later date,[29] and the tank's turret had been designed to accommodate a larger 120 mm gun.[28] The larger gun was integrated into the M1A1 Abrams, with the first vehicle coming off the production line in 1985[30] The gun, known as the M256, was based on the L/44 tank gun, although manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal. Tanks armed with versions of Rheinmetall's gun produced under licence include Japan's Type 90[31] and South Korea's K1A1.[32]

Rh-120 L/55 120mm

 
Two Leopard 2A6s of the German Army with L55s

The appearance of new Soviet tanks such as the T-80B during the late 1970s and early 1980s led to the development of new technologies and weapons to counter the threat posed to Western armour.[33] The T-80B had increased firepower[34] and new composite ceramic armour.[35] The T-72 also went through a modernization program in an attempt to bring it up to the standards of the T-80B. In 1985 the new T-72B version entered production, with a new laminate armour protection system; its turret armour, designed mainly to defeat anti-tank missiles, surpassed the T-80B's in protection.[36]

The German government began developing the Leopard 3, although this was canceled after the fall of the Soviet Union.[37] On 29 October 1991, the governments of Switzerland, the 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,[38] a cheaper alternative to a new tank gun,[39] 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 580 MPa (84,122 psi) 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.[40] The longer barrel allows ammunition to attain higher velocities; for example, with new kinetic energy penetrator's ammunition can reach velocities of around 1,750 m/s (5,700 ft/s).[41] The new barrel weighs 1,347 kg (2,970 lb).[23]

 
Rheinmetall Rh-130

The longer tank gun has been retrofitted into the Leopard 2, creating a model known as the Leopard 2A6.[39] The Spanish Leopard 2E, the Greek Leopard 2HEL, the Singapore Leopard 2SG,[42] and derivatives of the Leopard 2A6, use 55 calibre-long tank guns.[43]

Rh-130 L/51

Rheinmetall introduced a larger Rh-130 130 mm L/51 tank gun at Eurosatory 2016 in June 2016. Development commenced in 2015, financed entirely using internal funding, as a response to the Russian introduction of new-generation armoured vehicles like the T-14 Armata tank, and the first technical demonstrator (TD) was completed in May 2016. The new 130 mm gun has an L/51 chrome-lined smoothbore barrel with a vertical sliding breech mechanism, increased chamber volume, no muzzle brake, a thermal sleeve, and a muzzle reference system (MRS) enabling it to be boresighted on a more regular basis without the crew needing to leave the platform. Compared to the 2,700 kg (6,000 lb) 120 mm gun, the 130 mm has a 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) barrel and an all-up weight of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) including the recoil system.

 
Comparison of ammunition

Rheinmetall is developing a new generation armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round featuring a semi-combustible cartridge case, new propellant, and new advanced long rod tungsten penetrator, and a high-explosive air-bursting munition (HE ABM) based on the 120 mm DM11 HE ABM in parallel with the gun; the cartridges are 30 kg (66 lb) and 1.3 m (4.3 ft) long with, according to the company, the increase of 8% in calibre resulting in 50% more kinetic energy over the 120 mm gun.[44]

Engineers believe the weapon can only be used with an automatic loader and new turret design. The gun commenced static firing trials at Rheinmetall's proving ground following Eurosatory, while engineers hoped to receive a new NATO standard by the end of 2016, although development of the gun and ammunition will likely take 8–10 years. The 130 mm is designed to equip the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), a joint effort between Germany and France to produce a successor to the Leopard 2 and Leclerc, possibly to be launched between 2025–2030.[45][46][47] In July 2020, Rheinmetall unveilled a testbed tank for the gun in a new turret, mounted on a Challenger 2 hull.[48][49] In June 2022, Rheinmetal unveiled the Panther KF51 concept tank based on Leopard 2 chassis and a redesigned turret hosting the new gun.[citation needed]

Ammunition

 
American M829A2 APFSDS DU round

A variety of rounds have been developed for Rheinmetall's tank gun. For example, a long line of armour-piercing discarding sabot (APDS) rounds was developed by Rheinmetall. Originally, the Leopard 2 was outfitted with the DM23 kinetic energy penetrator,[50] based on the Israeli 105 mm M111 Hetz which itself was a licensed copy of the American M735 round.[51] The DM23 was eventually replaced by the DM33, which was also adopted by Japan, Italy, Netherlands and Switzerland. The DM33 has a three-part aluminium sabot and a two-part tungsten penetrator, and is said to be able to penetrate 470 millimetres (19 in) of steel armour at a range of 2,000 metres (2,200 yd).[52] The DM43 is a further development of this round, codeveloped between Germany and France. The introduction of the longer barrel came together with the introduction of a new kinetic energy penetrator, the DM53. With the projectile including sabot weighing 8.35 kilograms with a 38:1 length to diameter ratio and with a muzzle velocity of 1,750 metres per second (5,700 ft/s), the DM53 has an effective engagement range of up to 4,000 metres (4,400 yd).[1] A further development, called the DM63, improved upon the round by introducing a new temperature-independent propellant, which allows the propellant to have a constant pattern of expansion between ambient temperatures inside the gun barrel from −47 °C (−53 °F) to +71 °C (160 °F). The new propellant powders, known as surface-coated double-base (SCDB) propellants, allow the DM63 to be used in many climates with consistent results.[53] The new ammunition has been accepted into service with the Dutch and Swiss, as well as German, armies.[54]

In 1993, South Korea invented self-sharpening process on the tungsten heavy alloy, which the process was only achievable from depleted uranium penetrators, by applying microstructure control and multi-stage heat treatment. Most penetrators in the world receive a single heat treatment, while Korean penetrators are treated 20 times using the new technology, which increases impact toughness by 300%. The self-sharpening effect increases penetration by 8–16% compared to regular penetrators, and compensates 6–10% less penetration from material disadvantage against DU, providing firepower of that of DU ammunition in a DU particle-free environment. South Korea holds related patents on Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and 3 other unspecified nations.[55][56] The public appearance of the K276 armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), the first 120 mm ammunition with self-sharpening penetrator, was during the release ceremony of K1A1 prototype in 1996.[57]

