Difference between revisions of "IMI MG251 (120 mm)"

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== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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The 120 mm IMI MG251 is an Israeli made L44 Smooth-bore tank gun made by IMI (Israeli Military Forces). It was developed in 1983-1989, for the Merkava Mk. III. It was revealed in 1989 to be the main armament for the Merkava Mk. III. In 1990 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to IMI which gave Israel the abilit to produce it domestically.
  
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== Available ammunition ===
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=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
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''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
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The Rheinmetall Rh-120 is the most similar gun to it. It is also an L44 Smooth-bore Tank gun, and often the IMI MG251 120mm is often mistaken for a licensed version of it.  
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''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.''
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The IMI MG251 120mm is found on the Merkava Mk. III MBT meaning that it is going to be going up against tanks such as the T90A. Almost all ammunition types can pierce the T90As armour except for the M339.  
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
* High-penetration APFSDS round
 
* High-penetration APFSDS round
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 
* M325 HEAT shell strength is mediocre at the fighting rank and is only useful against light-skinned ground and airborne targets
 
* M325 HEAT shell strength is mediocre at the fighting rank and is only useful against light-skinned ground and airborne targets
 
* Reload time is akin to that of L/55 cannon, being much slower than 120 mm L/44 and 125 mm cannons
 
* Reload time is akin to that of L/55 cannon, being much slower than 120 mm L/44 and 125 mm cannons
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There are three known variants of the IMI's 120 mm cannon:<ref name="Elbit">Elbit Systems "Portfolio"</ref>
 
There are three known variants of the IMI's 120 mm cannon:<ref name="Elbit">Elbit Systems "Portfolio"</ref>
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* '''MG251''' - The first version mounted in Merkava Mk.3s
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 +
* '''MG251''' - The first version mounted in Merkava Mk. IIIs
 
* ''MG251-LR'' - An improved version that is mounted on Merkava Mk.4s
 
* ''MG251-LR'' - An improved version that is mounted on Merkava Mk.4s
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* ''MG253'' - A version with reduced recoil length, 40% less than the normal.<ref name="IMI"/> Used in the M60T "Sabra" in Turkish service.
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* ''MG253'' - A version with reduced recoil length, 40% less than the normal.<ref name="IMI" /> Used in the M60T "Sabra" in Turkish service.
  
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The 120 mm guns are compliant with STANAG 4385, which means the cannons are compatible with other 120 mm NATO tank shells.<ref name="Elbit"/>
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The 120 mm guns are compliant with STANAG 4385, which means the cannons are compatible with other 120 mm NATO tank shells.<ref name="Elbit" />
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - 188th Brigade Training Day, March 2008.jpg|frameless]]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 
* [[M256 (120 mm)]]
 
* [[M256 (120 mm)]]
 
* [[Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)]]
 
* [[Rh120 L/44 (120 mm)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_120_mm_gun
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
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https://web.archive.org/web/20161231050132/http://www.imi-israel.com/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=68579
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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;References:
 
;References:
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
;Bibliography:
 
;Bibliography:
 +
 
* Elbit Systems. "Elbit Systems Land Tank Ammunition Portfolio." ''Elbit Systems'', [https://elbitsystems.com/media/Catalog-Tanks_15_Web.pdf PDF document]. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210820111341/https://elbitsystems.com/media/Catalog-Tanks_15_Web.pdf Archive])
 
* Elbit Systems. "Elbit Systems Land Tank Ammunition Portfolio." ''Elbit Systems'', [https://elbitsystems.com/media/Catalog-Tanks_15_Web.pdf PDF document]. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210820111341/https://elbitsystems.com/media/Catalog-Tanks_15_Web.pdf Archive])
 
* IMI Systems. "L44 (MG251/3)  - 120mm Smoothbore Tank Guns." ''IMI Systems'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20161231050132/http://www.imi-israel.com/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=68579 Web Archive] (Retrieved from 31 Dec 2016).
 
* IMI Systems. "L44 (MG251/3)  - 120mm Smoothbore Tank Guns." ''IMI Systems'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20161231050132/http://www.imi-israel.com/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=68579 Web Archive] (Retrieved from 31 Dec 2016).

Revision as of 19:39, 2 January 2022

Description

The 120 mm IMI MG251 is an Israeli-produced tank armament intended for their Merkava tanks.

Although sharing the same calibre and able to fire the same ammunition, the weapon is not a license-production variant of the 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 cannon and is independently designed and produced in Israel.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The 120 mm IMI MG251 is an Israeli made L44 Smooth-bore tank gun made by IMI (Israeli Military Forces). It was developed in 1983-1989, for the Merkava Mk. III. It was revealed in 1989 to be the main armament for the Merkava Mk. III. In 1990 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to IMI which gave Israel the abilit to produce it domestically.

Available ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M325 HEATFS 480 480 480 480 480 480
M339 HE-TF 65 65 60 58 53 50
M322 APFSDS 589 586 577 565 553 541
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
Mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M325 HEATFS 1,078 15.81 0.05 0.1 2,360 65° 72° 77°
M339 HE-TF 900 17 1.5 3 3,660 79° 80° 81°
M322 APFSDS 1,705 5.6 N/A N/A N/A 78° 80° 81°

Comparison with analogues

The Rheinmetall Rh-120 is the most similar gun to it. It is also an L44 Smooth-bore Tank gun, and often the IMI MG251 120mm is often mistaken for a licensed version of it.

Usage in battles

The IMI MG251 120mm is found on the Merkava Mk. III MBT meaning that it is going to be going up against tanks such as the T90A. Almost all ammunition types can pierce the T90As armour except for the M339.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • High-penetration APFSDS round

Cons:

  • M325 HEAT shell strength is mediocre at the fighting rank and is only useful against light-skinned ground and airborne targets
  • Reload time is akin to that of L/55 cannon, being much slower than 120 mm L/44 and 125 mm cannons

History

The 120 mm tank armament was developed by Israel Military Industries' (IMI) Slavin Land Systems Division.[1] It made its public reveal in 1989 as the main armament of the Merkava Mk.3.[2]

There are three known variants of the IMI's 120 mm cannon:[3]

  • MG251 - The first version mounted in Merkava Mk. IIIs
  • MG251-LR - An improved version that is mounted on Merkava Mk.4s
  • MG253 - A version with reduced recoil length, 40% less than the normal.[1] Used in the M60T "Sabra" in Turkish service.

The 120 mm guns are compliant with STANAG 4385, which means the cannons are compatible with other 120 mm NATO tank shells.[3]

Media

Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - 188th Brigade Training Day, March 2008.jpg

See also

External links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_120_mm_gun

https://web.archive.org/web/20161231050132/http://www.imi-israel.com/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=68579

References
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 IMI Systems "L44 (MG251/3)"
  2. ↑ Janes "Israel Military Industries 120 mm"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Elbit Systems "Portfolio"
Bibliography
  • Elbit Systems. "Elbit Systems Land Tank Ammunition Portfolio." Elbit Systems, PDF document. (Archive)
  • IMI Systems. "L44 (MG251/3) - 120mm Smoothbore Tank Guns." IMI Systems, Web Archive (Retrieved from 31 Dec 2016).
  • Janes. "Israel Military Industries 120 mm smoothbore tank gun MG251 (Israel), Weapons of 20 mm and upward." Jane's Armour and Artillery Upgrades, 17 May 2010, Web Archive (Retrieved from 01 Nov 2010)


USA tank cannons
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)

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