Future Armour

[McG]

Europe seems to be favouring 40 mm for its future mid caliber cannon. The US Army seems more interested in 50 mm to 75 mm which is getting outside the autocannon sizes.

 

[Kirkhill]

Europe seems to be favouring 40 mm for its future mid caliber cannon. The US Army seems more interested in 50 mm to 75 mm which is getting outside the autocannon sizes.

75mm is a Sherman with an autoloader.

 

[Maxman1]

I think the 6 pdr Troop is exactly the right place for a 105/120 gun. Not so much for knocking out tanks, as you saw autocannons, ATGMs and LAM/OWUASs have probably got that covered. But a few larger guns for demolishing obstacles from a distance might come in handy. No?

Or maybe put a demolition gun on an engineer vehicle, like the L9 on the Churchill and Centurion AVRE.

 

[KevinB]

Europe seems to be favouring 40 mm for its future mid caliber cannon. The US Army seems more interested in 50 mm to 75 mm which is getting outside the autocannon sizes.

US Army wanted 50-65mm, (the MICV requirement document had that range), in which they still believe is an autocannon in a 45-50t vehicle. The entire theory in that is multiple rounds in short succession to defeat a MBT, and a large enough payload for HE/HEI on dismounted troops.


I think Europe is on the right track. As while one can get a significant payload increase in a 50-65mm, you are dealing with a vastly larger cartridge, less ammo, and more platform rock - all of which are counter to the mutiple round bursts in quick succession.

Now there is a rumor that MICV will look at 40-60mm now (I suspect the GDLS 50mm didn’t perform to expectations, and RM is offering the contrast in their 40mm they have v the 65mm on their prototype). The PM shop is being fairly tight lipped, so it will be interesting to see.

Frankly I think it’s a failure in NATO not to standardize a 40mm CTA cannon. But again we (US) don’t have a great track record for going with the flow and just pressure others to adopt what we want. I don’t think anyone is going to buy that argument anymore.