I have a question that has bothered a friend and I for a number of years.  Given that the M1A Abrams tank uses a 120mm smooth bore gun, how do they stabilize the rounds/projectiles shot from the main gun?[>:/]

Isn't the tank rd a sabot rd?

Think aiming computer takes care of that, chk here:[url]http://www.army-technology.com/projects/abrams/[/url]

Mike

They also come in a 105mm Rifled Barrel.

But alas the round (AP or HEAT) is Fin stabilized. The computer takes care of Windare,Range,Humidity,Temperature,Barrel Wear,Barrel Temperature,Barrel warp,Shot type,Tank speed, Tank position, Gun stabilization and elevation, shooting uphill, downhill,  Target vectors(speed, direction), I don't really know about how many discrete variables but quite a few. Ohh but for a rifle sight that did that. Infra Red, Regular and night optics.

Longest Single shot Kill in actual combat occured in the Gulf War. M1A1 Abrahms, 3280 meters against soviet t-55 I think. Skylighted T-55.

Here is a little historical data:

Life Expectancy of NATO Tank crew through the Fulda Gap in Warsaw pact invasion. 2 hours!  

Number of Tank Heavy Russian Divisions stationed in Fulda Gap in 1985 = 110.

Fin, Stabolized, Discarding, Sabot. Think of a big finishing nail with fins in a plastic case to seal the bore. The plastic Sabot falls away after the "nail" leaves the barrel. And that nail is moving very fast. Along the lines of pushing a 55 grain bullet out of a 50 BMG. Or a sewing needle out of my 30-06. Now, being a Bradley guy, I will not act too impressed with the M1A1 [moon] but they had a purpose.[smoke]

Haven't verified it, but a friend who was in opfor in Germany driving Bradleys says an M1 accidentally put a training round into the back of an M-3 that was out of formation and killed the whole Bradley crew. That is a gun with some power