Tanks!

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

possibly the first time Ive ever heard the phrase uttered, " Wouldn't it be more accurate " when talking about an M-1. 
the whole turret on a pivot idea was tried with the French AMX series of tanks and its just not as durable as the traditional set up. 
the cutaway is also taking some liberties with the actual layout of the turret interior and width of metal.

This is kind of what I was thinking, except I would have 2/3 of the gun tube back of the turret, 1/3 in front. The turret pivot would be further forward, like the front 1/5th of the tank. Using aramid or similar high tensile strength material around the gun tube, the kick is pulled at the front. The tracks are so far back you have a lot of leverage countering the kick. The main body is a large seperate APC configuration that can take 12 people comfortably. If the ammo cooks off, the crew is safe.

[GDS_Starfury]

that becomes a pretty difficult balancing problem though.  google T-57 and see the US Army's take on the idea.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

All you need is a strong rear hydraulic, which you need anyway to actively keep the gun on target while bouncing over rough country. The question is really do you want to make use of new, light super materials or not?

An analogy would be if you put a collar at the front of a machine gun barrel, then pivoted the gun on a gimbal that was bolted down, would the gun be more accurate at higher rates of fire? Compared to shoulder behind the butt. I think yes. I think it becomes easier to balance the reaction of the kick naturally, no pull up.

Could you double the accurate rate of fire of the tank, potentially taking out small groups with one tank? Seems like something worth exploring.

[mirth]

British Churchill tanks crossing a Bailey bridge over the Antwerp-Turnhout canal at Rijckevorsel during the attack north of Antwerp, 22nd October 1944.

[Barthheart]

[bayonetbrant]

3-man crew thoughts

http://bayonetgames.com/nextarmy/03man.txt

[mirth]

"Kilshon" ground launched AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile



http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/kilshon/Kilshon.html

[mirth]

Heavily sloped steel armor penetrated by a 105mm APFSDS dart

[GDS_Starfury]

in Latvia

[GDS_Starfury]

[Staggerwing]

Who knew Latvia was so arrid?

[GDS_Starfury]

the last 3 are from NTC in California.

[Staggerwing]

So much for my new dream of starting a Dude Ranch outside Riga.

[GDS_Starfury]

you still can if you ranch dudes...

[Staggerwing]

you still can in you ranch dudes...

Eh? Rented lips?