Needed: Information about carried MG3 ammo amount!

[Nyles]

Hello,
I require information about the total amount of ammunition for the coax. MG3 on the Leopard2 and how many shots are loaded at the same time. For the M1A1 for example you can fire 2800 on a continous rate before you have to reload. How much is it for the Leopard2? 120? 240? More?

I have tried to get proper values from various Internet sources, but the only thing I found out by now is the total amount of ammunition which is said to be 4750 rounds. This however doesn't indicate wether it is the total 7.62x51 ammo on the tank, or just the rounds for the coax MG3.

Additionally it would be great to know how many rounds can be fired from the loader's AA MG3, or how many ammo boxes are carried on board for it. I assume standard 120 round boxes are used, right?

I would appreciate a fast reply. Best, if a tanker from the Bundeswehr could confirm the data. I guess there should be a number around here...

Thanks!

[PS-SCUD]

"For the M1A1 for example you can fire 2800 on a continous rate before you have to reload."

Um.....I think your barrel melts long before that doesn't it?

[Nyles]

Well of course, but that is not the point. In theory you could do so, as these 2800 rounds are linked together to a single belt. My intention is not wether it would be possible to fire them off due to barrel heat, etc.. but how large the ammo belt for Leopard2 is for comparision. I just need the values about loadout, etc...

[9erRed]

Greetings,

220 rounds per belt. link only 2 at a time Rest won't fit in the ammo box. for the coax the feed belt will take 2 boxes linked together, then there's no room for the next box on the turret shelf. PS: the barrel will burn out at 600rds. of sustaned fire. But the barrel only takes a few sec's to change, pull the handle the barrel rolls out throw in the next one. No head spacing to set.

Note: Last time I fired the thing it fired so fast that you just moved the tracer line on to the target. And it was a complete solid tracer line!! Dame thing fires so fast, it just hummed.

All for now..9erRed out

[NEpi]

fast firing MG with only 2*220? :(
there's always more room for ammo. it's just a matter of creativity...

[TaNkB0y]

Donno about the Leo2 but the M1 has 10K rds. in the coax ready box. Of course you can't fire ALL of that on one barrel. Supposedly you have to change out every 1000 rds or so, I've never fired enough at a time to need to worry about it. Some of the guys who were in Iraq would know for sure though...
Also, the spent brass catch box only holds about 1K rds worth of brass and links before it will over flow and jam the gun (don't ask how I know...).

<minor thread hyjack>
Speaking of, I was playing "The woods have eyes" single player scenario the other day, and one of my tanks had a damaged coax when I came back to it. Can you burn out a coax in SB, or was the damage caused by the Crunchies?

James

[Ssnake]

You can burn 'em out indeed, but not change the barrel, or have it fixed otherwise - at least not in SB1.

[Nyles]

Ok, so unlike 7.62 ammo belts carried by the infantry for the MG3, which are either 50, 120 or 240, the belts in the leopard2 are linked to 220 rounds? Does this mean that the whole mg ammo carried by the Leopard2 is grouped in belts of 220? What about the loader's aa-mg, does is use 220 round belts as well? How many of the ammo boxes are loaded in the tank? Is there a seperate bunch for the coax and for the aa mg, or is there only one holding space for all the 7.62 ammunition?

[TaNkB0y]

You can burn 'em out indeed, but not change the barrel, or have it fixed otherwise - at least not in SB1.

Thanks man, there's nothing like having to shoot individual troopies with HEAT rounds. :P

[The_Dane]

As I recall it, we used to have 5500 rounds on the Leo 1, so a total of 4750 on the Leo2 could sound right to me. We had 1000 rounds in a single belt. The manuals have changed during the years here in Denmark, but as I remember it, you were told to change barrel for every 125 rounds. I still have a copy of the regulations somewhere, so I could look it up.

The_Dane

[Ssnake]

These are regulations for peacetime training to reduce barrel wear (and hence operating costs to minimize barrel replacements). I remember one incident where we shout 400 rounds straight in two belts before we had a stoppage (and a red hot glowing barrel). Even though you can squeeze a round through that narrowed bore, it certainly increases barrel wear with every consecutive shot.

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

rgr that but the narrower barrel is not the worst thing. Round cook off and a runaway gun would be my worry. Only way to stop it is twist the belt and jam the feed mech.

Note: for those that don't know "round cook off" is the round being fired without being struck, excessive heat and the rounds will "fire" as soon as they seat in the chamber. And you have a unstopable and very dangerous gun. (see immediate actions above)

You as the firer can normally see that the barrel is heating up and starting to wear. As the rounds will start to twist and spyral off of the aiming point.

Ok all for now ........ 9erRed

[KRAM12]

Ahh theres nothing like the sound of a troop firing coax whilst on the move

[The_Dane]

[quote="9erRed"]
Note: for those that don't know "round cook off" is the round being fired without being struck, excessive heat and the rounds will "fire" as soon as they seat in the chamber. And you have a unstopable and very dangerous gun.

Oh, yes - those red hot barrels on the Leo's! We called them "neon lights". I remember having a barrel that had turned into an 8,5 mm smoothbore because of the wear. You couldn't hit anything with it, but at night the tracers looked like a firestorm, so I kept it just for fun.

Re. the "cook off" I remember a crew in our squadron who had a jam on the coax. While still on the firing line the fools took out the MG and tried to fix it while sitting on the turret roof! The round finally went off because of the heat buildup and the projectile went straight through the hand of the TC. Nice lesson for him.

The Dane

[hussar11]

:oops: sounds like some one didn't do their SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
before doing their weapon maintenance.
you learn,but it is a DUMB way to learn.

[TaNkB0y]

They were lucky it didn't cook off while they still had it in the fighting compartment. That would have been alot worse.