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Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 Design  





2 Variants  





3 Operators  



3.1  Current operators  







4 See also  





5 References  














IMI 120 mm gun






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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

(Redirected from MG251)

IMI 120 mm MG251 & MG253 tank gun
MG253 tank gun
Typesmoothbore tank gun
Place of originIsrael
Service history
In service
  • MG251: 1989–present[1]
  • MG253: 2003–present
  • Used bysee the operators section
    Production history
    ManufacturerIsraeli Military Industries
    Produced1988–
    VariantsMG251
    MG251-LR
    MG253
    Specifications
    Mass2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb)[2]
    Length5.3 meters (17 ft)[2]

    Caliber120×570mm[2]
    Recoil
    • MG251: 300 millimeters (12 in)[2]
  • MG253: 430 millimeters (17 in)[2]
  • The IMI 120 mm gun is an L44 smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI). It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was developed by IMI from 1983 to 1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank, i.e. a narrower mount like in the M60, both tanks designed around a 105 mm gun.

    It was first revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III. In 1990 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to Israeli Military Industries for this development, which gave Israel the means to produce tank guns independently.

    Design

    [edit]

    This tank gun is very similar to the Rheinmetall L44 versions installed on the German Leopard 2, American M1 Abrams, South Korean K1A1, and Japanese Type 90 main battle tanks. However, it has a different recoil system, consisting of an optimized concentric retarder and pneumatic recuperator, and more compact overall dimensions, not exceeding those of the existing 105 mmM68 rifled gun of the Merkava Marks I, II, and the M60 tank.

    Variants

    [edit]

    There are three variants of the IMI 120 mm gun:[3] the MG251, fitted with a thermal sleeve developed by Vishay Intertechnology and provided with a fume extractor which can be removed for maintenance without disturbing the actual sleeve, its improved version MG251-LR[3] and the MG253, with a thermal sleeve developed by VIDCO Industries and a new compressed gas recoil system.

    They fire a family of ammunition developed by IMI, can fire French, German or US 120 mmNATO ammunition if required, and also fire the LAHAT anti-tank guided missile.

  • Different shells for IMI 120 mm gun.
    Different shells for IMI 120 mm gun.
  • Muzzle flash of the IMI 120 mm gun.
    Muzzle flash of the IMI 120 mm gun.
  • M60T Sabra Mk II armed with the MG253 120 mm smoothbore gun.
    M60T Sabra Mk II armed with the MG253 120 mm smoothbore gun.
  • Operators

    [edit]
    Map with IMI 120mm operators in blue

    Current operators

    [edit]

    See also

    [edit]

    Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b c d "Israel Military Industries 120 mm smoothbore tank gun MG251 (Israel)". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  • ^ a b c d e "120mm L44 (MG251/3) Smoothbore Tank Guns". IMI Systems. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  • ^ a b c d e "Elbit Systems Land Tank Ammunition Portfolio" (PDF). Elbit Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.

  • Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IMI_120_mm_gun&oldid=1191792195"

    Categories: 
    120 mm artillery
    Tank guns of Israel
    Tank guns
    Hidden categories: 
    Articles with short description
    Short description is different from Wikidata
    Commons category link is on Wikidata
     



    This page was last edited on 25 December 2023, at 21:06 (UTC).

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