Difference between revisions of "M256 (120 mm)"
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In 1972, as the a replacement to the cancelled [[MBT-70]] and [[XM-803]] was beginning development by Chrysler and GM, a 120 mm smoothbore gun had been considered. However, the developing gun by West Germany was not expected to be produced in time to meet the scheduled production timeline, and so the [[M68 (105 mm)|105 mm M68]] was retained as the main armament for the upcoming design.<ref name="AbramsHunnicuttpg1">Hunnicutt 1990, p.163</ref> In 1976, during the decision on which company will receive the contract to produce the XM-1 tank, a separate decision was made for the tank to be able to accommodate a 120 mm gun in the future, either the British 120 mm rifled gun or the German smoothbore gun. On October 28th, the XM-1 designs were modified with this new requirement.<ref name="AbramsHunnicuttpg2">Hunnicutt 1990, p.190</ref> Chrysler eventually won the contract to produce the tanks, but they were armed with the [[M68A1 (105 mm)|105 mm M68A1]]. | In 1972, as the a replacement to the cancelled [[MBT-70]] and [[XM-803]] was beginning development by Chrysler and GM, a 120 mm smoothbore gun had been considered. However, the developing gun by West Germany was not expected to be produced in time to meet the scheduled production timeline, and so the [[M68 (105 mm)|105 mm M68]] was retained as the main armament for the upcoming design.<ref name="AbramsHunnicuttpg1">Hunnicutt 1990, p.163</ref> In 1976, during the decision on which company will receive the contract to produce the XM-1 tank, a separate decision was made for the tank to be able to accommodate a 120 mm gun in the future, either the British 120 mm rifled gun or the German smoothbore gun. On October 28th, the XM-1 designs were modified with this new requirement.<ref name="AbramsHunnicuttpg2">Hunnicutt 1990, p.190</ref> Chrysler eventually won the contract to produce the tanks, but they were armed with the [[M68A1 (105 mm)|105 mm M68A1]]. | ||
| − | The German [[Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)|Rheinmetall 120 mm]] was eventually chosen to become the next tank armament for US tanks. Receiving a license to produce it, the Watervliet Arsenal | + | The German [[Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)|Rheinmetall 120 mm]] was eventually chosen to become the next tank armament for US tanks. Receiving a license to produce it, the Watervliet Arsenal produced the Rheinmetall cannon as the '''M256'''.<ref name="AbramsHunnicuttpg3">Hunnicutt 1990, p.224</ref> With the original Rheinmetall design considered overly complex and expensive, the M256 had been redesigned with fewer parts.<ref name="AbramsZalogapg1">Zaloga 1993,, p.10</ref> |
== Media == | == Media == | ||
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===Bibliography=== | ===Bibliography=== | ||
* Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank.'' Presidio Press, 1990 | * Hunnicutt, R.P. ''Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank.'' Presidio Press, 1990 | ||
| + | * Zaloga, Steven. ''M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982-1992.'' Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1993 | ||
{{USA tank cannons}} | {{USA tank cannons}} | ||
[[Category:Tank cannons]] | [[Category:Tank cannons]] | ||
Revision as of 18:16, 12 February 2021
Contents
Description
Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.
Available ammunition
Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- M829, KE-W (on the M60 AMBT), and M829A1 (on the M1A2 Abrams) are amongst the most powerful shells in the game, with M829A1 having the third highest penetration after the German DM53 and the Italian CL3143.
- The M256 on the M1A2 Abrams has access to the high velocity, proximity-fused M830A1 HEAT-MP shell, enabling the M1A2 to engage helicopters and low flying aircraft with devastating (and often hilarious) results. A direct hit isn't needed either due to the large amount of explosive filler and wide blast radius.
- Reload is comparable to other NATO MBTs - 7.8 seconds stock and 6 seconds with an aced crew.
- Relatively wide selection of shells - 1 APFSDS shell (M829) and 1 HEAT-FS shell (M830) on the M1A1, 2 APFSDS shells (M829 and M829A1), 1 standard HEAT-FS shell (M830) and 1 HEAT-MP shell (M830A1) on the M1A2 Abrams, the M60 AMBT gets access to the powerful KE-W APFSDS shell and the M830 HEAT-FS shell.
- M830A1 is the fastest HEAT based shell in the game with a muzzle velocity of 1,400 m/s.
- Extremely high muzzle velocity on M829, KE-W, and M829A1 makes longe range sniping a satisfying experience - M829 has the highest muzzle velocity out of the 3 APFSDS shells available.
- Great gun handling characteristics - the gun elevates towards +20 and depresses towards -10 very quickly.
- Very effective stabiliser - does not stop working at high speeds.
Cons:
- Poor stock grind - enemy tanks are very capable of withstanding M830 HEAT-FS.
- M830A1 is not effective against enemy MBTs - it only has 350 mm of chemical-based penetration.
- The M256 on the M1A1 Abrams and M60 AMBT do not get access to the M829A1 APFSDS shell and the M830A1 HEAT-MP shell.
- M830A1 needs to travel a certain distance to arm the fuse - unable to engage helicopters at close range, except for a direct hit.
- The reload isn't very impressive compared to contemporary tanks like the Leopard 2A5/6, the Strv 122, the Ariete and the Leclerc. The Type 90 and Challenger 2 beat it by a full second.
- M830A1 self-destructs at 4.5 kilometres - helicopters can engage the M1A2 way beyond that range.
History
In 1972, as the a replacement to the cancelled MBT-70 and XM-803 was beginning development by Chrysler and GM, a 120 mm smoothbore gun had been considered. However, the developing gun by West Germany was not expected to be produced in time to meet the scheduled production timeline, and so the 105 mm M68 was retained as the main armament for the upcoming design.[1] In 1976, during the decision on which company will receive the contract to produce the XM-1 tank, a separate decision was made for the tank to be able to accommodate a 120 mm gun in the future, either the British 120 mm rifled gun or the German smoothbore gun. On October 28th, the XM-1 designs were modified with this new requirement.[2] Chrysler eventually won the contract to produce the tanks, but they were armed with the 105 mm M68A1.
The German Rheinmetall 120 mm was eventually chosen to become the next tank armament for US tanks. Receiving a license to produce it, the Watervliet Arsenal produced the Rheinmetall cannon as the M256.[3] With the original Rheinmetall design considered overly complex and expensive, the M256 had been redesigned with fewer parts.[4]
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
References
Bibliography
- Hunnicutt, R.P. Abrams: A History of the American Main Battle Tank. Presidio Press, 1990
- Zaloga, Steven. M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982-1992. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1993
| USA tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | M139 |
| 25 mm | LW25 · M242 |
| 37 mm | M3 · M5 · M6 |
| 57 mm | M1 |
| 75 mm | M2 · M2 Howitzer · M3 · M6 · M1897A4 · XM274 |
| 76 mm | M1 · M7 · M32 · T185E1 |
| 90 mm | M3 · M3A1 · M36 · M41 · M54 · T15E1 · T15E2 · T54 · T208E9 |
| 105 mm | M4 · M68 · M68A1 · M68A1E8 · T5E1 · T5E2 · T140E2 · T140E3 · XM35 |
| 106 mm | M40A1C |
| 120 mm | M58 · M256 · T53 |
| 152 mm | M81 · M162 · XM150E5 |
| 155 mm | M185 · T7 |
| 165 mm | M135 |
| Foreign: | |
| 20 mm | Rh202 (Germany) |
| 57 mm | 6pdr OQF Mk.III (Britain) · ZIS-2 (USSR) |
| 105 mm | Sharir (Israel) |
| 120 mm | IMI MG251 (Israel) |
