The Right Bit for the Right Target

摘要

The development of the 120 millimetre smoothbore gun was the consequence of the advent of the 125 millimetre smoothbore on Soviet tanks. At that time western main battle tanks were mostly equipped with 105 millimetre rifled guns. The German Leopard 2 was the first tank to enter service with the new calibre, soon followed by the M1 Abrams. However, when those tanks deployed in the Balkans after the fall of the Iron Curtain they lacked the right ammo, since the chances of a tank versus tank engagement were really poor. Sub-calibre penetrators were not anymore the ammunition of choice.