Russian WWII 85mm Arrowhead Armor Piercing Projectile

[M8owner]

Unless one of you has a really convincing argument, my plan is to mount this on a lathe and carve off the remains of the original nose and fabricate a replacement out of aluminum. Who wants to talk me out of it?

 

[nathanieljr]

supposed to be a nasty chemical surrounding the core - id be careful if i were you

 

[SG500]

supposed to be a nasty chemical surrounding the core - id be careful if i were you

Mercury...in some arrowhead rounds but not sure if it is present in this type.

 

[RichardB]

As both SG500 & Nathanieljr said -- "The penetrator exists of a tungsten carbide bullet. Note should be taken of the fact that the core is "glued"in the projectile with mercurychloride (HgCl2) which is quite poisinous" - Relates to the 76.2mm version....so surely fairly likely to be the same for the 85mm..I personally don't know

This is from one of PzGr40/42's fantastic sections on WK2Ammo --> http://www.wk2ammo.com/showthread.php?5898-76-2-x-385R-mm-UBR354P-cartridge-USSR-WW2

 

[glevum]

Mercuric chloride is not "quite poisonous". It is extremely poisonous.

I have worked on ships where it has been present and you would be well advised to avoid it if at all possible. It is very difficult to clean up. Do not get it in your workshop.

It is highly toxic both as an acute and cumulative poison.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean it up, unless you have special filters you will merely blow it all over your workshop...

 

[M8owner]

Nothing to fear. I was never near the mercury.

 

[glevum]

Did you find a white powdery material next to the core?

 

[M8owner]

No white powdery material found. I also have two each 76mm and 45mm arrowheads without their aluminum caps, and I have yet to see any evidence of white powder. If it is there, it is between the tungsten core and steel body. I noticed that Jaap (Pzgr40) never commented on whether he found this white powder when he sectioned his 76mm arrowhead.

 

[US-Subs]

Most of these warnings are vastly over exaggerated anyway. I've been dealing with toxic materials all of my life, and with the minor exception of having most of my stomach removed this last spring (40+ polyps, tumors, etc. suspicion of toxic exposure) I've seen no evidence of any issues. Don't sweat the small stuff, with a capacity of less than one cup in my new stomach I'm losing plenty of weight to boot!

 

[Spaceinvader]

I have a fired 76.2mm projectile. Cap is gone with the tungsten core showing, no white powder. It has been in the ground for 70-ish years so that could be part of it too.

Needless to say, gorgeous round Steve!

 

[RichardB]

Well done Steve, nice job tidily done, and hopefully you and Jaap won't need to do another.

US-subs made two good points..... firstly no hobby is worth his sacrifice (even though, I suspect his is work related) and secondly that's the first proof I've seen of an American using and clearly understanding sarcasm. Very impressed ;-)....

Ps look after yourself !! :-/

 

[jeff w]

In an analysis done by Watervliet arsenal of Russian APCR captured in Korea - they make no mention of Mercury being encountered in their analysis of the projectiles. It stated the cores were cemented into position by use of a "litharge-glycerol cement". The report included chemical compositions for 45,57,76 and 85mm APCR on their cores, carriers, windshields, rotating bands and even the follow thru plug. No traces of Hg were indicated on any of it.

 

[RichardB]

I wonder if the change from the change from Mercury Chloride to Litharge-Glycerol also coincides with the change in design (physical appearance) of these rounds.. eg the Aluminium and Steel caps on the 76mm & 85mm Arrowheads?