105 mm Modèle F1

The 105 mm Modèle F1 (or CN-105-F1) is a French 105 mm tank gun used with the AMX-30. A shorter version of this gun called the CN-105-57, was also used in the Israeli Super Sherman.

105 mm Modèle F1
A French AMX-30B2 sporting a 105 rifled tank gun
TypeTank gun
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1966–present
Used byBosnia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
WarsGulf War
Specifications
Mass2,470 kg
Length5.90 metres (19.4 ft)
Crew2 (gunner, loader)

Calibre105 millimetres (10.5 cm)
Muzzle velocity1000 m/s with HEAT round
1525 m/s with APFSDS round[1]

Design

The gun was a monoblock steel 105-millimeter (4.1 in) cannon[2] protected from bending with a magnesium alloy thermal sleeve.<[3] The F1 is fitted with a semi-automatic vertical sliding wedge breechblock, though fitted without a muzzle brake. Unlike the similar 105mm L7 tank gun, the F1 uses a compressed air scavenging system instead of a bore evacuator. The recoil mechanism uses two symmetrically opposed hydraulic brake cylinders with a single hydropneumatic recuperator cylinder.[4]

One of the unique features of the gun was the Obus à Charge Creuse de 105 mm Modèle F1 (Obus G) HEAT projectile.[3] HEAT warheads suffer when spin stabilized, a product of rifled barrels,[5] causing the French to develop the Obus G,[6] (Gresse).[7] This projectile was composed of two major parts, including the outer shell and a suspended inner shell, divided by ball bearings. This allowed the projectile to be spin-stabilized, and therefore more accurate than a normal fin-stabilized HEAT-round, while the inner shell did not move, allowing the warhead to work at maximum efficiency. The warhead, containing 780 gram hexolite,[8] could penetrate up to 400 millimeters (16 in) of steel armour and was effective against tanks at up to 3,000 meters (3,300 yd). As it combined a good accuracy with a penetration that was independent of range, it has been considered an "ideal round" for its day[6] The F1 was also designed to fire the OCC F1 Mle.60 high explosive projectile, the SCC F1 training warhead and the OFUM PH-105 F1 smoke round.[9]

Specification

  • Caliber: 105mm
  • Barrel Length: 56 calibers
  • Weight: 2470 kg
  • Length: 5.9 m
  • Firing range: 3500 m

References

  1. http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/armania/armor/firepower/Cannon.html
  2. de Mazarrasa (1990), pp. 21–22
  3. Ogorkiewicz, p. 8
  4. Source: www.army-guide.com/eng/product519.html — although the site is blacklisted for unknown reasons.
  5. Ferrari, p. 87
  6. Ogorkiewicz, p. 6
  7. Jeudy, p. 253
  8. Caiti, p. 34
  9. de Mazarrasa (1990), p. 23

Sources

  • Caiti, Pierangelo (1978). Modern Armour: The World's Battle Tanks Today. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-412-X.
  • de Mazarrasa, Javier (1990). Carro de Combate AMX-30E (in Spanish). Aldaba Ediciones. ISBN 84-86629-29-2.
  • Ferrari, Giorgio (October 1988). "The "Hows" and "Whys" of Armour Penetration". Military Technology. Moench Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh (10/1988).
  • Jeudy, Jean-Gabriel (1997). Chars de France (in French). Boulogne: E.T.A.I. ISBN 2-7268-8369-9.
  • Ogorkiewicz, Richard M. (December 1973). AMX-30 Battle Tank. Berkshire, United Kingdom: Profile Publications Ltd. OCLC 54349455.


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