The United States developed its own kinetic energy penetrator (KEP) tank round in the form of an armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round, using a depleted uranium (DU) alloy long-rod penetrator (LRP), designated the M829,[58] followed by improved versions. An immediate improvement, known as the M829A1, was called the "Silver Bullet" after its good combat performance during the Gulf War against Iraqi T-55, T-62 and T-72 tanks.[59] The M829 series centres around the depleted uranium penetrator, designed to penetrate enemy armour through kinetic energy and to shatter inside the turret, doing much damage within the tank.[60] In 1998, the United States military introduced the M829A2, which has an improved depleted uranium penetrator and composite sabot petals.[61] In 2002, production began of the ($10,000 per round) M829A3, using a more efficient propellant (RPD-380 stick),[62] a lighter injection-molded sabot, and a longer (800 mm) and heavier (10 kg / 22 lb) DU penetrator, which is said to be able to defeat the latest versions of Russian Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour (ERA).[63] This variant is unofficially referred to by Abrams tank crews as the "super sabot".[64] In response to the M829A3, the Russian Army designed the Relikt, the most modern Russian ERA, which is claimed to be twice as effective as the Kontakt-5. A further improved M829E4 round with a segmented penetrator to defeat Relikt has been under development since 2011 and was to be fielded as the M829A4 in 2015.

Both Germany and the United States have developed several other rounds. These include the German DM12 multi-purpose anti-tank projectile (MPAT), based on the technology in a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.[50] However, it has been found that the DM12's armour-killing abilities are limited by the lack of blast and fragmentation effects, and that the round is less valuable against lightly armoured targets.[65] The United States also has an MPAT-type projectile, named M830.[66] This was later developed into the M830A1, which allows the M1 Abrams to use the round against helicopters.[67] The M1 Abrams can use the M1028 canister round, which is an anti-personnel-anti-helicopter munition, packed with over 1,000 10 mm tungsten balls.[68] The United States Armed Forces accepted a new demolition round, called the M908 obstacle defeating round, based on the M830A1 MPAT, but with the proximity fuse replaced by a hardened nose cap. The cap allows the round to impact and embed itself in concrete, then exploding inside the target and causing more damage.[69]

The Israeli Army introduced a new round known as the laser homing anti-tank (LAHAT) projectile.[2] Using a semi-active laser homing guidance method, the LAHAT can be guided by the tank's crew or by teams on the ground, while the missile's trajectory can be selected to either attack from the top (to defeat enemy armour) or direct attack (to engage enemy helicopters). Furthermore, the missile can be fired by both 105-millimetre (4.1 in) and 120-millimetre (4.7 in) tank guns.[70] The LAHAT has been offered as an option for the Leopard 2, and has been marketed by both Israel Military Industries and Rheinmetall to Leopard 2 users.[71] Israeli Merkavas make use of a round known as the APAM, which is an anti-personnel munition designed to release fragmentation at controlled intervals to limit the extent of damage. Fragments are shaped to have enough kinetic energy to penetrate body armour.[72] Poland has introduced a series of projectiles for Rheinmetall's tank gun, including an armour-piercing penetrator target practice round (APFSDS-T-TP), a high-explosive round, and a high-explosive target practice (HE-TP) projectile. The ammunition is manufactured by Zakłady Produkcji Specjalnej Sp. z o.o.[73]

In early 2013 Rheinmetall announced two new rounds suitable for the L44 and the L55 guns, the DM11 HE round, designed for lightly armoured targets, field fortifications and targets behind cover and a lower cost alternative to the DM11, the HE SQ Rh31. [74]

Ammunition table

Main article: 120×570mm NATO

Operators

 
Map with Rheinmetall 120 mm operators in blue with former operators in red (none)[image reference needed]

Due to tank sales, Rheinmetall's L/44 tank gun has been manufactured for other nations. For example, the Leopard 2 armed with the 44 calibre long gun, has been sold to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Finland, and other countries.[75] Egypt had manufactured 700–800 M1A1 Abrams by 2005,[76] and in 2008 requested permission to build another 125 tanks; their M256 main guns (the US version of the L/44) were manufactured by the Watervliet Arsenal.[77] The M1A1 has also been exported to Australia,[78] while the M1A2 Abrams has been exported to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.[79] The American license-built M256 has also been offered by General Dynamics Land Systems as part of the M60-2000 main battle tank which would upgrade older M60 Patton tanks to have capabilities of their M1A1 Abrams at a reduced cost, though the company has not yet found a buyer.

Use of Rheinmetall's L/44 tank gun
Tank Designer Country Gun Users
Leopard 2 Krauss-Maffei   Germany Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.
M1 Abrams General Dynamics Land Systems (formerly Chrysler Defense)   United States M256 (L/44) from the M1A1 onwards Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia.
Type 90 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries   Japan Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44
K1A1 Hyundai Rotem   South Korea KM256 (L/44) from the K1A1 onwards

The Leopard 2A6 and its longer L/55 main gun have been exported for use by the Canadian Army, and the Netherlands upgraded part of its original fleet of Leopard 2s with the more powerful armament.[80] The British Army has tested Rheinmetall's longer gun, possibly looking to replace the current L30A1 120 mm L/55 rifled main gun on the Challenger 2.[81] Two Challenger 2s were modified to undergo firing trials.[82] Although the South Korean K2 Black Panther is equipped with a CN08 120 mm L/55 main gun and shows similar characteristics as its German counterpart, it is indigenously developed by Agency for Defense Development and Hyundai Wia, a Korea-based powertrain company affiliated with Hyundai Kia Motors Group.[83]

