>>64259735
>the term people default to when describing a turret-less tank-shaped-object is casemate but i don’t think that fits. there’s no case. there’s no superstructure. it is a hull with a gun poking out of it. that gun is welded to the hull directly! i’ll say it again! that gun is welded to the hull directly!

>being able to control, precisely, where the gun is pointing is kind of a huge deal with tanks. what a shocker. when the gun is welded to the frame, how do you do that? what does the gunner even do? does he just wait for the driver to accidentally get the gun on target and press the single button present at his station to fire? on a casemate you have a generously-sized slot cut in the turret for the gun, meaning you can finely-adjust the point of aim in the azimuth* (left or right) several degrees. the driver has to point the tank in general direction of what you’re shooting, and fine adjustments can get you on target

>but again, the mofo is welded on! how did it work? it’s simple. you just neutral-steer (having one track move forward and the other in reverse, such that the vehicle rotates in-place like a forklift, essentially giving a turn radius of zero). that is how you position the gun left or right. neutral steering is a capability that stems from the vehicles transmission, of course. the forty three ton vehicle’s transmission. the forty three ton vehicle in service through the late 1990s when engagements were expected to happen at distances well over a kilometer. at those ranges, the difference between a shot landing on target and missing is less than a degree. something measured in arc-minutes or whatever. yes, the same transmission built to accomplish the already-very-difficult-and-numerous criteria necessary for a main battle tank, also needs to operate with the precision and delicacy of a swiss watch. and the stank did that. seriously.