Name: 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540
Availability: InStock

Item Type

Item State

Type

Action

Guidance

Caliber

Weights complete round, nominal

Weights projectile, fuzed

Weights explosive filling

Weights propellant

Weights cartridge case, brass

Lengths projectile, fuzed

Lengths cartridge case

Diameter of cartridge case rim

Diameter over drive band

Muzzle velocity, Full Charge

Max range, Full Charge

Max chamber pressure

Eastern Asia

China

Western Asia

Iraq

Eastern Europe

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Romania

Slovakia

Ukraine

<h2>Armament</h2><p>152 mm Gun-Howitzer D-20 ; 152 mm Gun-Howitzer 2A65 ( M1987 or MSTA-B); 152 mm 2A61 Howitzer; 152 mm Howitzer M1943 (D-1); NORINCO 152 mm Gun-Howitzer Type 66 ; NORINCO 152 mm Gun-Howitzer Type 37; 152 mm Model 1981 Howitzer ( Romania ); 152 mm Model 85 Gun-Howitzer ( Romania ); 152 mm Gun-Howitzer M84 series ( Yugoslavia ). Self-propelled equipments include: 152 mm Self-propelled Howitzer M-1973 ( 2S3 ); 152 mm 2S19 Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer; NORINCO Type 83 Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer; 152 mm Self-propelled Howitzer DANA and ONDAVA.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 projectile (actual calibre 152.4 mm) is the successor to the earlier OF-530, developed originally for use with the 152 mm Howitzer M1943 ( D-30 ) - the two projectiles are compatible. The 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 is still the projectile most commonly fired from 152 mm ordnance of Chinese and Russian Federation and Associated States (CIS) origin, and probably outnumbers all other types of 152 mm projectile in operational and production terms, although the OF-540 is no longer produced in Russia , having been replaced by later designs.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 forms part of a separate loading item of ammunition consisting of the projectile and a variable charge system contained in a brass or lacquered steel cartridge case. The projectile is forged steel with a long streamlined ogive, a boat tail and a shallow bourrelet. A single copper drive band is just over 24 mm wide. The contents are nominally 6.24 kg of TNT although many references quote figures around 5.86 kg. One version of the 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540, sometimes referred to as the OF-540B, has a two-part construction with which the forward part of the ogive can be unthreaded, apparently to accommodate large time fuzes. The 152 mm ammunition uses a two-part variable charge system contained in brass or lacquered steel cartridge cases 547.5 mm long. The two parts are the Reduced Charge and the Full Charge, each in its own cartridge case. The Reduced Charge uses 9/7, 4/1 and 8/1 Trinitrocellulose powder in a series of 12 bags. Charge 6, the lowest, comprises the base bag charge only, to which a series of equal size bags are added creating higher charges. One charge bag is added to the base charge bag to comprise Charge 5, two are added for Charge 4, three for Charge 3 and five for Charge 2. These are all held in place by a fibre cup. The total weight of the Reduced Charge propellant is 4.2 kg. Maximum muzzle velocity produced by the Reduced Charge is 511 m/s. The Full Charge uses, NDT-3 16/1 or NGH powder in bags together with 150 g of 8/1 UG flash reducing agent plus S-1 decoppering agent. Charge 1 has two base bag charges, one located above the other. To create the Full Charge two further equal size bag charges are added; as mentioned previously a fibre cup holds the charge bags in place. The total weight of the Full Charge propellant is 8.8 kg. Maximum muzzle velocity produced by the Reduced Charge is 655 m/s. Both charges are initiated by a KV-4 percussion primer in the base of the cartridge case. With a 152 mm gun-howitzer such as the D-20 the Reduced Charge muzzle velocities vary from 282 to 511 m/s. This produces ranges of 6,710 to 13,400 m. The Full Charge produces a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s and a maximum range of 17,400 m. When fired from the gun-howitzer used on the 152 mm Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer M-1973 ( 2S3 ) the 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 is quoted as having a maximum range of 18,500 m. When fired from the 152 mm 2S19 Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer or the towed 152 mm Gun-Howitzer 2A65 the maximum range is 24,700 m. A training round intended specially for direct fire training of towed 152 mm ML-20 or D-20 and 2S3 or 2S3M self-propelled howitzer crews is the 152 mm VOFT-546 training round with a 152 mm HE-T OFT-540 projectile. The projectile is fired at a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s and emits a No 1 tracer for up to 3 seconds from a location in the base so that the trajectory can be followed for training assessment and marking purposes. As the projectile passes through a soft target the nose-mounted VS-5 or VUBS-1M super-quick point detonating fuze functions to detonate the projectile's TNT bursting charge less than 5 m behind the target. Should the projectile fail to hit a target it will self-destruct after about 4 to 6 seconds at a maximum range of 17,410 m. The complete 152 mm VOFT-540 round weighs 60 kg and has a brass cartridge case containing 8.3 kg of NDT-3, 18/1 and 8/1 UG propellant. The 152 mm VOFT-540 training round is marketed by Kintex of Bulgaria .</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>PD RGM-2, RGM-2M MTSQ D-1U Prox V-90, AR-5 Equivalent projectiles BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Kintex</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE OF-540</p><p>Description: For D-20 and M84 howitzers. A M84 projectile for the M84 exists but no details are</p><p>available</p><p>BULGARIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Kintex</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE OF-540</p><p>Description: Filled with 5.86 kg TNT. Projectile weight given as 43.9 kg. Complete round with Full 8.3</p><p>kg propelling charge is VOF-546. Reduced charge round with 4.11 kg propelling charge is VOF-546U.</p><p>Both rounds are for 152 mm D-20 , ML-20 and 2S3 . Blank ammunition is also produced</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Kintex</p><p>Type: 152 mm VOFT-546 Prac</p><p>Description: Training round with OFT-540 projectile - see text</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Vazov Engineering Plants</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE</p><p>Description: Available with both Full and Reduced propellant charges. Standard specifications</p><p>CHINA , PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO)</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE Type 66</p><p>Description: Filled with 5.86 kg of TNT. Fitted with Liu-4 or Electronic fuze. Projectile weight given</p><p>as 43.56 kg and length 706.6 mm. Creates 3,000 fragments on detonation. Maximum range given as</p><p>17,230 m</p><p>CZECH REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Caliber Prague Limited</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE with Full Charge</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p><p>IRAQ</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>State factories</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE</p><p>Description: Exact details not available. May no longer be in production</p><p>ROMANIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>SN ROMARM SA</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE OF-540</p><p>Description: Available with both Full and Reduced charges. The projectile is understood to be virtually</p><p>identical to the OF-540 and intended to be fired from 152 mm D-20 series howitzers and the Romanian</p><p>152 mm Model 81 Gun-Howitzer. Projectile weight given as 43.56 kg and maximum range 17,000 m.</p><p>Can be fitted with a PD RGM-2 fuze</p><p>SLOVAKIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Kerametal Company Limited</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE-540</p><p>Description: Projectile virtually identical to OF-540. Fired from 28 calibre barrels to a maximum range</p><p>of 17,400 m using the ZN 546 variable charge system. Maximum muzzle velocity is 655 m/s</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Konstrukta Defence</p><p>Type: 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540</p><p>Description: Fired from 28 calibre barrels to a maximum range of 17,400 m using the ZN 546 variable</p><p>charge system. Maximum muzzle velocity is 655 m/s</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>VIHORLAT As Snina</p><p>Type: 152 mm EOF</p><p>Description: Projectile virtually identical to OF-540</p><p>UKRAINE</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>MINIMASHPROM</p><p>Type: 152 mm FRAG-HE 3BOF32 (Full) and 3BOF33 (Reduced)</p><p>Description: FRAG-HE projectile used with both these rounds is the 152 mm 3OF25 weighing 43.56</p><p>kg and containing 6.44 kg of explosive. Complete round weighs 60 kg (Full) or 56 kg (Reduced).</p><p>Ballistic performance as FRAG-HE OF-540</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>TACKO</p><p>Type: 152 mm HE for D-20 , ML-20M and 2S3 Description: Projectile virtually identical to OF-540. Filling is 5.86 kg of TNT</p>