Use of Rheinmetall's L/55 tank gun
Tank Designer Country Gun Proliferation
Leopard 2A7 Krauss-Maffei   Germany Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 Denmark, Qatar
Leopard 2A6 Canada, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain
Leopard 2A4 Singapore[42]
Challenger 3 Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land   United Kingdom Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55A1[84] United Kingdom

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

Notes

  1. ^ a b Eshel (2005), p. 96.
  2. ^ a b Jane's Armour & Artillery Upgrades (subscription), Israel Aerospace Industries LAser Homing Anti-Tank (LAHAT) projectile (Israel), Gun-launched guided projectiles, accessed 13 November 2008
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  4. ^ a b c d Jane's Armour & Artillery (subscription), Rheinmetall 120 mm L44 smoothbore gun (Germany) 2009-02-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 6 November 2008, claims development began in 1964.
  5. ^ Norman, p. 14
  6. ^ Zaloga (1979), p. 20
  7. ^ a b Zaloga (2004), p. 5
  8. ^ Zaloga (2004), p. 7
  9. ^ Warford (2006), pp. 23–24
  10. ^ Warford (2006), p. 24
  11. ^ Warford (2006), p. 25
  12. ^ Katz (1997), 38
  13. ^ Green (2005), 32–33
  14. ^ Hilmes (2001), p. 17
  15. ^ Zaloga (1982), p. 19
  16. ^ McNaugher (1981), p. vi
  17. ^ Jerchel (1998), p. 5
  18. ^ Hilmes (2001), p. 18
  19. ^ Jerchel (1998), p. 6
  20. ^ Jerchel (1998), pp. 6–7
  21. ^ Jerchel (1998), p. 7
  22. ^ Rheinmetall Defense, 120 mm L44 Tank Gun, accessed 9 November 2008; barrel length can be found by multiplying the caliber length by the caliber diameter.
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  32. ^ Clemens (1999), p. 15; based on the United States' M256 gun.
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  51. ^ Jane's Ammunition Handbook (subscription), 105 mm M111 IMI APFSDS-T round (Israel), Tank and anti-tank guns, accessed 11 November 2008
  52. ^ Stridsfordon idag och imorgon, [https://web.archive.org/web/20211019191416/https://cloud.mail.ru/public/FVLe/iUZw87trH Archived 2021-10-19 at the Wayback Machine 120 mm Stridsfordon idag och imorgon] 2021-10-19 at the Wayback Machine (Combat vehicles today and tomorrow) (Sweden), accessed 8 November 2012
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  54. ^ Jane's Ammunition Handbook (subscription), 120 mm DM53 and DM63 LKE II APFSDS-T round (Germany) 2009-03-24 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 11 November 2008
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  59. ^ Green (1992), p. 74
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  67. ^ Fogg (1994), p. 12.
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  70. ^ Gelbart (2004), pp. 40–41
  71. ^ Eshel (2005), p. 100
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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rheinmetall 120 mm guns.
  • Huls, Harlan (22 April 2008). (PDF). NDIA Guns and Missiles Conference (dtic.mil). Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  • Website of Rheinmetall Defence

