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57mm APC-T cartridge M86, USA, WW2

pzgr40

Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of a 57 mm M86 APC-T cartridge of American manufacture for use in the six pounder anti-tank gun. The American army used the English six pounder gun, with some modifications to the gun, but the ammunition was interchangeable.

The M86 is an armour-piercing high explosive shell with penetration cap and ballistic cap. The nose of the armour-piercing projectile is hardened, the penetration cap is made of soft steel and is intended to distribute the impact force over the entire nose and to prevent ricochet when impacted at an oblique angle.
The penetration cap is attached to the projectile by means of a roll crimp on the underside of the cap.
The M72 base fuze is screwed into the base of the projectile and is activated when the projectile hits the target. The fuse consists of a fuse body in the underside of which a tracer mixture is pressed. Above the tracer is the firing pin, which consists of a brass cylinder with a rounded firing pin at the top. The firing pin is held in the lower position by a thin steel ring with lips on the inside. Upon impact, the brass firing pin is thrown forward by the inertia effect, bending the steel lips forward so that the firing pin can move into the M26 primer.
The M26 primer is placed in a brass housing. Above the primer is a black powder delay element that causes a short delay in the transmission of the flame from the primer to the heat-sensitive M17 detonator (red) that is placed in the steel cap screwed into the top of the fuze.
The main charge in the projectile body consists of 34.5 grams (0.076 Lbs) of Comp.D (mixture of RDX and TNT) with a 5mm thick layer of 8.16 grams (0.018 Lbs) of Tetryl (light yellow) on the bottom that serves as the booster charge.

Cartridge length : 26,72 inch (679 mm).
Projectile length : 10,31 inch (262 mm).
Length of cartridge case M23A2 : 17,40 inch (442 mm).
Weight of complete round : 13,88 Lb (6,30 Kg).
Width of driving band : 0,79 inch (20 mm).
Vo : 2700 ft/sec (823 mtr/sec).
Penetration at 0 degrees : 3,7 inch at 1000 yards (94 mm op 914 mtr).
Maximum range : 13.555 yards (12.400 mtrs).

Fuze BD M72
Length : 2,16 inch (55 mm).
Weight : 0,86 Lbs (390 gram).
Thread : 1,375 inch, 10 TPI, left hand

The cartridge has been used by the Dutch army as the: Bpgdkptn lsp M86 v 57 mm.

Regards, DJH
 

Attachments

  • 01 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 cutaway.jpg
    01 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 cutaway.jpg
    618.1 KB · Views: 4
  • 02 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 backside.jpg
    02 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 backside.jpg
    501.3 KB · Views: 4
  • 03 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 detail projectile.jpg
    03 - 57mm M86 APHE-T , USA WW2 detail projectile.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 4
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