November 20, 2014:   Iraq recently ordered 46,000 120mm tank gun rounds for its hundred or so M1 tanks. Iraq has more M1s on the way. Each of these shells is about 880mm-990mm (34-39 inches) long and weighs from 17-25 kg (38-55 pounds). Three different types of shells were ordered, in quantities of 10,000 each. The M83 is a high explosive shell used against structures or entrenched troops. The M865 is an anti-tank training round. These training rounds are made of cheaper materials (because they don’t have to actually penetrate a lot of armor) and are also designed with features that make them safer to use in training. Another batch contains the M865 KEW, which is a more expensive combat version of the basic M865. Then there are 16,000 M830 HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) which use a shaped charge to penetrate armor or anything else or, because this round uses explosives rather than speed to penetrate it is also useful against structures.