Ballistic tests with HEAT rounds against chain armor
A test report from 1971, documenting test firings with two different HEAT rounds against a stand-off “armor” screen made out of steel chains. The target looked like this:
From left to right, chain links, one meter of air, 110 mm armor plate, then eight layers of 25 mm “commercial iron” plates (probably equivalent to mild steel). The chain links were 113 mm long and 62 mm wide with a diameter of 19 mm. The chains were spaced at 100 mm intervals.
A summary of the report states that on average, for 9 cm HEAT rounds (pansarvärnspjäs 1110), the penetration was about 40% of what it should be at the same standoff distance, while for 8,4 cm HEAT rounds (8,4 cm granatgevär m/48, aka “Carl Gustav”) the penetration was about 75% of the expected.
A translation of the results follows below; for images see read the PDF version (in Swedish).
Archive reference: SE/KrA/0092/A/A2/001:H/F1-1971/50
The Defense Materiel Administration, Army Materiel Division, Trials Department, document H M52:11
Attachment no. 1
Copy no. 3
Part of ballistic test report no 207/1971
Result: ballistic tests against armored targets protected by screen of type no. 6 as per Weapons Division order dated 1971-06-02.
Purpose: measuring armor penetration.
Test leader: Bureau Engineer T Fredriksson, FMV-A:VAB 2/R
Results using 8,4 cm grg m/48 slpsgr m/66
| Date | Shot no. | Distance (m) | Impact angle | Penetration (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-08-02 | 1 | 50 | 90° | 260 | Round hit a chain link and detonated. Splinter hits on links on each side. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-03 | 2 | 50 | 90° | 135 | Body of the round hit chain link and detonated. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-03 | 3 | 50 | 90° | 245 | Standoff fuze hit a chain link and detonated round. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-03 | 4 | 50 | 90° | 160 | Detonation on chain link. One link shot away, one link broken by splinters and one link shattered. |
| 1971-08-03 | 5 | 50 | 90° | >310 | Detonation on chain link. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-03 | 6 | 50 | 90° | 210 | Detonation on chain link. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-03 | 7 | 50 | 45° | 130 | Detonation on chain link. One link shot away, one link shattered. Actual distance from detonation point to impact point on the armor plate = 147 cm. |
| 1971-08-03 | 8 | 50 | 45° | 110 | Detonation on chain link. Two links shot away, one link shattered. Actual distance from detonation point to impact point on the armor plate = 145 cm. |
| 1971-08-03 | 9 | 50 | 45° | 75 | Detonation on chain link. Four links shot away. Actual distance from detonation point to impact point on the armor plate = 142 cm. |
The Defense Materiel Administration, Army Materiel Division, Trials Department, document H M52:11
Attachment no. 2
Copy no. 3
Part of ballistic test report no 207/1971
Result: ballistic tests against armored targets protected by screen of type no. 6 as per Weapons Division order dated 1971-06-02.
Purpose: measuring armor penetration.
Test leader: Bureau Engineer T Fredriksson, FMV-A:VAB 2/R
Results using 9 cm pvpj 1110 slpsgr m/62
| Date | Shot no. | Distance (m) | Impact angle | Penetration (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-08-03 | 1 | 100 | 90° | 125 | Tip of the round hit a chain link and detonated. Two links shot away. |
| 1971-08-04 | 2 | 100 | 90° | 185 | Tip of the round hit a chain link and detonated. Two links shot away. |
| 1971-08-04 | 3 | 100 | 90° | ~25 mm | Tip of the round hit a chain link and detonated. Two links shot away. Did not punch through the armor plate. |
| 1971-08-04 | 4 | 100 | 90° | 135 mm | Tip of the round hit a chain link and detonated. Two links shot away, one link in the next chain shattered. |
| 1971-08-04 | 5 | 100 | 90° | – | Tip of the round hit a chain link and detonated. One link shot away. No impact on the armor plate. |
| 1971-08-04 | 6 | 100 | 90° | 110 | Round hit a chain link and detonated. One link shot away. |
| 1971-08-04 | 7 | 50 | 45° | 65 | Round hit a chain link and detonated. Six links shot away. Distance between detonation and armor plate = 143 cm. |
| 1971-08-04 | 8 | 50 | 45° | 130 | Round hit a chain link and detonated. Three links shot away. Distance between detonation and armor plate = 147 cm. |
| 1971-08-04 | 9 | 50 | 45° | 25 | Round hit a chain link and detonated. Six links shot away. Distance between detonation and armor plate = 141 cm. |