The Leclerc is a departure from the common theme of NATO tanks, being fitted with an autoloader and a longer-barreled 120mm gun. The autoloader is a more advanced design than those seen in Soviet tanks allowing particular round types to be selected quickly and not impeding the gun’s rate-of-fire. The 120mm smoothbore gun can fire all the standard NATO 120mm ammunition types, with its longer barrel pushing rounds out at a higher muzzle velocity and increasing its effectiveness and range.