105 mm (4.1 in) is a common NATO-standard artillery and tank gun calibre.^[1][2] The rifled tank round is defined by STANAG 4458. The artillery round is defined by AOP-29 part 3 with reference to STANAG 4425.

Artillery

Since the early 21st century, most NATO armies have settled on 155 mm weapons as having a good compromise between range and destructive power whilst having a single calibre, which simplifies logistics; however some military forces have retained 105 mm towed howitzers for their lighter weight and greater portability, including their rapid airlift and airdrop capabilities. The lower power and shorter range of 105 mm ammunition has led to its obsolescence in full-sized self-propelled guns such as the American M108 howitzer and British FV433 Abbot SPG. Russian guns and those of former Soviet bloc countries tend to use slightly larger, 122 mm (4.8 in) and 130 mm (5.1 in) weapons in similar roles.

Tank guns

During the Cold War, the concept of the main battle tank was established and guns of 105 mm (NATO) and 100 mm (Warsaw Pact) were the standard until the advent of guns of 120 mm (NATO) and 125 mm (Warsaw Pact) from the 1960s to the 1990s. The L7 was widely used by NATO countries, and with it was popularized the now-standard 105×617mmR round, still used both in lighter-weight applications such as the Stingray light tank and the Stryker Mobile Gun System as well as older MBTs.

References