Not to say that I advocate Gunners deliberately picking a fight with modern MBTs, but in a war, 'things' can happen, especially in a modern, rapid and mobile war, where bypassed or overruned enemy forces may very well be able to engage rear units. This happened a number of times in the 1967 Six-Day War, and GW2. Recall the first time the Germans encountered the T-34 in WW2. A single T-34 punched through German lines, shrugged off anti-tank fire, and wrecked havoc for miles before a field artillery piece was used on it, from behind.

french artillery is smoothbore?

Heavy armor allows a tank to get up close and personal; within line-of-sight of the enemy. We fielded 1848 M1A's in the first Gulf War. Only 18 Abrams tanks were taken out of service due to battle damage: nine were permanent losses, and another nine suffered repairable damage, mostly from mines. Not a single Abrams crewman was lost in the conflict. The formula for Chobham armor used on the M1A is classified, and the U.S. Army has ben very careful not to let a single piece of it fall into foreign hands. We released it to the Brits, and they used it on the Challenger. A mobile artillery piece can't do this. They don't have heavy armor. Mobile artillery depends on range, mobility (shoot and move), and hiding behind terrain (called defilade in soldier terms)for protection. Mobile artillery also depends on some other unit to spot the target (artillery forward observer, forward infantry, even armor). In simple terms, Tanks have heavy armor and fire direct.Mobile artillery pieces don't have heavy armor and fire indirect. This is changing somewhat, because the U.S. Army is developing the following indirect fire ammunition for their tanks: Extended range, top-attack rounds that sense motorized units Extended range, HE, GPS guided rounds This ammunition will allow tanks to be used as artillery.

Chobham armour was developed by the British tank research centre at Chobham Green. Thus its is incorrect to say that the US 'released' the technology to the British.

French artillery is rifled of course.But you can use APFSDS in rifled gun like L7 or L11 tank guns. And using an APFSDS round for artillery is not a problem.Russian have that also.

Shawn, Thanks for the info, I did'nt know that it was the other way around. Texastillidie

Another difference between mobile artillery and tanks is the way they are used. Armor is generally used like a motorcycle gang. The ride into town, blow stuff up, and leave. They don't hang around and slug it out with infantry, especially today with the advent of light anti-tank missiles. Tanks seek out other tanks, and high value targets. Artillery is almost always used in support of other units. This is why there are no Artillery Divisions in the Army today. We have Armor, Infantry, and Mechanized divisions with artillery assigned to them. A Division Artillery Unit is a unit about the size of a Brigade, and is commanded by a Colonel, but is custom made for supporting a maneuver division. A Division Artillery Unit assigned to a Mechanized Infantry or Armor Division has: 2 Direct Support Paladin Battalions (36 tubes, M109, 155mm) 1 General Support Paladin Battalion (18 tubes, M109, 155mm) 1 MLRS Battalion (18 Launchers) An Armor Division has three maneuver elements, an Infantry Brigade, and 2 Armor Brigades. The Direct Support Artillery Battalions are dedicated to them and provide fire for them. The General Support Artillery Battalion is good for what ails you. It may assist the Direct Support Battalions, or may be assigned separate targets of it’s own. Since armor divisions are very heavy and highly mobile, mobile artillery is used. See: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/toe/ad.htm A Division Artillery Unit assigned to a Light Infantry Division has: 3 Direct Support Towed Battalions (54 tubes, M119, 105mm) 1 General Support Towed Battery (6 tubes, M198, 155mm) A Light Infantry Division has 3 Infantry Brigades. The Direct Support Artillery Battalions are dedicated to them and provide fire for them. The General Support Artillery Battery is used as a floater. Since this division is light and moves on foot, towed artillery is used, and the guns are generally towed by HUMVEE’s or moved by helicopter (Blackhawks). They can also be airdropped by parachute. See: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/toe/lid.htm

ret13f I guessed that from the MOS in your screen name. I thought I sent that last message to Roman. Perhaps not. No offense meant. I am a medically retired aviator. Took a bullet during TET '68. There was a lot of that going on at the time.