Thread:Defender7881/@comment-35115325-20190801022242/@comment-34819558-20190807102727

The advantage of smoothbore is that it can fire ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) whilst rifled can’t. However, as Alias said HESH (high explosive squash head) benefits greatly from rifling and I believe it’s exclusive user is the UK.

The ‘default’ NATO tank gun is the Rheinmetall L/55 120mm smoothbore.

As for the T-14, it seems very advanced with the unmanned turret and APS countermeasures etc...but it goes against the traditional Russian armour tactic. Usually, Russian tanks are smaller, less well protected, lighter/faster, less technologically advanced and more numerous than their NATO counterparts.

The T-14 is HUGE compared to let’s say, a T-90, especially in terms of height. And it still weighs (apparently) 48 tonnes. So despite the new gun and tech, it’s:

1. A significantly bigger target 2. Very expensive compared to the T-90 3. If the T-14 is more powerful and bigger than the T-90, but weighs the same, is its armour protection any good? 4. Trivia: On its first parade/unveiling the T-14 famously broke down

In fact, the T-14 is so expensive that Russia can only afford to order 100...a far cry from the approx 1000 that their leaders boasted.

Put it this way: Russia has more usable T-34 tanks than T-14s.