Cutaway model of a 105mm x 617 APDS-T (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot - Tracer) cartridge DM13 (Germany), or L28A1 (England). It is used in the 105mm L7 gun that is used in the Leopard I, the Swedish Stridvagen, the French AMX-13, the Austrian SK-105 Kurasier the American M60 series tanks and the early M1 Abrahms type as well as the early Israeli type Merkava tank.
Some countries use the name APDS-T for this type of projectile , however the name HVAP-DS-T (High Velocity Armour Piercing- Discarding Sabot-Tracer) is also used and is also correct.
The projectile is build up of a carrier body, in which three 43mm long axial slots are machined in the upper part. These form the three Sabots. A radial -weakening- groove is machined at the lower end of the machined grooves. On the outside of the sabots a thread is machined, over which a white nylon drivingband is screwed (this also fixates the sabots tightly). A brown plastic drivingband is placed over the lower part of the carrier body to give the projectiel spin after being fired. The subcaliber projectile is placed inside the carrier body and locked up by a srewed in base plate. On the outer rim of this baseplate a rubber ring gasket is placed that is pressed outward upon firing and which forms a gastight seal.
The subcalibre projectile exists of a steel lower body with an aluminium nosecap screwed in top. A 2,73 kg heavy tungsten penetrator is placed in the subkaliber body. On top of the penetrator a piercing cap is placed that avoids the penatrator from bouncing off at low angles. The colour of the projectile is black.
If the projectile is fired, the lands and grooves of the barrel’s rifling cut into the upper nylon drivingbelt , weakening the drivingbelt. After leaving the barrel the centrifugal force throws the three sabots outward with such force that they break off at the radial groove, break the nylon drivingbelt and throw the three sabots away in a radial pattern. The remaning carrier body now catches the full airstream and slows speed very rapidly. Now only the sub caliber projectile will fly towards the target high speed. Upon impact on the target, the tungsten penetrator pierces the target, causing splinters of steel to bounce through the interior of the tank as well as pieces of the penetrator.
A practice projectile with a aluminium subcalibre projectiel is also available; the DS/T Prac. It has a blue projectile colour.
Data:
Weight of complete cartridge : 18.37 Kg.
Projectile : 5,84 Kg, of which 2,73 Kg for the Tungsten carbide penetrator
Propelling Charge : 6,11 kg of Which 822 grams black powder in the magazine.
V0 : 1473 mtrs/sec
Chamber pressure : 4505 Bar
Penetration in steel : 300 to 350 mm. steel up to 3500 mtrs.
Regards, DJH
Some countries use the name APDS-T for this type of projectile , however the name HVAP-DS-T (High Velocity Armour Piercing- Discarding Sabot-Tracer) is also used and is also correct.
The projectile is build up of a carrier body, in which three 43mm long axial slots are machined in the upper part. These form the three Sabots. A radial -weakening- groove is machined at the lower end of the machined grooves. On the outside of the sabots a thread is machined, over which a white nylon drivingband is screwed (this also fixates the sabots tightly). A brown plastic drivingband is placed over the lower part of the carrier body to give the projectiel spin after being fired. The subcaliber projectile is placed inside the carrier body and locked up by a srewed in base plate. On the outer rim of this baseplate a rubber ring gasket is placed that is pressed outward upon firing and which forms a gastight seal.
The subcalibre projectile exists of a steel lower body with an aluminium nosecap screwed in top. A 2,73 kg heavy tungsten penetrator is placed in the subkaliber body. On top of the penetrator a piercing cap is placed that avoids the penatrator from bouncing off at low angles. The colour of the projectile is black.
If the projectile is fired, the lands and grooves of the barrel’s rifling cut into the upper nylon drivingbelt , weakening the drivingbelt. After leaving the barrel the centrifugal force throws the three sabots outward with such force that they break off at the radial groove, break the nylon drivingbelt and throw the three sabots away in a radial pattern. The remaning carrier body now catches the full airstream and slows speed very rapidly. Now only the sub caliber projectile will fly towards the target high speed. Upon impact on the target, the tungsten penetrator pierces the target, causing splinters of steel to bounce through the interior of the tank as well as pieces of the penetrator.
A practice projectile with a aluminium subcalibre projectiel is also available; the DS/T Prac. It has a blue projectile colour.
Data:
Weight of complete cartridge : 18.37 Kg.
Projectile : 5,84 Kg, of which 2,73 Kg for the Tungsten carbide penetrator
Propelling Charge : 6,11 kg of Which 822 grams black powder in the magazine.
V0 : 1473 mtrs/sec
Chamber pressure : 4505 Bar
Penetration in steel : 300 to 350 mm. steel up to 3500 mtrs.
Regards, DJH