January 09, 2023
rheinmetall, smoothbore, tank, designed, produced, former, west, germany, rheinmetal, detec, company, developed, response, soviet, advances, armour, technology, development, armoured, threats, production, began, 1974, with, first, version, known, calibres, lon. The Rheinmetall Rh 120 is a 120 mm smoothbore tank gun designed and produced in former West Germany by the Rheinmetal DeTec AG company it was developed in response to Soviet advances in armour technology and development of new armoured threats Production began in 1974 with the first version of the gun known as the L 44 as it was 44 calibres long used on the German Leopard 2 tank and soon produced under license for the American M1A1 Abrams and other tanks The 120 millimetre 4 7 in gun has a length of 5 28 metres 17 3 ft and the gun system weighs approximately 3 317 kilograms 7 313 lb Rheinmetall Rh 120A diagram of M256 gunTypeSmoothbore tank gunPlace of originWest GermanyService historyIn service1979 presentUsed bySee OperatorsProduction historyDesignerRheinmetallManufacturerRheinmetallSpecificationsMassL 44 1 190 kg 2 620 lb gun barrelL 44 3 780 kg 8 330 lb gun mountL 55 1 347 kg 2 970 lb gun barrelL 55 4 160 kg 9 170 lb gun mountLengthL 44 5 3 m 17 ft L 55 6 6 m 22 ft Barrel length44 55 calibresShell120 x 570 mm RCaliber120 millimetres 4 72 in Muzzle velocityL 44 1 530 to 1 650 m s 5 000 to 5 400 ft s L 55 1 640 to 1 750 m s 5 400 to 5 700 ft s Effective firing range4 000 metres 4 400 yd with DM63 1 8 000 metres 8 700 yd with LAHAT anti tank guided missile 2 Muzzle of a Rheinmetall 120 mm L 55 tank gun on a Spanish Leopard 2E By 1990 the L 44 was not considered powerful enough to defeat future Soviet armour which stimulated an effort by Rheinmetall to develop a better main armament This first involved a 140 millimeter 5 5 in tank gun named Neue Panzerkanone 140 new tank gun 140 but later turned into a compromise which led to the development of an advanced 120 mm gun the L 55 based on the same internal geometry as the L 44 and installed in the same breech and mount The L 55 is 1 32 metres 4 3 ft longer generating increased muzzle velocity for rounds fired through it As the L 55 retains the same barrel geometry it can fire the same ammunition as the L 44 This gun was retrofitted into German and Dutch Leopard 2s and chosen as the main gun of the Spanish Leopard 2E and the Greek Leopard 2HEL It was tested on the British Challenger 2 as a potential replacement for its rifled L30 120 mm cannon A variety of ammunition has been developed for use by tanks with guns based on Rheinmetall s original L 44 design This includes a series of kinetic energy penetrators such as the American M829 series and high explosive anti tank warheads Recent ammunition includes a range of anti personnel rounds and demolition munitions The LAHAT developed in Israel is a gun launched anti tank guided missile which has received interest from Germany and other Leopard 2 users It is designed to defeat both land armour and combat helicopters The Israelis also introduced a new anti personnel munition which limits collateral damage by controlling the fragmentation of the projectile Contents 1 Background 2 Design features 3 Variants 3 1 Rh 120 L 44 120 mm 3 2 Rh 120 L 55 120mm 3 3 Rh 130 L 51 4 Ammunition 4 1 Ammunition table 5 Operators 6 See also 7 Notes 8 Sources 9 External linksBackground Edit Prototype of the Leopard 2 The development of the 120 mm L 44 gun started in 1965 as the Bundeswehr felt a more powerful gun was needed for its new tanks 3 4 The first instance of a larger Soviet tank gun was witnessed on the chassis of a modified T 55 in 1961 5 In 1965 the Soviet Union s T 62 made its first public appearance armed with a 115 millimetre 4 5 in smoothbore tank gun 6 The Soviet decision to increase the power of its tank s main armament had come when in the early 1960s an Iranian tank commander defected over the Soviet border in a brand new M60 Patton tank which was armed with the 105 millimetre 4 1 in M68 gun the US version of the British Royal Ordnance L7 7 Despite the introduction of the T 62 in 1969 their T 64 tank was rearmed with a new 125 millimetre 4 9 in tank gun 7 while in 1972 Nizhny Tagil began production of the T 72 tank also armed with the 125 millimetre 4 9 in gun 8 At the fighting at Sultan Yakoub during the 1982 Lebanon War the Israeli government claimed to have destroyed nine Syrian T 72s with the Merkava main battle tank armed with an Israeli version of the American M68 105 millimetre 4 1 in tank gun 9 Whether true or not the Soviets test fired a number of Israeli M111 Hetz armor piercing discarding sabot rounds at Kubinka finding the 105 millimetre 4 1 in round was able to perforate the sloped front section plate but not the turret armour of the T 72 tank 10 In response the Soviets developed the T 72M1 11 This led Israel to opt for a 120 mm tank gun during the development process of the Merkava III main battle tank 12 This case is similar to the American decision to replace the M68 105 millimetre 4 1 in tank gun with Rheinmetall s 120 mm gun in 1976 the introduction of the T 64A had raised the question within the armour community of whether the new ammunition for the existing gun caliber could effectively defeat the new Soviet tank 13 In 1963 Germany and the United States had already embarked on a joint tank program known as the MBT 70 The new tank carried a crew of three with the driver in the turret an automatic loader for the main gun a 20 millimetre 0 79 in autocannon as secondary armament an active hydropneumatic suspension and spaced armour on the glacis plate and front turret 14 The new tank concept also had improved armament a 152 millimetre 6 0 in missile launching main gun designed to fire the MGM 51 Shillelagh anti tank missile 15 However the German Army was interested in a tank gun which could fire conventional ammunition Although there were attempts to modify the 152 millimetre 6 0 in tank gun to do so the process proved extremely difficult and the Germans began development of the future Rheinmetall 120 mm gun instead 16 An M1A1 Abrams firing its US built M256 120 mm tank gun In 1967 the German ministry of defense decided to re open a Leopard 1 improvement program known as the Vergoldeter Leopard Gilded Leopard later renamed the Keiler Wild Boar Krauss Maffei was chosen as the contractor and two prototypes were developed in 1969 and 1970 17 This program grew into the Leopard 2 the first prototype of the new tank was delivered in 