Weapons

Russia's T-95 Tank Could Have Been a Legend. So What Happened?

The T-95 is a tanker’s dream: highly mobile, well armored, with firepower — lots of firepower. Equipped with a 152-millimeter main gun, the T-95 would have outclassed any other tank it faced.

By comparison, the German firm Rheinmetall’s L/44 and upgraded L/55 main gun, both of which are 120 millimeters in diameter, are installed in all American M1 Abrams tanks and variants, all German Leopard 2 tanks, and virtually every other tank in NATO arsenals, as well as in Japan’s Type 90 main battle tanks, and in South Korea’s K1A1 main battle tank.

With ammunition in the 152-millimeter class, not only would the gun’s range be greatly extended, but would, in theory, enjoy greater ammunition flexibility and logistical simplicity. 152 millimeters is a common artillery caliber, and by utilizing the same barrel diameter, the T-95 could potentially fire artillery shells in addition to tank-specific ammunition.