§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States of America has decided to use the German smoothbore tank 120 mm gun rather than a British rifled gun; and what effect this will have on future British tank gun procurement having regard to the need for NATO standardisation.
§ Dr. GilbertThe United States Defense Department recommended to Congress yesterday that the 120-mm smoothbore gun system design should begin United States development with a view to its becoming the future main armament system for the XM-1 tank. The American authorities have made it clear that the British 120-mm riflel bore and German smoothbore guns would both meet all their specifications. Their choice was made on grounds of interoperatability, taking into account the size of the German tank fleet, and because the German gun could be made available earlier for the XM-1. The type of gun for the next British main battle tank is currently under consideration. All the relevant factors are being taken into account. There can be no prospect of all German and American tanks, let alone all NATO tanks, being equipped with a common gun for many years to come.