rexford Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 During early 1942, the Germans produced T34 like armor with same composition, and hardened to same level (about 450 Brinell). 37mm and 50mm anti-tank guns were fired at an assumed range of 100m, which was the standard for penetration tests. Following results were obtained for 37mm AP and indicate the angle at which complete penetration is not likely ("sicher" criteria): 40.6mm plate, 40.0 degrees from vertical 40.9mm plate, 40.5 degrees 42.1mm plate, 40.0 degrees 43.2mm plate, 34.5 degrees 45.8mm plate, 21.0 degrees 47.1mm plate, 19.0 degrees 47.2mm plate, 20.0 degrees 51.9mm plate, 10.5 degrees 53.0mm plate, 09.0 degrees 53.3mm plate, 09.0 degrees Complete penetration would occur a few degrees below the "sicher" angle presented above. Against T34 high hardness 45mm plates, 37mm AP will not penetrate armor sloped at 30 or 40 degrees at 100m, will penetrate 45mm of vertical plate. If 37mm AP is uncapped (no ballistic windscreen), a trajectory spreadsheet estimates velocity vs range profile as: 745 m/s at 0m 708 m/s at 100m 651 m/s at 250m 561 m/s at 500m This suggests that the thicknesses needed for protection against complete penetration ("sicher" criteria) would decrease by following factors relative to 100m figure: 100m, 100% 250m, 88% 500m, 72% At 100m, 250m and 500m range, 21 degree impacts by 37mm AP would be defeated by 45.8mm, 40.4mm and 33.0mm. The maximum penetration of 45.8mm plate by 37mm AP occurred at an angle of 16 degrees from vertical during tests, with failure at 21 degrees. This suggests that 100m successes against 45mm would be restricted to a small angle range, 0 to 18 degrees from armor perpendicular, and the range would shrink very quickly as distance to armor increased. If 45.8mm can be penetrated at an angle of 16 degrees at 100m, penetration at 0 degrees would be expected at a maximum range of about 200m. So 37mm AP might not be expected to penetrate a 45mm high hardness plate above 200m, if the round is uncapped. Miles Krogfus provided the report which contained the data used in this post. [ February 01, 2003, 03:36 AM: Message edited by: rexford ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexford Posted February 1, 2003 Author Share Posted February 1, 2003 Paul Lakowski posted the following on the Yahoo! Tankers forum for a thread regarding whether the Germans trained crews to use aimed fire. I am attempting to obtain a reference: "I was reading an account of a squadron of Pz-35t encountering a troop of KV heavy tanks..the CO orders them to concentrate fire on the turret ring and sure enough two tanks get there turrets jammed while the other runs away!Not one of the puny Cz tanks are hit....it did happen! Although for obvious reasons it would be preferable to penetrate the target." 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexford Posted February 1, 2003 Author Share Posted February 1, 2003 Did German 37mm AP have a ballistic windscreen cap to reduce air resistance? Thanks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl60 Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 It also came with a little battery operated windshield whiper. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastables Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Originally posted by rexford: Did German 37mm AP have a ballistic windscreen cap to reduce air resistance? Thanks. Does not look like it Taken from Tony WILLIAMS' AMMUNITION PHOTO GALLERY. 3,7cm AP shell is the one on the left. Seems Pzgr 39 (APCBC) is not available until the 5cm L/60 cartridges. Might be a good idea to contact him at Tony.Williams@quarry.nildram.co.uk He's the author of Rapid Fire: The development of automatic cannon, heavy machine guns and their ammunition for armies, navies and air forces [ February 01, 2003, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Bastables ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexford Posted February 1, 2003 Author Share Posted February 1, 2003 Thanks for looking into 37mm cap question. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastables Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 You're welcome. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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