M256 (tank gun)
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The M256 is an American 120 mm smoothbore tank gun. It is a licensed-built German-designed Rh-120 L44 gun tube and combustible cartridges with an American-designed mount, cradle and recoil mechanism. It is primarily used by the M1 Abrams main battle tank.
Front view of a M256 gun on an American M1A2 SEP main battle tank during a gunnery exercise at Red Cloud Range, 2013.
M1 Abrams
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The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare, it is one of the heaviest tanks in service at nearly 73.6 short tons. It introduced several modern technologies to United States armored forces, including a multifuel turbine engine, sophisticated Chobham composite armor, a computer fire control system, separate ammunition storage in a blowout compartment, and NBC protection for crew safety. Initial models of the M1 were armed with a 105 mm M68 gun, while later variants feature a license-produced Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 designated M256.
U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams with production TUSK explosive reactive armor package installed in Iraq, 2008
General Motors XM1 prototype
M1 Abrams 105 mm main battle tanks maneuver into firing positions during Exercise REFORGER '85.
Early production vehicle in 1983