Thursday 18 June 2020

HEAT and Tigers

"Experience using HEAT ammunition in the 305th Howitzer Artillery Regiment in the summer of 1944

The regiment only used HEAT in the summer of 1944 on August 30th near the city of Gorodisk, when engaging enemy tanks.

The optimal distance to fire HEAT is 400-600 meters. At 500 meters the front armour of a T-6 (Tiger) tank can be penetrated. At a range of 600 meters and more the front armour cannot be penetrated. If the turret is hit, it becomes jammed and the tank becomes unable to fight. The side armour of the T-6 tank can be penetrated from up to 800 meters, in this case the angle of impact needs to be large. At a range of 1000 meters it is only possible to fight Tiger tanks by firing at the tracks and the armament of the tank (the track can be destroyed at a range of up to 1200 meters). Firing at the Tiger's armour from over 1000 meters away is ineffective.

The front armour of a medium tank can be penetrated at 800-900 meters.

If the shell hits an APC from any distance, it will be disabled.

HEAT ammunition was not used to fire at fortifications.

To improve the shell, it is necessary to increase the muzzle velocity, which will increase its effective range.

Chief of Staff of the 305th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, Major Agamas
Assistant Chief of Staff of the 305th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, Guards Captain Kharitonov"

3 comments:

  1. I thought the performance of HEAT shells wasn't affected by distance. Why would the front armor be vulnerable from 500 meters but impervious to fire at 600?

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    Replies
    1. I dont know wether the increase of the angle of the impact is the only factor. Probably the detonator affects the ingnition of the explosive substance, if the shell strikes the at lower speed and thus decrease its penetration.

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  2. Maybe because of the angle the shell strikes at, which changes due to the ballistic trajectory

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