1972 equipped with a 105 millimetre 4 1 in smoothbore main gun Between 1972 and 1975 a total of 17 prototypes were developed 18 The new 120 mm gun s ten year development effort ended in 1974 4 Ten of the seventeen turrets built were equipped with 105 mm smoothbore guns and the other seven were equipped with larger 120 mm guns 19 Another program aimed to mount the 152 millimetre 6 0 in missile gun was also begun in an attempt to save components from the MBT 70 but in 1971 the program was ended for economic reasons 20 Instead the Germans opted for Rheinmetall s 120 mm L 44 smoothbore tank gun 21 Design features Edit The smoothbore barrel of an Austrian Leopard 2A4 Rheinmetall s L 44 tank gun has a calibre of 120 mm and a length of 44 calibres 5 28 metres 17 3 ft 22 The gun s barrel weighs 1 190 kilograms 2 620 lb 23 and on the M1 Abrams the gun mount weighs 3 317 kilograms 7 313 lb 24 while the new barrel L 55 is 55 calibres long 1 30 metres 4 3 ft longer The bore evacuator and the gun s thermal sleeve designed to regulate the temperature of the barrel are made of glass reinforced plastic while the barrel has a chrome lining to increase barrel life 4 Originally the gun had an EFC barrel life of 1 500 rounds 25 but with recent advances in propellant technology the average life has increased even further 26 The gun s recoil mechanism is composed of two hydraulic retarders and a hydropneumatic assembly 4 Variants EditRh 120 L 44 120 mm Edit Production of the German Leopard 2 and the new 120 mm tank gun began in 1979 fulfilling an order for the German Army 27 Although the American M1 Abrams was originally armed with the M68A1 105 mm gun a version of the L7 28 the United States Army had planned to fit the tank with a larger main gun at a later date 29 and the tank s turret had been designed to accommodate a larger 120 mm gun 28 The larger gun was integrated into the M1A1 Abrams with the first vehicle coming off the production line in 1985 30 The gun known as the M256 was based on the L 44 tank gun although manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal Tanks armed with versions of Rheinmetall s gun produced under licence include Japan s Type 90 31 and South Korea s K1A1 32 Rh 120 L 55 120mm Edit Two Leopard 2A6s of the German Army with L55s The appearance of new Soviet tanks such as the T 80B during the late 1970s and early 1980s led to the development of new technologies and weapons to counter the threat posed to Western armour 33 The T 80B had increased firepower 34 and new composite ceramic armour 35 The T 72 also went through a modernization program in an attempt to bring it up to the standards of the T 80B In 1985 the new T 72B version entered production with a new laminate armour protection system its turret armour designed mainly to defeat anti tank missiles surpassed the T 80B s in protection 36 The German government began developing the Leopard 3 although this was canceled after the fall of the Soviet Union 37 On 29 October 1991 the governments of Switzerland the 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 38 a cheaper alternative to a new tank gun 39 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 580 MPa 84 122 psi 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 40 The longer barrel allows ammunition to attain higher velocities for example with new kinetic energy penetrator s ammunition can reach velocities of around 1 750 m s 5 700 ft s 41 The new barrel weighs 1 347 kg 2 970 lb 23 Rheinmetall Rh 130 The longer tank gun has been retrofitted into the Leopard 2 creating a model known as the Leopard 2A6 39 The Spanish Leopard 2E the Greek Leopard 2HEL the Singapore Leopard 2SG 42 and derivatives of the Leopard 2A6 use 55 calibre long tank guns 43 Rh 130 L 51 EditRheinmetall introduced a larger Rh 130 130 mm L 51 tank gun at Eurosatory 2016 in June 2016 Development commenced in 2015 financed entirely using internal funding as a response to the Russian introduction of new generation armoured vehicles like the T 14 Armata tank and the first technical demonstrator TD was completed in May 2016 The new 130 mm gun has an L 51 chrome lined smoothbore barrel with a vertical sliding breech mechanism increased chamber volume no muzzle brake a thermal sleeve and a muzzle reference system MRS enabling it to be boresighted on a more regular basis without the crew needing to leave the platform Compared to the 2 700 kg 6 000 lb 120 mm gun the 130 mm has a 1 400 kg 3 100 lb barrel and an all up weight of 3 000 kg 6 600 lb including the recoil system Comparison of ammunitionRheinmetall is developing a new generation armour piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot APFSDS round featuring a semi combustible cartridge case new propellant and new advanced long rod tungsten penetrator and a high explosive air bursting munition HE ABM based on the 120 mm DM11 HE ABM in parallel with the gun the cartridges are 30 kg 66 lb and 1 3 m 4 3 ft long with according to the company the increase of 8 in calibre resulting in 50 more kinetic energy over the 120 mm gun 44 Engineers believe the weapon can only be used with an automatic loader and new turret design The gun commenced static firing trials at Rheinmetall s proving ground following Eurosatory while engineers hoped to receive a new NATO standard by the end of 2016 although development of the gun and ammunition will likely take 8 10 years The 130 mm is designed to equip the Main Ground Combat System MGCS a joint effort between Germany and France to produce a successor to the Leopard 2 and Leclerc possibly to be launched between 2025 2030 45 46 47 In July 2020 Rheinmetall unveilled a testbed tank for the gun in a new turret mounted on a Challenger 2 hull 48 49 In June 2022 Rheinmetal unveiled the Panther KF51 concept tank based on Leopard 2 chassis and a redesigned turret hosting the new gun citation needed Ammunition Edit American M829A2 APFSDS DU round A variety of rounds have been developed for Rheinmetall s tank gun For example a long line of armour piercing discarding sabot APDS rounds was developed by Rheinmetall Originally the Leopard 2 was outfitted with the DM23 kinetic energy penetrator 50 based on the Israeli 105 mm M111 Hetz which itself was a licensed copy of the American M735 round 51 The DM23 was eventually replaced by the DM33 which was also adopted by Japan Italy Netherlands and Switzerland The DM33 has a three part aluminium sabot and a two part tungsten penetrator and is said to be able to penetrate 470 millimetres 