sub-caliber) penetrator was usually made from high-density material such as tungsten carbide, and was housed in a lightweight aluminium outer shell. This resulted in creation of Armour Piercing, Composite Rigid (APCR) shell. The idea of achieving higher kinetic energy by scaling down the penetrator’s caliber proved to be much better solution. However, this solution was very impractical and expensive, since it would require enlarged shell casing and subsequent construction of larger gun breech and barrel.
In order to do this, propellant charge could be increased. As an example of the former, we can use Soviet 85 mm BR-365K round, while the latter is represented by also Soviet 122 mm BR-471B round.ĭue to improvements in armour protection of armoured vehicles, it was necessary to further increase muzzle velocity to give AP rounds enough of kinetic energy for achieving penetration against thicker armour.
HE filler could be fitted into a standard APCBC shell (such as German 7,5 cm PzGr 39, carrying 18 g of explosives), or into AP/APBC shells, creating either APHE (Armour Piercing, High Explosive) shell, or APHEBC (Armour Piercing High Explosive, Ballistic Cap). Bursting charge’s cavity decreased overall structural integrity of the penetrator, increasing probability of shattering. Increased lethality had one drawback though. Upon impact, a delayed fuse would ignite explosive filler after passing through the armour, resulting in penetrator’s detonation inside the target vehicle‘s crew compartment, creating deadly hail of fragments killing or injuring anyone inside. Inside the penetrator, cavity was made, filled with explosive and equipped with a fuse. These efforts resulted in adding of HE bursting charge. American 76 mm M62 shell is a good example of such round.Īside from achieving more penetration, attempts were made to increase shell’s lethality upon impact. Combination of AP shell with ballistic cap was designated APBC (Armour Piercing, Ballistic Cap), while APC shells fitted with ballistic cap were known as APCBC (Armour Piercing Capped, Ballistic Cap). Upon impact, it shattered easily, and had negligible negative effect to shell’s penetration capability. The ballistic cap, usually made from soft steel, had more streamlined shape and was placed on tip of the AP shell, improving shell’s aerodynamic shape. This problem was eventually solved by adding so-called ballistic cap. As an example of APC shell, we can use American 37 mm M51 shell.ĪP and APC shells were effective against armour, but their shape was quite non-aerodynamic, causing higher drag during flight and thus decreasing effective range. This shell, while retaining basic characteristics of AP shells, carried hardened cap, which had very hard tip, but soft steel body, and was intended to protect the underlying “main” tip of the shell from shattering. As a counter-measure, APC shell (Armour-Piercing, Capped) was developed. hardening of outside armour plate), regular AP shells had difficulty to penetrate, and were likely to bounce or shatter upon impact. When armour plates started to be face hardened (eg. causing damage through spalling and by it’s own mass.Typical example of this shell is American 75 mm M72. Upon impact, it acted like regular bullet. Because regular steel would likely shatter or deform upon impact on enemy armour, high carbon content was added during manufacturing, giving the shell increased hardness.
These shells were relying on their kinetic energy to penetrate enemy armour, and as such, they relied on sufficient muzzle velocity, and were losing their penetration value over distance. The most basic shell type was regular armour piercing (AP) shell. In interwar period, several types of armour-piercing shells appeared, and their development further progressed during World War 2.Ĭartridge and shell of a British 17 pounder gun - ultimate anti-tank weapon
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M41 Walker Bulldog - available AP ammo: M339 AP round, M319 APCR & M331A2 APDSĬamouflage made by JoKeR_BvB09 | download hereĪfter the First World War, recently introduced tanks underwent rapid development, and as their armour protection grew stronger, a need for suitable armour-piercing ammunition was evident.
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