XM291

The XM291 Advanced Tank Cannon (ATAC) is an American experimental 120 or 140 mm smoothbore tank cannon. It started development in 1991 as a way to substantially increase the performance of tank cannons against the perceived threat of future Soviet main battle tanks. It can be used in two configurations, one in 140 mm and one in 120 mm electrothermal-chemical technology (ETC).[1] The XM291 was the first cannon to incorporate a system that counteracted the vibrations in the barrel caused by the tank moving over terrain, using the dynamically tuned shroud (DTS).[2]

XM291
TypeTank gun
Place of originUnited States
Specifications
Caliber140 mm / 120 mm

While it was originally developed for the Block III tank, development of the Block III was halted while the XM291 saw continuous development and was used on other testbeds such as the CATTB and the M1 Thumper.[1][3]

Ammunition
Table of ammunition[4]
Designation Munition type Calibre Projectile mass Muzzle velocity
XM866 Kinetic energy penetrator (KE) 120 mm 5.4 kg 1675 m/s
XM831 High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) 120 mm 13.6 kg 1145 m/s

Specifications
XM291 (120 mm)[1]
  • Barrel length: 6,731 mm / 265 in (56 calibre)
  • Weight (total): 1,451 kg / 3,200 lb
  • Weight (breech): 590 kg / 1,300 lb

See also
  • XM360, American electrothermal-chemical tank gun

References
  1. Defense, United States Congress Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on (1993). Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1994: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-0-16-043658-1.
  2. Littlefield, Andrew G.; Kathe, Eric L. GUN BARREL VIBRATION ABSORBERS FOR MEDIUM AND LARGE CALIBER SYSTEMS (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-08-10.
  3. Zaloga, Steven; Sarson, Peter (28 January 1993). M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank 1982–92. Bloomsbury USA. p. 14. ISBN 1855322838.
  4. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH U.S. ARMY SYMPOSIUM ON GUN DYNAMICS VOLUME I OF II (PDF). 1990. pp. 236–237. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04.
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