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From: ferguson@maitai.src.honeywell.com (Dennis Ferguson)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: How Hot is HEAT ?
Summary: armor penetrators
Keywords: penetrators, armor
Message-ID: <13133@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 14 Jan 90 07:41:14 GMT
References: <12930@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Honeywell, Systems & Research Center, Camden, MN
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: ferguson@maitai.src.honeywell.com (Dennis Ferguson)

In article <12930@cbnews.ATT.COM> military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) writes:
>
>Everything I've read about HEAT munitions says or implies that
>the copper liner, which is compressed by the shaped charge into
>a small-diameter penetrator, is melted in the process.
>
         [stuff deleted]
>
>Can anyone confirm or deny the molten status of the penetrator before
>contact with the armor ?
>

The penetratror is mechanically deformed by the shaped charge and 
while it is obviously very hot, it is not molten.  The penetrator
is shaped like a shuttlecock to keep it aerodynamically stable (even
for a short 'flight').  Once the penetrator hits the armor, it becomes
molten.  I believe there is a chemical reaction between the penetrator
and the armor.  I have seen the results of penetrator tests on steel
blocks of various thicknesses and the hole cut by the penetrator has
the look of a chemical etch process as opposed to mechanically ejecting
armor material.

Dennis