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76,2 x 385R UBR-354B APHE cartridge

pzgr40

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Cutaway model of a 76,2 x 385R UBR-354B APHE cartridge for M1942 (ZIS-3) field gun. This gun also formed the main armament of the T34/76.

Muzzle velocity: 612 m/s.
Penetration: 62 mm at 500m at 90 degrees.
Weight of projectile: 6,3kg. Length of projectile: 306mm with fuze, 276mm without fuze.
length of complete cartridge: 617mm.
Explosive charge: 65 grams of TNT

The 76,2mm BR-350B APHE projectile is made of a one piece machined and hardened steel rod. In contrast to German, British and US armour piercing projectiles, this projectile has no piercing cap. The projectile however has two grooves in the upper part of the body that allow the projectile to break over the groove, keeping the part of the projectile below still in one piece. The nose of the projectile is flat, a sheet metal ballistic cap is placed crimped to the nose of the projectile.
In the base of the projectile a hole is drilled, containing a 65 grams explosive charge of TNT. The base of the hole is threaded to receive the MD-6 base fuze.

Functioning of the MD-6 base fuze:
The base fuze is built up of a steel fuze body to which a steel cup is screwed at the base, housing a brass tracer element.
In the top part a hole is drilled which is threaded in top , housing the delay detonator. Below the detonator the firing cap housing is placed, held in a lower position by an interrupted ring. The flange with the downward facing firing pin is locked up by the delay detonator body. A chamfered hole (red) connects the space where the firing cap is placed with the space of the delay element in the detonator.
Upon firing, the interrupted ring around the firing cap housing creeps downward by inertia, allowing the firing cap to move upward upon impact, into the firing pin. The firing cap detonates , sending a flame through the chamfered hole into the black powder delay at the base of the detonator. This delays the activation of the detonator just long enough to allow the projectile to pierce the target before detonating inside the target.

A cartboard spacer set is placed in the shell case, just below the projectile, locking up the powder grains in the lower position.

The last picture shows the three most used shells with the T34/76 , from left to right : the UOF-345M HE, the UBR-345B APHE and the UBR-345P HVAP cartridge

Regards, DJH
 

Attachments

  • 01 - 76,2x385R  UBR-354B APHE Cartridge.jpg
    01 - 76,2x385R UBR-354B APHE Cartridge.jpg
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  • 02 - 76,2mm BR-350B APHE projectile.jpg
    02 - 76,2mm BR-350B APHE projectile.jpg
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  • 03 - MD-6 base fuse for 76,2mm BR-350B APHE projectile.jpg
    03 - MD-6 base fuse for 76,2mm BR-350B APHE projectile.jpg
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  • UBR-354B HE cartridge, UOF-354M APHE cartridge, UBR-354P HVAP cartridge.jpg
    UBR-354B HE cartridge, UOF-354M APHE cartridge, UBR-354P HVAP cartridge.jpg
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