Why Are There No Double Barrel Tanks?

Throughout various fictional universes and games we regularly see tank designs with double barrels. Why then are there no double barrel tanks in the real world? Join me as we explore this topic followed by looking at what they might look like if they did exist through the vehicles in World of Tanks.

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Timestamps:
0:00 - 1:33 Intro
1:33 - 2:52 What makes a double barrel tank?
2:52 - 6:31 Real world examples of double barrel tanks
6:31 - 10:33 Why do these designs fail?
10:33 - 17:35 How realistic are World of Tanks double barrel designs?
17:35 - 19:50 Double barrels don't exist because...

#history wot #worldoftanks #tanks

[Orangejr]

You point out all the logical reasons why double barrels are inefficient and counterproductive, however people always forget the soft factors of how much I want one and how cool they are.

[VRTIGO]

Cons:
-Weight
-Procedure for loading ammo
-Ammunition conservation
-Dubious utility of two underpowered cannons vs one that can penetrate armor
-Dubious utility of two powerful cannons that could both penetrate armor, but are both heavy and take up more space
-Complications with aiming either using set convergence, parallel barrels with two offset sights, or a complicated and vulnerable convergence/rangefinder combo
-Need for heavy duty turret motor... possibly suffering from slow rotation and elevation
-If lost or damaged you are losing two large, expensive guns instead of one

Pros:
-It's cool
-Aint no kill like overkill

I'm pretty sure these concerns were somewhat answered by the concept of adding a coaxial sub-cannon for lighter targets.

[MrGoesBoom]

Even from the earliest ages, the quest for more Dakka is unending

[enscroggs]

In the case of the U. S. Heavy Tank M6, I believe the inclusion of a coaxial 37mm was intended as an ammunition conservation measure. The 37mm M6 was a vehicle-mounted variant of the M3 towed anti-tank gun. As such it was designed to fire solid-shot AP rounds and anti-personnel canister (e.g. the Marines in the Guadalcanal campaign). The Ordnance Branch believed the 37mm would be more frequently used than the 3-inch M7 gun, given the AFVs used by the Wehrmacht in France in 1940 and in the ongoing battles in North Africa. The envisioned targets of the M7 were fortified positions and, especially, German anti-tank artillery positions. Out of the 75 rounds of 3-inch ammo carried by the Heavy Tank M6, most would be HE suitable to such targets, plus a reserve of AP ammo in case the rare German heavy tank showed itself. The 37mm M7 gun had a supply of 202 rounds. Being small, these could be stowed in many locations within the tank. Most of these would be solid-shot AP rounds. However, canister rounds were also to be carried as means to deal with enemy infantry on the flanks or otherwise invisible to the bow gunner.

[truckerallikatuk]

The key answer to the double barrel tank, is the fact that if you have the space and weight for 2 small guns, you can fit one bigger one.

[brunozeigerts]

In my younger days, I thought of a twin gunned tank for my fictional world. Once I learned more about tank design, I realized that a turret capable of taking the recoil of two guns... could handle a much larger one.

[crobbo]

One fact that also makes it difficult for double barrel tanks to be effective is the aiming itself. When shooting at targets from longer ranges, there is a high likelyhood that shooting will cause one or both rounds to miss (crosshair/ sight is on target but the guns technically arent). When firing you have to adjust for each gun seperatly because of the distance between the 2 guns. If they are close to eachother the effect is less noticable, but if they are further away the problem becomes larger. Simply putting a sight on one side is difficult, having 2 is cumbersome having to switch and putting one in the middle might be difficult.

I hope i explained it somewhat understandibly but in short: due to gun placement, aiming is made more difficult because you now have to adjust trajectory and distance between the sight and barrel for each gun seperateyl. (English is not my main Language so i do apologize)

[robingrube]

Another example of a double barrel tank is the mammoth tank and its subsequent variants from the command and conquer franchise.

[MazterHuntR]

Double barreled tanks, very impractical but by god do they look so cool. Before WoT even introduced double barrel tanks, I believe it was the Command and Conquer franchise the popularized it. From Mammoth Tanks to Apocalyse Tanks, and the Overlord Tanks.

[MrChainsawAardvark]

In fiction we have the iconic Mammoth and apocalypse tanks of the Command and Conquer series. In addition to twin turrets, they use multiple independent suspension units. Which leads to the question of "how do four (or more) smaller track sections compare to just two large ones?"

[adumbratus]

The DBT was seriously discussed in tank design in the late seventies / early eighties. The reason was having a real fast follow up shot when the first one misses. We are talking about seconds after observing the first shot. Double firing would be a no go as the support structures in the tank would have been much, much to heavy. The final solution was laser targeting and computerized auto correction to increase hit propability.

[robertsmith]

There were a number of multi barrel anti aircraft guns but when it comes to anti tank guns adding a second barrel and all the other hardware only serves to make a vehicle larger, heavier, more complex and ultimately less combat capable.

[johnclement]

They look soo cool in sci-fi genre because they look intermediating with the examples of the Apocalypes tank, Overlord tank, Mammoth tank and Grizzly tank from Halo.

[Juanxlink]

Heres cone of arc answering the real important questions.
Kudos.

[detritus]

One other issue (which is probably secondary to turret space for two recoiling breaches) is that closely spaced muzzled tend to cause shell deflection during simultaneous fire. IIRC, the British cruisers famously had to shorten the center barrel on their three rifle turrets to prevent shell deflection during salvo fire. Also, can you imagine the load on the turret ring, brakes, and suspension when two guns fire simultaneously?

[joedigioseffo]

You forgot about the soviet Mammoth / Appoclips tank for red alert if you are counting virtual double barrel tanks XP

[matejlieskovsky]

Tanks are pretty much as small as possible while squeezing the gun in. Battleships were as big as possible and filled with the largest guns we could get.

[Tommy-hedx]

The Guns themselves are complex too many guns on one platform is like too many eggs in one basket.
It's better to have 2 single barrelled tanks the one twin barrel from a tactical stance also, If one tank is lost you still have another gun, if a twin is lost that's 2 guns out of the fight.
There really are a whole bunch of reasons why twin barrelled tanks aren't really a thing

[commandoepsilon]

One other thing that could be a problem with two main caliber guns is that if they are side by side then if fired independently it would torque the turret every time the gun is fired, which could damage the turret ring and rotation mechanism as well as reduce accuracy. This would mean they could only really be fired in tandem at which point a larger gun would probably be better. They could be mounted on top of each other, though that presents it's own problems such as an absurdly tall turret.

[DemostineWolf]

Soviet ZSU-57-72 An example of an anti-aircraft version that was used, among other things, to destroy light armored vehicles and infantry.