19 in of steel armour at a range of 2 000 metres 2 200 yd 52 The DM43 is a further development of this round codeveloped between Germany and France The introduction of the longer barrel came together with the introduction of a new kinetic energy penetrator the DM53 With the projectile including sabot weighing 8 35 kilograms with a 38 1 length to diameter ratio and with a muzzle velocity of 1 750 metres per second 5 700 ft s the DM53 has an effective engagement range of up to 4 000 metres 4 400 yd 1 A further development called the DM63 improved upon the round by introducing a new temperature independent propellant which allows the propellant to have a constant pattern of expansion between ambient temperatures inside the gun barrel from 47 C 53 F to 71 C 160 F The new propellant powders known as surface coated double base SCDB propellants allow the DM63 to be used in many climates with consistent results 53 The new ammunition has been accepted into service with the Dutch and Swiss as well as German armies 54 In 1993 South Korea invented self sharpening process on the tungsten heavy alloy which the process was only achievable from depleted uranium penetrators by applying microstructure control and multi stage heat treatment Most penetrators in the world receive a single heat treatment while Korean penetrators are treated 20 times using the new technology which increases impact toughness by 300 The self sharpening effect increases penetration by 8 16 compared to regular penetrators and compensates 6 10 less penetration from material disadvantage against DU providing firepower of that of DU ammunition in a DU particle free environment South Korea holds related patents on Japan United Kingdom United States and 3 other unspecified nations 55 56 The public appearance of the K276 armour piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot APFSDS the first 120 mm ammunition with self sharpening penetrator was during the release ceremony of K1A1 prototype in 1996 57 The United States developed its own kinetic energy penetrator KEP tank round in the form of an armour piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot APFSDS round using a depleted uranium DU alloy long rod penetrator LRP designated the M829 58 followed by improved versions An immediate improvement known as the M829A1 was called the Silver Bullet after its good combat performance during the Gulf War against Iraqi T 55 T 62 and T 72 tanks 59 The M829 series centres around the depleted uranium penetrator designed to penetrate enemy armour through kinetic energy and to shatter inside the turret doing much damage within the tank 60 In 1998 the United States military introduced the M829A2 which has an improved depleted uranium penetrator and composite sabot petals 61 In 2002 production began of the 10 000 per round M829A3 using a more efficient propellant RPD 380 stick 62 a lighter injection molded sabot and a longer 800 mm and heavier 10 kg 22 lb DU penetrator which is said to be able to defeat the latest versions of Russian Kontakt 5 explosive reactive armour ERA 63 This variant is unofficially referred to by Abrams tank crews as the super sabot 64 In response to the M829A3 the Russian Army designed the Relikt the most modern Russian ERA which is claimed to be twice as effective as the Kontakt 5 A further improved M829E4 round with a segmented penetrator to defeat Relikt has been under development since 2011 and was to be fielded as the M829A4 in 2015 Both Germany and the United States have developed several other rounds These include the German DM12 multi purpose anti tank projectile MPAT based on the technology in a high explosive anti tank HEAT warhead 50 However it has been found that the DM12 s armour killing abilities are limited by the lack of blast and fragmentation effects and that the round is less valuable against lightly armoured targets 65 The United States also has an MPAT type projectile named M830 66 This was later developed into the M830A1 which allows the M1 Abrams to use the round against helicopters 67 The M1 Abrams can use the M1028 canister round which is an anti personnel anti helicopter munition packed with over 1 000 10 mm tungsten balls 68 The United States Armed Forces accepted a new demolition round called the M908 obstacle defeating round based on the M830A1 MPAT but with the proximity fuse replaced by a hardened nose cap The cap allows the round to impact and embed itself in concrete then exploding inside the target and causing more damage 69 The Israeli Army introduced a new round known as the laser homing anti tank LAHAT projectile 2 Using a semi active laser homing guidance method the LAHAT can be guided by the tank s crew or by teams on the ground while the missile s trajectory can be selected to either attack from the top to defeat enemy armour or direct attack to engage enemy helicopters Furthermore the missile can be fired by both 105 millimetre 4 1 in and 120 millimetre 4 7 in tank guns 70 The LAHAT has been offered as an option for the Leopard 2 and has been marketed by both Israel Military Industries and Rheinmetall to Leopard 2 users 71 Israeli Merkavas make use of a round known as the APAM which is an anti personnel munition designed to release fragmentation at controlled intervals to limit the extent of damage Fragments are shaped to have enough kinetic energy to penetrate body armour 72 Poland has introduced a series of projectiles for Rheinmetall s tank gun including an armour piercing penetrator target practice round APFSDS T TP a high explosive round and a high explosive target practice HE TP projectile The ammunition is manufactured by Zaklady Produkcji Specjalnej Sp z o o 73 In early 2013 Rheinmetall announced two new rounds suitable for the L44 and the L55 guns the DM11 HE round designed for lightly armoured targets field fortifications and targets behind cover and a lower cost alternative to the DM11 the HE SQ Rh31 74 Ammunition table Edit Main article 120 570mm NATOOperators Edit Map with Rheinmetall 120 mm operators in blue with former operators in red none image reference needed Due to tank sales Rheinmetall s L 44 tank gun has been manufactured for other nations For example the Leopard 2 armed with the 44 calibre long gun has been sold to the Netherlands Switzerland Sweden Spain Austria Denmark Finland and other countries 75 Egypt had manufactured 700 800 M1A1 Abrams by 2005 76 and in 2008 requested permission to build another 125 tanks their M256 main guns the US version of the L 44 were