GenSplatton Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 I was reading through some stuff on the Achtung Panzer site, Pz-IV/70 stuff in particular. It spoke of how it's commanders would remove the muzzle break because it was giving away their position. Obviously it didn't hurt the guns effectiveness to have it removed, so what was it's purpose exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priest Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 The reason it gave them away was that the gases escaping from the muzzle brake would stir up a large dust cloud giving away the position of the Panzer IV/70. This was because the gun was so close to the ground in normal firing position. The dust cloud would also hamper the aquisition of targets as the commander and gunner could not see through it also. The muzzle brake itself was to ease the action of the gun during firing so that re-aquisition and re-alignement would be faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slapdragon Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 Also a muzzle brake increases the lifespan of a cannon, sometimes by quite a lot. Recoil forces build stress in a barrel and recoil mechanism, eventually requiring overhaul. A muzzle break can reduce those stresses if designed correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rleete Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 A muzzle brake is that thing you see on the end of the main gun. It diverts some of the gasses coming out the barrel to the sides, in order to reduce the recoil, resulting in smaller recoil buffers (shock absorbers) inside the turret. Many of the larger main guns have them. Slapdragon is correct. The recoil buffers would have to be rebuilt/replaced sooner if the brake was removed. More maintenance on the rest of the gun and mount might also be required. [ 08-16-2001: Message edited by: R_Leet ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PVLLVS MAXIMVS Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 If I remember right a muzzle brake is a device fitted to the end of a gun barrel which reduces recoil by redirecting escaping gasses to the sides rather than straight out the front of the tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 An excellent article on muzzle brakes on an excellent armor-related website. Check it out: http://www.activevr.com/afv/muzzle.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 16, 2001 Share Posted August 16, 2001 the key point here is that it is a muzzle BRAKE, not a muzzle break. The English language is quite amazing, the way the words tell you what a thing is or does. Incredible. Who would have thought? Its a wonder ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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