Section 1
Context and real-world feasibility
Why no production battle tank fires at 90°, and what that means for an experimental conversion project.
Important note: No real military tank is designed to fire at 90° (vertical). Modern MBTs (Leopard 2, M1 Abrams, T-90…) have elevation limited to about +20° to +42° max and depression of -6° to -10°. A 90° conversion is therefore an experimental / demonstrator project, not a standard military modification.
Why real tanks are limited to ~20–40°
- • The trunnion is positioned to balance the cannon (counterweight at the rear of the breech) — a tank barrel weighs 1,200 to 2,000 kg.
- • The turret has limited internal height: at high angles, the breech recoils and hits the internal roof.
- • The recoil system (muzzle brake + hydro-pneumatic dampers) must stay aligned with the recoil trajectory, which becomes mechanically complex in vertical position.
The conversion is feasible on a demilitarized donor vehicle, but requires structural reinforcements and a complete recoil recalculation for vertical firing.