http://proceedings.ndia.org/5560/Thursday/Session_IV-A/Friedberg.pdf
Posted on 12/05/2005 11:02:45 AM PST by 68skylark
FORT KNOX, Ky. (Army News Service, Dec. 5, 2005) -- While the booming sounds of a 120mm tank main gun firing on Cedar Creek Range were familiar, the type of tank round being fired was very unique.
The 16th Cavalry Regiment provided a live fire demonstration of the first M1028 canister rounds at Fort Knox, Nov. 10. The canister round is the newest 120mm tank main gun ammunition now available to the Armor Force, and has been deployed in the Middle East.
According to Maj. Kevin Parker, the S-3 of the 16th Cav., the purpose of the demonstration was to provide trainers with the opportunity to see close up the unique capability of the canister round.
New round flexibility
While the canister round is not the heaviest tank main gun round in the inventory, its size and weight distribution does make handling and loading the round a bit unique.
Soldiers and Marines who have handled and fired the round in preparation for deployment to Iraq have said that with a bit of practice the round can be handled in much the same way as the other 120mm rounds in the inventory.
Fort Knox senior leaders, including Fort Knox Commander Maj. Gen. Robert Williams and post Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Albert Bryant attended the demonstration.
“Since the inception of the 120mm-armed Abrams tank, we have lacked a true anti-personnel weapon system. The M1028 canister round has satisfied that need,” said Bryant. “A documented operational need for such a round has long existed in Korea. Operations in Somalia and now in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated that the requirement also exists for stability operations.
“The M1028 canister round provides the tanker in the field with another option to defeat the enemy and protect our troops.”
Battlefield promise
“The canister round was awesome,” according to Staff Sgt. Michael Hill and Sgt. Daniel Miller, of Troop B, 1-16th Cav., who were part of the firing crew. They said the round would be great for tankers confronted by massed enemy troops, inflicting massive casualties and providing a shock effect which will certainly make other enemy troops think twice before continuing their attack.
“We know the canister round will be able to defeat enemy dismounted troops, no question,” said Williams. Based on this demonstration, it is clear that it can also defeat other obstacles, such as wall barriers, during the close in fight. The good news for the tanker is that while the enemy can still run, the canister round will make sure they can’t hide.”
(Editor’s note: This story was submitted by the Fort Knox Turret.)
50 pounds of roofing nails is a lot of nails. Why would they suggest roofing nails instead of finishing nails or ordinary sinkers?
"40-60 pounds of nails for a 155."
I can imagine the media and the ACLU getting all jacked up about something like that, but during Tet, combat got very up close and personal. A friend of mine beat a sapper to death with an entrenching tool-not a recommended use of that particular implement!
I was wondering if the cannister round causes increased ware in the chamber of the gun?
if so it may be a factor in the delay to implement.
Need one of these for the house...
Okay. Never mind.
"I was wondering if the cannister round causes increased ware in the chamber of the gun?"
I doubt it because it is a smooth bore gun designed for the screaming velocities needed for the maximum effectiveness of the depleted uranium penetrators. These canister rounds could be pretty hot and still mild compared to the anti-tank rounds. In the chamber itself the shot should not touch the metal judging from the illustration.
they reinvent the gattlinggun and now grapeshot
Wow, an 0.001 gauge deer load. Pretty kewl. Ouch!
Ah, yes. In that case you are, of course, correct.
I would think a roofing nail would have a mighty spin (big head and all).
You beat me to it.
I love it ....it should be used on Saddam and his entire entourage of lawyers
IIRC, there were problems with trying to fire the shot-shell from the M203 (M-16 barrel was within dispersion pattern of shotgun round of underslung M203), which is why units in VN tried to hang on to their M79s.
Tungsten is more dense than steel, holding energy more efficiently at longer ranges.
or a street sweeper with a 20mm GAU-4 or a 30mm GAU-8... 
Speculation: Better penetration of light cover. This round will probably shred thin-skinned vehicles, walls, trees, thin berms, etc.
Not to mention shredding BGs.
That's a fine question. At Ft. Sill they just told us to use roofing nails. But I guess if things got real bad I'd be creative and reach for anything I could get my hands on -- maybe that's really what they were trying to teach us.
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