U
USMCMatt
Guest
With the CF‘s considering the General Dynamics Low-Profile 105 turret for the LAV III, it would seem logical that the Leo‘s could be equipped with this turret as well.
It is expected that the GDLS turret will be equipped with a new Rheinmettall 105mm smoothbore barrel. This smoothbore barrel will allow for greater muzzle velocity, which will equate to increased lethality of the 105mm rounds.
Currently the Leopards are having to be encased in a substantial applique armor package to make up for the turret‘s lack of armor protection. This results in a tremendous tax on the vehicle‘s powerplant due to the excess weight.
By utilizing the GDLS Low-Profile turret, the tank would be benefitted 3-fold.
1. More lethal 105mm.
2. Less need for applique armor. The turret crew would be housed in the hull of the tank and only the hull would need to have the applique armor package for crew survivability. This would allow the Leopard to maintain its excellent power-to-weight ratio and mobility.
3. Commonality of turrets. By having common turrets in both the LAV III assault gun variant and the Leopard the logistics system would be streamlined and the Armoured Corps would have 1 training system for tank gunnery thus simplifying gunnery training standards and allowing for soldiers to be posted to various units in the Corps without having to retrain them on different gunnery systems.
The Leopard 1‘s hull is an excellent baseline. The vehicle possesses an already low-profile and excellent mobility. By equipping it with the GDLS 105mm Low-Profile Turret, the CF‘s would have an excellent MBT capable of operating globally without the weight/mobility restrictions of MBT‘s such as the Challenger/Abrams/Leopard II.
The end result would be a lethally armed, highly mobile, very survivable MBT that would be useful well into the 21st century.
Anyone have any other thoughts?
It is expected that the GDLS turret will be equipped with a new Rheinmettall 105mm smoothbore barrel. This smoothbore barrel will allow for greater muzzle velocity, which will equate to increased lethality of the 105mm rounds.
Currently the Leopards are having to be encased in a substantial applique armor package to make up for the turret‘s lack of armor protection. This results in a tremendous tax on the vehicle‘s powerplant due to the excess weight.
By utilizing the GDLS Low-Profile turret, the tank would be benefitted 3-fold.
1. More lethal 105mm.
2. Less need for applique armor. The turret crew would be housed in the hull of the tank and only the hull would need to have the applique armor package for crew survivability. This would allow the Leopard to maintain its excellent power-to-weight ratio and mobility.
3. Commonality of turrets. By having common turrets in both the LAV III assault gun variant and the Leopard the logistics system would be streamlined and the Armoured Corps would have 1 training system for tank gunnery thus simplifying gunnery training standards and allowing for soldiers to be posted to various units in the Corps without having to retrain them on different gunnery systems.
The Leopard 1‘s hull is an excellent baseline. The vehicle possesses an already low-profile and excellent mobility. By equipping it with the GDLS 105mm Low-Profile Turret, the CF‘s would have an excellent MBT capable of operating globally without the weight/mobility restrictions of MBT‘s such as the Challenger/Abrams/Leopard II.
The end result would be a lethally armed, highly mobile, very survivable MBT that would be useful well into the 21st century.
Anyone have any other thoughts?