Table of Contents
What is Apcbc?
Armour-piercing, capped, ballistic capped (APCBC) is a type of armour-piercing shell configuration introduced in the 1930s to improve the armour-piercing capabilities of both naval and anti-tank guns.
What are anti-tank shells made of?
The earliest and most simple anti-tank shell was the basic armor piercing, or AP, shell. An AP shell is made from solid steel with a high carbon contents, which increases the hardness of the steel. Armor plate penetration is achieved by the kinetic energy of the shell.
What is depleted plutonium?
Depleted plutonium contains 19\% or more of the heavier Pu240, Pu241and Pu242 isotopes, the even isotopes are not very fissile. P241 emits low-energy beta radiation (clothing is typically sufficient to protect an individual from beta rays) to become Americium241, which emits gamma radiation at a much lower rate.
Why did the British not use AP-HE rounds against tanks?
The British studied anti tank rounds extensively between the wars, including the performance of AP-HE. They found that AP-HE was not really worth the trouble – it increased the damage inside a target tank by very little, while introducing a new way for the round to fail.
How does AP-he work on tanks?
The idea behind AP-HE is that when you shoot it, the AP section will pierce the armour of the tank as it is supposed to, then the HE will detonate in theory, inside the tank, but this wasn’t always the case. This is the round shot from a QF-75mm, which could be found on tanks such as the Cromwell, see below.
Why do AP shells explode inside tanks?
However, the the AP shell would keep the firing pin tensioned, so that once the armour is pierced and the deceleration of the round is ceased, the firing pin is relaxed and released. Causing the shell to explode inside the tank being shot. EDIT.
What type of anti-tank ammunition did the British use in WW2?
The British in WW2 used a wide variety of anti-tank ammunition, including: APCBC – Solid shot with a “cap” of soft metal (to stop shattering) and another cap for aerodynamic performance APCR – A composite with a heavy core for increased penetration (called HVAP by the US)