Name: Cartridge, 40 mm: L/60 HE-T
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<h2>Armament</h2><p>All 40 mm L/60 Bofors Guns.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The 40 mm L/60 HE-T is the base round for the entire Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft gun family. It has its origins in a 1925 Swedish Navy requirement for a projectile that could virtually guarantee a `one hit, one kill' performance against aircraft targets. The original requirement was for a 20 mm projectile and gun but it was almost immediately realised that this calibre was too small to ensure the required performance. Bofors AB then proceeded to double the calibre of the projectile to 40 mm and developed an automatic gun to fire the ammunition. The result was the famous and widely used Bofors Gun, the 40 mm L/60, the prototype of which was first fired in 1930. The 40 mm L/60 was produced in huge numbers before and during the Second World War and still remains in front-line service with many armed forces (land and naval) to this day. The 40 mm L/60 ammunition has been produced on a corresponding scale. Over the years the basic 40 mm L/60 HE-T round has undergone many changes in filling, fuzing, propellant and materials but remains much the same in appearance as the original design. The following Description outlines the current Bofors AB data. For many years 40 mm L/60 HE-T ammunition was produced by LIAB (Lindesbergs Industri AB) which became part of Bofors AB. The 40 mm L/60 HE-T round is still in production and remains available from Bofors on request. Many other manufacturers produce the round on a regular basis, often referring to it as HE-I or HE-I-T. Although 40 mm L/60 HE-T rounds were made in huge quantities in the USA for many years, during and since the Second World War, they are no longer in production in that nation other than to special order.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The 40 mm L/60 HE-T is a fixed round with a brass cartridge case and a streamlined boat-tailed projectile, the body is made of a special high-fragmentation steel. The cartridge case is crimped rigidly to the projectile by one or two 360º crimping bands; weapons using automatic feed systems or guns with increased rate of fire modifications should use double-crimped ammunition. A copper drive band (gilding metal has been used) encircles the projectile just above the cartridge case/projectile junction. Rounds are usually fed into the gun in four-round charger clips. The Bofors 40 mm L/60 HE-T projectile is filled with 92 g of Hexotonal, comprising 42 per cent TNT, 40 per cent RDX, 15 per cent aluminium powder and 3 per cent desensitiser. Many other fillings have been used, for example the US HE-T, SD, MV2 700 contains approximately 63.5 g of tetryl. The base of the projectile contains a tracer element which burns for 5 seconds after firing. The nose of the projectile may be threaded to accept fuzes with UK, US and Bofors threads. Typical Swedish fuzes for the 40 mm L/60 HE-T include the Type LI 460 PD, which functions against 2 mm dural at impact velocities as low as 350 m/s and self-destructs after 12 seconds (on some HE-T projectiles the end of the tracer burn initiates the self-destruct process). The LI 460 PD uses a UK fuze well thread. The similar LI 462 PD has Bofors threads while the LI 463 PD has US threads. All three fuzes have a tropical rain safety. The LI 465 is similar but will delay arming until the projectile has travelled 55 m. The LI 466 PD also has the arming device plus an integral post-impact device that delays detonation by 0.3 µs; The LI 473 is generally similar. The brass cartridge case, which can be reused several times if required, has a semi-rimmed base and is fitted with a percussion primer with a sinoxide detonator. Propellant loads vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but the Bofors AB HE-T uses approximately 320 g of NC 1066 single-base low-erosion propellant, producing a muzzle velocity of 860 m/s. As a further rough guide to other similar HE-T rounds, the US MK 2 or MK 3 cartridge case contains approximately 326 g of M1 propellant. This produces a muzzle velocity of 879 m/s. The training equivalent to the 40 mm L/60 HE-T is the 40 mm L/60 TP or TP-T. It has the same ballistic, weight and dimensional characteristics as the HE-T but either lacks any filling or is filled with an inert HE substitute. It is fitted with an inert or dummy PD fuze. The US 40 mm TP-T is the Cartridge, 40 mm: TP-T, M91 . Drill rounds are available, for example the US Cartridge, 40 mm: Dummy, M25.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>Bofors AB fuzes: PD LI 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 473 American fuzes: PD MK 27/M3 or M3A1 , M27, M71/MK 11 or MK 11 Mod 2 Equivalent rounds ARGENTINA</p><p>ARGENTINA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares</p><p>Type: 40 mm FMK 3 MOD 0 ET Description: Standard specifications. TP-T FMK MOD 0 EJT also produced BELGIUM</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>FN HERSTAL SA</p><p>Type: FN 116 HE-I-T, FN 117 HE-I-T-SD</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. No longer in production but may be retained in service. FN 114</p><p>TP-T also produced</p><p>BRAZIL</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>ENGEQUÍMICA</p><p>Type: 40G HE-T CTG MD1</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>FI Indústria e Comércio Ltda</p><p>Type: HE-T, HE-I-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><p>EGYPT</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Maasara Company for Engineering</p><p>Type: HE-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p><p>FRANCE</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Giat Industries</p><p>Type: HE-I, HE-I-T</p><p>Description: Filled with 82 g Hexal. Projectile weight 910 g. Muzzle velocity approximately 880 m/s.</p><p>Fitted with PD MR 4061 or MK 27 fuze. TP and TP-T also produced</p><p>GERMANY</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Diehl-Wehrtechnik</p><p>Type: HE-I-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><p>GREECE</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>PYRKAL: Greek Powder & Cartridge Company</p><p>Type: HE-T</p><p>Description: Fitted with LI 465 PD SD fuze. Otherwise standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><p>ITALY</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Simmel Difesa SpA</p><p>Type: HE-T, HE-I-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. Explosive filling is TNT. TP and TP-T also produced</p><p>KOREA, SOUTH</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Poongsan Metal Corporation</p><p>Type: HE-I-T MK 2</p><p>Description: Equivalent to US MK 2. Fitted with MK 27 fuze. TP-T M19 also produced</p><p>NETHERLANDS</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Eurometaal NV</p><p>Type: HE-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><p>PAKISTAN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Pakistan Ordnance Factories</p><p>Type: HE-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. Fitted with PD No 255 Mark 4 fuze</p><p>SOUTH AFRICA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Denel (Pty) Ltd</p><p>Type: HE, HE-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p><p>SPAIN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>FAEX: Fabricaciones Extrameñas SA</p><p>Type: HE-I, HE-I-T</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also produced</p><p>SWEDEN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Bofors AB</p><p>Type: L/60 HE-T</p><p>Description: Production as required. Standard specifications as in text. TP-T also available</p><p>SWITZERLAND</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG</p><p>Type: 40 mm L/60 Break-Up</p><p>Description: See separate entry</p><p>UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Government Arsenals</p><p>Type: HEI-T MK 2</p><p>Description: No longer in production but may be widely encountered. Weight of complete round is</p><p>2.15 kg with the projectile containing 60 g of TNT. Length is 447 mm; MV 879 m/s</p><p>YUGOSLAVIA , FEDERAL REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Yugoimport SDPR</p><p>Type: HE-I-T, HE-T, TP-T</p><p>Description: May no longer be in production. Standard specifications</p>