manufactured by the Watervliet Arsenal 77 The M1A1 has also been exported to Australia 78 while the M1A2 Abrams has been exported to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait 79 The American license built M256 has also been offered by General Dynamics Land Systems as part of the M60 2000 main battle tank which would upgrade older M60 Patton tanks to have capabilities of their M1A1 Abrams at a reduced cost though the company has not yet found a buyer Use of Rheinmetall s L 44 tank gun Tank Designer Country Gun UsersLeopard 2 Krauss Maffei Germany Rheinmetall 120 mm L 44 Austria Canada Chile Denmark Finland Greece Hungary Indonesia the Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey M1 Abrams General Dynamics Land Systems formerly Chrysler Defense United States M256 L 44 from the M1A1 onwards Australia Egypt Iraq Kuwait Morocco Saudi Arabia Type 90 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Japan Rheinmetall 120 mm L 44K1A1 Hyundai Rotem South Korea KM256 L 44 from the K1A1 onwardsThe Leopard 2A6 and its longer L 55 main gun have been exported for use by the Canadian Army and the Netherlands upgraded part of its original fleet of Leopard 2s with the more powerful armament 80 The British Army has tested Rheinmetall s longer gun possibly looking to replace the current L30A1 120 mm L 55 rifled main gun on the Challenger 2 81 Two Challenger 2s were modified to undergo firing trials 82 Although the South Korean K2 Black Panther is equipped with a CN08 120 mm L 55 main gun and shows similar characteristics as its German counterpart it is indigenously developed by Agency for Defense Development and Hyundai Wia a Korea based powertrain company affiliated with Hyundai Kia Motors Group 83 Use of Rheinmetall s L 55 tank gun Tank Designer Country Gun ProliferationLeopard 2A7 Krauss Maffei Germany Rheinmetall 120 mm L 55 Denmark QatarLeopard 2A6 Canada Finland Greece Netherlands Portugal SpainLeopard 2A4 Singapore 42 Challenger 3 Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land United Kingdom Rheinmetall 120 mm L 55A1 84 United KingdomSee also EditWeapons of comparable role performance and eraL11A5 120 mm rifled gun British rifled equivalent developed by Royal Armament Research and Development Established RARDE in 1957 2A46 125 mm gun Russian 125 mm equivalent developed by Spetstekhnika Design Bureau in 1960s CN120 25 120 mm gun French equivalent developed by Etablissement d Etudes et de Fabrication d Armements de Bourges EFAB in 1979 EXP 28M1 120 mm rifled gun Experimental British weapon of the late 1970s early 1980s Was to have equipped the MBT 80 CN120 26 120 mm gun French equivalent developed by EFAB in 1980s IMI 120 mm gun Israeli equivalent developed by Israeli Military Industries in 1988 OTO Breda 120 mm gun Italian equivalent developed by OTO Melara in 1988 L30A1 120 mm rifled gun British rifled equivalent developed by ROF Nottingham in 1989 JSW 120 mm gun Japanese equivalent developed by Japan Steel Works in 2008 CN08 120 mm gun South Korean equivalent developed by Agency for Defense Development ADD and WIA in 2008 2A82 1M 125 mm gun New Russian 125 mm equivalent developed by Uralvagonzavod in 2014 MKE 120 mm tank gun Turkish equivalent developed by Otokar and Hyundai WIA in 2016 Notes Edit a b Eshel 2005 p 96 a b Jane s Armour amp Artillery Upgrades subscription Israel Aerospace Industries LAser Homing Anti Tank LAHAT projectile Israel Gun launched guided projectiles accessed 13 November 2008 Rheinmetall Leopard 2 the world s most advanced main battle tank accessed 9 January 2009 a b c d Jane s Armour amp Artillery subscription Rheinmetall 120 mm L44 smoothbore gun Germany Archived 2009 02 20 at the Wayback Machine accessed 6 November 2008 claims development began in 1964 Norman p 14 Zaloga 1979 p 20 a b Zaloga 2004 p 5 Zaloga 2004 p 7 Warford 2006 pp 23 24 Warford 2006 p 24 Warford 2006 p 25 Katz 1997 38 Green 2005 32 33 Hilmes 2001 p 17 Zaloga 1982 p 19 McNaugher 1981 p vi Jerchel 1998 p 5 Hilmes 2001 p 18 Jerchel 1998 p 6 Jerchel 1998 pp 6 7 Jerchel 1998 p 7 Rheinmetall Defense 120 mm L44 Tank Gun accessed 9 November 2008 barrel length can be found by multiplying the caliber length by the caliber diameter a b Maxwell 2002 p 82 Green 2005 p 61 M256 120mm Smoothbore Gun Archived from the original on 2013 10 22 Retrieved 2015 06 27 Large Calibre Weapons and Ammunition Archived from the original on 2015 01 08 Retrieved 2015 03 04 Jerchel 1998 p 11 a b Green 1992 p 56 Chait 2005 p 12 Green 2005 pp 24 29 Bolte 1997 p 25 Clemens 1999 p 15 based on the United States M256 gun Jerchel 1998 p 24 Baryatinskiy 2006 pp 23 25 Baryatinskiy 2006 p 14 Zaloga 1993 p 10 Jerchel 1998 pp 33 34 Jerchel 1998 p 34 a b Hilmes 2004 p 76 Jane s Armour amp Artillery Upgrades subscription Rheinmetall 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun Germany accessed 10 November 2008 Rheinmetall Defence 120 mm L55 Tank Gun Archived 2010 04 05 at the Wayback Machine accessed 10 November 2008 a b Miller Stephen W 2017 04 26 Tanked Up Asian Military Review Archived from the original on 2021 08 05 Retrieved 2021 08 05 Candil 2007 p 66 Rheinmetall Ups Tank Firepower with new 130mm Gun Defense Update 14 June 2016 Archived from the original on 26 May 2019 Retrieved 26 May 2019 German Rheinmetall works on new 130mm tank gun Archived 2021 10 19 at the Wayback Machine Defensenews com 15 June 2016 Foss Christopher F 16 June 2016 Eurosatory 2016 Rheinmetall lifts the lid on new 130 mm tank gun Jane s Information Group Archived from the original on 16 September 2016 Retrieved 7 September 2016 Rheinmetall Ups Tank Firepower with new 130mm Gun Archived 2016 09 07 at the Wayback Machine Defense Update com 14 June 2016 Rheinmetall MBT 130 mm Gun Archived from the original on 2020 07 31 Retrieved 2020 07 31 via www youtube com Army Recognition Rheinmetall from Germany unveils new Main Battle Tank MBT with 130mm cannon https www armyrecognition com defense news july 2020 global security army industry rheinmettall unveils new leopard tank mbt with 130mm cannon html Archived 2020 08 09 at the Wayback Machine 31 07 2020 a b Jerchel 1998 p 22 Jane s Ammunition Handbook subscription 105 mm M111 IMI APFSDS T round Israel Tank and anti tank guns accessed 11 November 2008 Stridsfordon idag och imorgon https web archive org web 20211019191416 https cloud mail ru public FVLe iUZw87trH Archived 2021 10 19 at the Wayback Machine 120 mm Stridsfordon idag och imorgon Archived 2021 10 19 at the Wayback Machine Combat vehicles