Results of Wear Evident in the Gun Barrel Bore of the Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank

Abstract

Dynamic Testing Centre of Military Institute of Armament Technology (MIAT, Zielonka, Poland) runs dynamic tests and research for many years. Tests are conducted for armament industry, Polish Army and for scientific purposes. The influence of construction, exploitation, technology factors for 120 mm Rh-120 L44 durability is one of the area of interest of MIAT. 120 mm Rh-120 L44 cannon is a primary weapon of Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks. These tanks in total number of 247 (142 - Leopard 2A4 and 105 Leopard 2A5) are in use of Polish Army since 2002. In the paper analysis of Leopard 2A4 L44 cannon barrel’s bore wearing out using Polish and foreign production ammunition was presented. The analysis was made basing on document TDv18 which is specifying the conditions affecting on taking out of a service decision. These conditions are: boundary of wearing out barrel material and specifying the number of shoots after exceeding, the fatigue of material will achieve critical value.

Keywords

• artillery system
• testing of barrels
• exploitation of artillery