The 40 mm L/60 HE-T is a fixed round with a brass cartridge case and a streamlined boat-tailed projectile, the body is made of a special high-fragmentation steel. The cartridge case is crimped rigidly to the projectile by one or two 360º crimping bands; weapons using automatic feed systems or guns with increased rate of fire modifications should use double-crimped ammunition. A copper drive band (gilding metal has been used) encircles the projectile just above the cartridge case/projectile junction. Rounds are usually fed into the gun in four-round charger clips. The Bofors 40 mm L/60 HE-T projectile is filled with 92 g of Hexotonal, comprising 42 per cent TNT, 40 per cent RDX, 15 per cent aluminium powder and 3 per cent desensitiser. Many other fillings have been used, for example the US HE-T, SD, MV2 700 contains approximately 63.5 g of tetryl. The base of the projectile contains a tracer element which burns for 5 seconds after firing. The nose of the projectile may be threaded to accept fuzes with UK, US and Bofors threads.

All three fuzes have a tropical rain safety. The LI 465 is similar but will delay arming until the projectile has travelled 55 m. The LI 466 PD also has the arming device plus an integral post-impact device that delays detonation by 0.3 µs; The LI 473 is generally similar. The brass cartridge case, which can be reused several times if required, has a semi-rimmed base and is fitted with a percussion primer with a sinoxide detonator. Propellant loads vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but the Bofors AB HE-T uses approximately 320 g of NC 1066 single-base low-erosion propellant, producing a muzzle velocity of 860 m/s. As a further rough guide to other similar HE-T rounds, the US MK 2 or MK 3 cartridge case contains approximately 326 g of M1 propellant. This produces a muzzle velocity of 879 m/s. The training equivalent to the 40 mm L/60 HE-T is the 40 mm L/60 TP or TP-T. It has the same ballistic, weight and dimensional characteristics as the HE-T but either lacks any filling or is filled with an inert HE substitute. It is fitted with an inert or dummy PD fuze. The US 40 mm TP-T is the Cartridge, 40 mm: TP-T, M91.

In over a hundred years of continued operation, Simmel Difesa acquired comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the ammunition business, combining the experience of famous European players into a modern and agile company.
Today, Simmel Difesa supplies medium and large calibre ammunition to more than 40 countries worldwide.
Over the time, the company developed its know-how in all ammunition components, from propellants and explosives to metal parts and fuses. Thanks to its experience, Simmel Difesa is able to optimize the components’ integration in order to conceive first-class products.
Simmel Difesa gained a reputation as a leader in naval ammunition, and is now – after decades of successful cooperation – the preferred supplier for Oto-Melara guns. Its in-house capability to design and manufacture advanced proximity fuses led Simmel Difesa to become a world leader on the air defense ammunition market.
Equipped with a powerful and flexible manufacturing infrastructure, and benefitting from the dedication of its highly skilled workforce and a dependable supply chain, Simmel Difesa is able to quickly respond to its customers’ requirements with reliable and high-performance products.

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Cartridge, 40 mm: L/60 HE-T

Cartridge, 40 mm: L/60 HE-T

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