Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military From: johnson@BRL.MIL (W. Donald Johnson) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: HEAT shell question and proposal. Message-ID: <12821@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 5 Jan 90 04:08:44 GMT References: <12756@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: AMSAA/GWD, APG, MD 21005 Lines: 54 Approved: military@att.att.com From: "W. Donald Johnson" In article <12756@cbnews.ATT.COM> gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Greg A. Hooten) writes: > > >From: gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Greg A. Hooten) > > In the article, >it was stated the spinning an HEAT shell caused it to lose >penetration ability, this makes sence, the gass would have a >tendency to spin as it fired, and lose energy more quickly. >So, they moved to a smoothbore gun. This prevents the spin, >and thus produces greater penetration. The spinning of the HEAT round performs an important function. The forces induced by spinning arms the fuze on U.S. HEAT rounds as I understand it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the M830 round (120mm smoothbore HEAT round) spins up after exiting the tube ( canted fins?) in order to arm the fuze. Also I believe the spinning round is more accurate. > Then came this box >armour with a charge in it that would explode when the core of >the heat shell melted (that is essentially what happens) >through it. This explosion disrupted the molten jet and >prevented extensive penetration. The formation of the jet sets off the applique armor. >Has anyone tried to marry a hard cap onto the top of a heat >round? In essence, what I see as advantageous it to penetrate >the box armour with a hard penetrator that will get through >that and any of the front of the 12-15 " of armour on the >front of a t-80, then as the penetrator begins to slow, the >collapes of the penetrator triggers the HEAT round. In order for an effective HEAT jet to form requires a certain amount of standoff. THat is when the fuze comes in contact with the armor (whether inherent tank armor or a reactive applique) it sets off the high exposive charge which is situated some distance back from the point of contact. If the jet does not have time to form properly, it loses it penetration capability. > >Greg Hooten Don Johnson The above statements are mine alone and do not reflect U.S. Army or DoD policy.