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Forums - Research / WW2 |
This WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to WW2 (1939-1945) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Re: Question regarding British AT gun ammunition... 17 pdr??? |  |
| Date: | Jun 17, 2003 |
| From: | Andy Ross | |
The 120mm gun in Chieftain and Challenger uses a bagged charge similar to artillery.
This is to give increased flexibility, safety and ease of handling.
First off a Sabot round uses a bigger charge than smoke or HESH, by using a smaller bagged charge two HESH charges can be stored in the space of one SABOT charge. As the two components are relatively small compared to a fixed ammunition they can be stored in smaller spaces giving an increased ammunition load.
Charges are stored in water jacketed bins, a splinter penetrating a charge is followed by water and no fire results and if it does it just burns rather than exploding giving the crew time to get out. with a brass cartridge a penetrating splinter causes a charge to explode rather than burn, also water jackets can't be used to extinguish fires. After firing a brass cartridge it is ejected back into the turret bringing with it smoke and fumes, there is also the problem of disposing of empty cases. Bagged charge is consumed and fumes ejected out of the barrel. At 120mm calibre the size and weight of a round starts to get towards the limits of of handling in a turret by one man.
At first glance loading a seperate charge and shell would seem to be slower than loading a fixed ammunition but in practice with a well drilled crew there is no loss of speed.
Cap'n Swoop. |
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