Gun mantlet

Gun mantlet, highlighted in red, mounted to a tank's main gun (American M1A1 Abrams)

A gun mantlet is an armour plate or shield attached to an armoured fighting vehicle's gun, protecting the opening through which the weapon's barrel projects from the hull or turret armour and, in many cases, ensuring the vulnerable warhead of a loaded shell does not protrude past the vehicle's armor into the easily penetrated barrel. On many tanks during World War II, the gun mantlet covered both the main gun and any coaxial armament, and had the thickest armour on the vehicle.

Gallery

• 
  Panther tank mantlet
• 
  Tiger I mantlet
• 
  M4 Sherman mantlet
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  Comet tank mantlet
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  T-70 cast mantlet
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  Leclerc mantlet
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  Leopard 2A4 mantlet
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  StuG III mantlet
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  A Jagdpanther mantlet
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  ISU-122 mantlet

See also

• Gun shield
• Mantlet