anti - tank ammunition questions

[garamundege]

I'm interested in the ballistics of the 'older' kinetic type anti-tank ammunition: Can someone please explain in detail what happens when the core of an anti-tank projectile (such as that of an APFSDS round) strikes tank armour (not DU armour)? Does it penetrate by means of high temperature? What material are such cores made from? Is it true that the tank crew are killed by displacement of air inside the tank, rather than shrapnel? Is the core found inside the tank afterwards? Is there any truth in the story that a projectile passing through a tank creates an intense vacuum which is deadly to tank crews? I've tried searching - no luck. many thanks for any reply

[Jippo]

Penetrators are made vrom dense metals such as tungsten or uranium. Penetrator pentrates the armor by sheer motion energy. What happens to the armor in penetration is fluidlike motion of the metal and in addition breaking of the metal in to pieces which is called spalling. There is heat generated in the process, but that is a side effect only and has no function in penetration. There will be no displacement of air or vacuum inside the tank.

Tank crew is affected by the flying pieces of the penetrator and the penetrated armor, concussion mediated by the armor and the overpressure blast wave of the penetration. Of the previous, the shrapnel flying inside is the most dangerous one and will be lethal given the crew member is in the way of the pieces. Most dangerous is secondary explosion or fire in the tank caused by ammunition or in some cases fuel stored inside the penetrated tank.

You will find basic level information in well written form if you look for Steel Beasts Pro (computer simulation) pdf-manual. Also you can read TankNet.org forums for all levels of discussion on armor here:
http://www.tank-net.org/

[HK in AK]

two words: Liquid Lava.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPgdFV19XpQ

[Jurinko]

Besides the kinetic energy, depleted uranium is also pyrophoric, unlike tungsten alloys.

[flanker7]

^ and "self-sharpening"...