today and tomorrow Sweden accessed 8 November 2012 Hilmes 2007 p 93 Jane s Ammunition Handbook subscription 120 mm DM53 and DM63 LKE II APFSDS T round Germany Archived 2009 03 24 at the Wayback Machine accessed 11 November 2008 국방홍보원 지상전의 왕자 K1A1전차 K1A1 tank the Prince of the National Defense Agency tv dema mil kr in Korean Retrieved 2022 09 21 국방과학연구소 50주년 50th Anniversary of Defense Science Research Institute Add re kr in Korean Retrieved 2022 09 26 한국형 120mm K 1 성능개량전차 첫 선 First Korean 120mm K 1 performance improved tank n news naver com in Korean Retrieved 2022 09 20 Green 2005 p 68 Green 1992 p 74 Green 1992 pp 76 77 Green 2005 p 69 ATK Specifications 120mm M829A3 APFSDS T Ammunition Archived from the original on May 2 2014 Retrieved April 30 2014 Green 2005 p 70 120mm Tank Gun KE Ammunition Defense Update 2006 11 22 Archived from the original on 2007 08 05 Retrieved 2007 09 03 Eshel 2005 p 98 Green 2005 p 71 Fogg 1994 p 12 Green 2005 p 72 Hilmes 2007 pp 92 93 Gelbart 2004 pp 40 41 Eshel 2005 p 100 Eshel 2003 p 46 Bumar 120 mm Rounds for Rh 120 L 44 Tank Gun Rheinmetall Press Release 17 February 2013 PDF Archived PDF from the original on 10 August 2021 Retrieved 12 August 2020 Jerchel 1998 pp 36 42 Green 2005 p 25 Defense Industry Daily Egypt 889M Request for 125 M1A1 Tanks Archived 2008 10 17 at the Wayback Machine accessed 9 November 2008 Jane s Defence Weekly subscription Australia prepares for M1A1s accessed 9 November 2008 Green 2005 p 34 Defense Industry Daily Tanks for the Lesson Leopards too for Canada Archived 2008 06 21 at the Wayback Machine accessed 10 November 2008 Rheinmetall Defence Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore technology for Britain s Challenger accessed 10 November 2008 Hilmes 2007 p 88 Lee Jihun 5 January 2016 방위산업 저성장 시대의 대안 Defense Industry Alternative to Low growth Era PDF Report in Korean SK Securities p 14 Archived from the original PDF on 28 October 2021 Retrieved 28 October 2021 Rheinmetall Defence Latest news Rheinmetall modernizing the UK s main battle tank Challenger 2 fleet www rheinmetall defence com Archived from the original on 2021 05 12 Retrieved 2021 05 11 Sources Edit 120 mm Rounds for Rh 120 L 44 Tank Gun PDF Warsaw Poland Bumar Archived from the original PDF on 2008 12 17 Baryatinskiy Mikhail 2007 Main Battle Tank T 80 Surrey United Kingdom Ian Allan p 96 ISBN 978 0 7110 3238 5 Bolte Philip L Iwao Hayashi 1 January 1997 Japanese Armored Vehicle Development Armor Fort Knox Kentucky U S Armor Center Burton Larry Robert Carter Victor Champagne et al 1 January 2004 Army Targets Age Old Problems with New Gun Barrel Technologies AMPTIAC Quarterly Rome New York Advanced Materials and Processes Technology Information Analysis Center 8 4 Candil Antonio 1 February 2007 The Spanish Leopard 2E A Magnificent Tool Military Technology Monch Editorial Group 2 Chait Richard Lyons John Long Duncan 2005 Critical Technology Events in the Development of the M1 Abrams Center for Technology and National Security Policy Clemens Jon 1 July 1999 Tank Assessment Survey Ranks Leopard 2A6 Tops With the M1A1 the Runner up Armor Fort Knox Kentucky U S Armor Center Dunstan Simon 2006 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987 2006 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 84176 815 4 Eshel David 1 January 2003 The Merkava Mk 4 Israel s Newest MBT Enters Service Armor Fort Knox Kentucky U S Armor Center Eshel Tamir 1 February 2005 Improving the Leopard Firepower More Potent Ammunition Prepares the Leopard to Face a Wide Spectrum of Missions Military Technology Monch Editorial Group Fogg William Horner Robert 1 May 1994 The New MPAT Round Armor Fort Knox Kentucky U S Armor Center Gelbart Marsh 2008 Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985 2004 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 978 1 84176 579 2 Green Michael Stewart Greg 2005 M1 Abrams At War St Paul Minnesota Zenith Press p 127 ISBN 0 7603 2153 1 Green Michael 1992 M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank The Combat and Development History of the General Dynamics M1 and M1A1 Tanks Osceola Wisconsin Motorbooks International p 96 ISBN 0 87938 597 9 Hilmes Rolf 1 December 2004 Arming Future MBTs Some Considerations Military Technology Monch Hilmes Rolf 1 March 2007 Development Trends in Tank Armament Military Technology Monch Jerchel Michael Schnellbacher Uwe 1998 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank 1979 1998 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 85532 691 4 Katz Sam 1997 Merkava Main Battle Tank MKs I II amp III Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 85532 643 4 Lathrop Richard John McDonald 2003 M60 Main Battle Tank 1960 91 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 84176 551 1 Maxwell David 1 June 2002 New Tanks for the Old Part II Tank Top Upgrades Armada International ISSN 0252 9793 Maxwell David 1 February 2003 Try a 120 for Size Armada International ISSN 0252 9793 Norman Michael Soviet Mediums T44 T54 T55 amp T62 Berkshire United Kingdom Profile Publications Ltd ISBN missing Warford James M 1 September 2006 The Secret Testing of Israeli M111 Hetz Ammunition A Model of Failed Commander s Responsibility Armor Fort Knox Kentucky U S Armor Center Zaloga Steven J Loop James W Lt Col 1982 Modern American Armor Combat Vehicles of the United States Army Today New York City New York Arms and Armour Press p 88 ISBN 0 85368 248 8 Zaloga Steven J 1979 Modern Soviet Armor Combat Vehicles of the USSR and Warsaw Pact Today Edinburg United Kingdom Prentice Hall p 88 ISBN 0 13 597856 4 Zaloga Steven J 2004 T 54 and T 55 Main Battle Tanks 1944 2004 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 84176 792 1 Zaloga Steven J 1993 T 72 Main Battle Tank 1974 93 Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 85532 338 9 Zaloga Steven J 1999 The M47 and M48 Patton Tanks Oxford United Kingdom Osprey p 48 ISBN 1 85532 825 9 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rheinmetall 120 mm guns Huls Harlan 22 April 2008 Firing US 120mm Tank Ammunition in the Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank PDF NDIA Guns and Missiles Conference dtic mil Alliant Techsystems ATK Archived from the original PDF on 4 September 2012 Retrieved 14 January 2012 Website of Rheinmetall Defence Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rheinmetall Rh 120 amp oldid 1129468155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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