The 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 forms part of a separate loading item of ammunition consisting of the projectile and a variable charge system contained in a brass or lacquered steel cartridge case. The projectile is forged steel with a long streamlined ogive, a boat tail and a shallow bourrelet. A single copper drive band is just over 24 mm wide. The contents are nominally 6.24 kg of TNT although many references quote figures around 5.86 kg. One version of the 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540, sometimes referred to as the OF-540B, has a two-part construction with which the forward part of the ogive can be unthreaded, apparently to accommodate large time fuzes. The 152 mm ammunition uses a two-part variable charge system contained in brass or lacquered steel cartridge cases 547.5 mm long. The two parts are the Reduced Charge and the Full Charge, each in its own cartridge case. The Reduced Charge uses 9/7, 4/1 and 8/1 Trinitrocellulose powder in a series of 12 bags. Charge 6, the lowest, comprises the base bag charge only, to which a series of equal size bags are added creating higher charges. One charge bag is added to the base charge bag to comprise Charge 5, two are added for Charge 4, three for Charge 3 and five for Charge 2.

To create the Full Charge two further equal size bag charges are added; as mentioned previously a fibre cup holds the charge bags in place. The total weight of the Full Charge propellant is 8.8 kg. Maximum muzzle velocity produced by the Reduced Charge is 655 m/s. Both charges are initiated by a KV-4 percussion primer in the base of the cartridge case. With a 152 mm gun-howitzer such as the D-20 the Reduced Charge muzzle velocities vary from 282 to 511 m/s. This produces ranges of 6,710 to 13,400 m. The Full Charge produces a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s and a maximum range of 17,400 m. When fired from the gun-howitzer used on the 152 mm Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer M-1973 ( 2S3 ) the 152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540 is quoted as having a maximum range of 18,500 m. When fired from the 152 mm 2S19 Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer or the towed 152 mm Gun-Howitzer 2A65 the maximum range is 24,700 m.

Kintex

152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540

152 mm FRAG-HE OF-540

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