test please delete

[Troll]

Historically, the tank's main gun is generally fired by 'direct fire', in which its weapons were aimed through simple optical sights and laid onto target by hand, with windage estimated or assisted with a reticle (markings in the gun sight which are aligned to frame an object of known size, in this case a tank) to estimate the range to the target.

[TheFaQQer]

I started to concede defeat - surely there was no way I could make the airport on time.

[Troll]

Consequently, accuracy was limited at long range and concurrent movement and accurate shooting were largely impossible. Over time these sights were replaced with stereoscopic rangefinders, and later by laser range-finders. Direct fire contrasts with the 'indirect fire' mostly used by the artillery, in which artillerymen seldom, if ever, see their target.

[TheFaQQer]

Finally, we got onto the motorway.

[NickFitz]

but surely everyone else thought that too....

If you don't move your lips you can read faster

[Troll]

Most modern main battle tanks in the armies of industrialised countries still utilize "direct fire", but deploy laser range-finders. However, some optical and reticule range-finders are still in use in older and less sophisticated vehicles.

[TheFaQQer]

At last - we could accelerate and reach the airport quicker.

[DS23]

Other people had had the same idea!

told you! gar... if only you had asked my advice at the time...

[Troll]

Modern tanks have a variety of sophisticated systems to make them more accurate. Gyroscopes are used to stabilise the main weapon; computers calculate the appropriate elevation and aim-point, taking input from sensors for wind speed, air temperature, humidity, the gun-barrel temperature, warping and wear, the speed of the target (calculated by taking at least two sightings of the target with the range-finder), and the movement of the tank. Infrared, light-amplification, or thermal night vision equipment is also commonly incorporated. Laser target designators may also be used to illuminate targets for guided munitions. As a result modern tanks can fire with reasonable accuracy while on the move.

[TheFaQQer]

And then it happened.