120 mm tank barrel damaged

[skosh69]

Not sure if I posted this story before or not, but a few other tankers were talking tank barrels over on another forum and thought I'd repost it here, it's worth a re-read.


Here is pic of a "butterbar's" tank while I was stationed in Germany in 1991.

The story behind the "ripped" barrel is this:

The tank went over a large berm, gunner did not keep the cadillacs (controls for the turret and main gun) engaged and the gun tube was plugged with dirt. Unknowing of the dirt packed gun tube, they fired off a round. I heard they actually managed to get a hit.

The range was shut down and a "police call" was performed of the entire range to find the MRS. IIRC, it took hours upon hours find the MRS.

Look at the tank behind the one with the ripped barrel, what looks like a front sight, is the MRS.

The butterbar was written up for dereliction of duty and I heard had to pay for the gun tube. I was told a gun tube at the time was approx $25K

Oh yeah, The MRS or muzzle reference system is an electronic device that is intended to measure the current value of a tank barrel bend in order to take it into account when firing the gun and therefore to improve the accuracy of firing.

The electronic signal proportional to the measured angle value is transmitted into the tank's fire control system that allows to indemnify the firing errors by correction of the relevant aiming angles. The measurement error of an up-to-date muzzle reference system does not usually exceed 0.1 mrad. The system consists of a reflector ("mirror") installed at the gun muzzle end and a measuring unit installed on the barrel near the gun mantlet. All modern main battle tanks are fitted with a muzzle reference system.

Basically it accounts for and adjust for "gun tube droop".

[Riverpigusmc]

Whoops. That's worse than a 2nd Lt and a map

[Caleb]

How was the concussion inside the tank? Was there any more than usual?

[sdmc530]

that will buff out

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by Caleb

How was the concussion inside the tank? Was there any more than usual?

Dunno, wasn't my tank. Believe it or not, with your CVC helmet on, you really don't hear much or feel much for that matter. It could also be because your juices are flowing and you're so focused on what you're doing that you don't realize all that's happening either.

Now, if you're standing outside or have your head popped up out of the hatch, that's another story.