Unknown APFSDS-T - Maybe 90MM?

[apfsds]

I have this unusual APFSDS-T Sub-projectile dart with one of its sabot petals. It's dart is appears to be almost identical to a US 105MM M735 except that it has a polished appearance and a slight bulge where its windscreen attaches to the main body. If you look carefully, you can see that the windscreen is not pushed down all the way down. It is very light so I do not think it has a core inside. I just traced the sabot petal edge and then made 2 copies and glued them all together in a circle and it turns out to be 105MM not 90MM as I had thought but can't change the thread title.

Maybe this is the experimental DU version of the M735 without is core? I think it was called the M735E?

Jason

 

[Przezdzieblo]

Hello,
indeed, it looks very similar to M735. It could be M735E1 (the one with DU core) or the the variant from earlier development, XM735E1 (97% tungsten alloy core, similar or same as in XM578 for 152 mm gun).

 

[apfsds]

Thank you big time, Przezdziebo! I agree and also think it is the E1 variant.

Jason

 

[weberoed]

I'd like to see the 152mm version. But on a more serious note, I doubt if it is the DU round, but could be and if is, you really need to store it in a manner where you aren't handling it much, Plus keep in mind that there are various laws (depending on country) about possession . While still in service I was surprised at the amount of radiation you could pick jup, not enough to kill you but still. And when I worked for GD-OTS, we loaded the 25mm DU rounds, film badges left on the process line picked up some good amounts. Individual film badges rarely showed exposure, except the guys on the test range, we did have some elevated levels there.

 

[apfsds]

I may have a photo of a 152MM APFSDS experimental I found while surfing the net. The shinny M735 shown above that I am speculating may be a M735E1 does not have any core inside at all. It is super light and I think it may have been constructed specifically as a display model? It must have been amazing working at GD-OTS! One of my favorite tank ammunition manufactures

Jason

 

[Przezdzieblo]

Yep, it might be display variant.



I attach scheme of XM735, variant from 1973. It is said the programme started in July 1972, penetrator was direct adaptation of 152 mm XM578 for 105 mm calibre. Projectile weight was 12,85 lb/5,83 kg, subprojectile - 8 lb/3,63 kg. It was probably later renamed as -E1 when the new one, with enlarged WHA core was designed (XM735E2, standardized as M735).

 

[weberoed]

GD makes the tanks rounds at the Iowa AAP on the same line ATK does, according to the DoD contract it is a 50/50 = so the only difference in the rounds is the manufacture. The 25mm rounds made by GD are in Marion, IL on a plant they own there. the 152mm interests me, because it normally is such a small round (assume we're talking US). On a side not in the middle of my Army time I was on a team that supported the testing of the 105 and 120 DU rounds against various Soviet armor - those with special armor. We also tested a 115 (or maybe it was a 125mm) soviet DU against an US M1, pretty impressive, and surprising.

 

[apfsds]

Here is a photo I found years ago on the net of the 152MM APFSDS.

Jason

 

[Przezdzieblo]

Awesome pics! First time seeing this projectile`s foto (other than scheme from great Abrams... book). Pretty interesting sabot - never saw similar. Do you have any informations that the round was provided with additional composite base plate, like on those pics?

Attached, my attempt of guess how did early US APFSDS look like. From the left, 120/40 mm Delta mod. 6 or 7 (with orginal pot/cup sabot), 120/32 mm Delta mod. 16 and 152 mm XM578 (this one now obsolete, because of pics):


Btw. I guess that US APFSDS of "arrow" and "delta" designs are probably the Holy Grail. Interesting if any sample survived.

 

[Przezdzieblo]

Does it not look a bit familiar to 152 mm APFSDS XM578 sabot?

Patent US 3978792 from September 1976, click.

More on this, patent US 3750578 from August 1973, click.