35 × 228 mm Oerlikon ammunition

turret (UK); OE/OTO 35 mm naval mounting (Italy); Boeing Company Bushmaster III (USA); GMD-A twin 35 mm naval mounting (Switzerland); 35/1000 revolver cannon; Millenium 35/1000 naval gun system (UK); SkyShield 35 ; Skoda 35 mm SPAAG ( Czech Republic ). 35 × 228 mm TP rounds are fired from the Turkish MKEK 35 mm barrel insert system. NORINCO of China manufactures the Twin 35 mm Towed AA Gun System, a licence-produced version of the Oerlikon Contraves GDF-002 . Development Development of the Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG 35 × 228 mm ammunition for air defence guns commenced during the late 1950s. The 35 mm KD gun and its ammunition became one of the most successful of all post-war air defence gun systems. Originally there were four types of round in the family but subsequent development has expanded the range of available natures considerably, the latest being the Frangible Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (FAPDS) and a 35 × 228 mm APFSDS-T. Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is the exclusive US licensee for 35 × 228 mm Oerlikon ammunition, the technology transfer being successfully completed during 1982. The Boeing Company 35/50 mm Bushmaster III cannon is one of the weapons under consideration for the Bradley IFV mid-life improvement programme. Current development work is concentrating on the 35 mm version of this ammunition. For information regarding the next-generation series of 35 × 228 mm Oerlikon air defence ammunition, codenamed Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD), see following entry. Oerlikon Contraves, including Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG, is now a member of Rheinmetall DeTec AG . Description All Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG 35 × 228 mm ammunition involves fixed rounds with the projectiles rigidly secured to their low-carbon, drawn steel cartridge cases by eight crimping points. These engage in a cannelure around the body of the boat-tailed projectile. Soft iron drive bands are used. The ballistics and trajectories of all the TP, HE-I and SAPHEI rounds are identical. Those for the FAPDS, APDS-T and APFSDS-T armour-piercing rounds differ. In all cases the propellant involved is from 330 to 333 g of NC 01 T 35 single-based powder. Maximum average chamber pressure is 3,800 bar and muzzle rotation speed is 1,200 rps. A ZSD 304 percussion primer with a boxer primer cap is threaded into the cartridge case base. Some cartridge cases have grooves to facilitate the use of belt links. The projectiles involved, all secured to the same 228 mm long cartridge case with a 55 mm diameter base, are as follows: HE-I(NF ) Oerlikon designation PMD 042. This projectile has been described in Oerlikon Contraves literature as a mine and uses a cold-forged steel streamlined body filled with 112 g of Hexal P30 (with aluminium additives). The nose-located fuze well is occupied by a KZD 338 self-destruct delayed action point detonating fuze (the Junghans Feinwerktechnik PD DM 331 is an alternative), with an arming distance of 60 m and a delayed action time of 150 to 250 µs. The fuze will self-destruct the projectile after a range of 4,000 m or after a trajectory time of flight of 6 to 12 seconds. To ensure effective hits against aircraft or other targets, the fuze will function at angles of incidence down to 5º. The HE-I projectile can produce a large number of fragments and intensive blast effects. Maximum possible range is 11,000 m. HE-I-T(NF) Oerlikon designation PMD 040. This projectile is similar to the HE-I but includes a tracer element screwed into the base. This reduces the explosive filling to 98 g of Hexal P30. The tracer will burn for a minimum of 5 seconds, corresponding to a range of over 3,100 m. HE-I(BF) Oerlikon designation PMD 048. The projectile of this round uses a hardened steel body with an enlarged wall thickness and is filled with 65 g of Hexal P15 combined with 20 g of incendiary composition. The base-located BZD 357 mechanical impact fuze has an arming distance of 60 m and a delayed action time of approximately 500 µs. The fuze will self-destruct the projectile after a range of 4,000 m or after a trajectory time of 6 to 12 seconds. A powerful blast effect is combined with optimised fragmentation and an `extremely high' armour penetration. TP-T Oerlikon designation PMD 034. This is a relatively low-cost training and target practice projectile with an inert filling. The fuze is replaced by an aluminium plug. A tracer element is fitted in the base to burn for up to 4 seconds, corresponding to a range of over 4,000 m. The maximum possible range is 11,000 m. TP This is the same as the TP-T but lacks the tracer element. A threaded base plug takes the place of the tracer. SRTP-T This round uses the same practice projectile as the TP-T combined with a special nose piece to reduce the maximum possible range to below 9,000 m SAPHEI-T Oerlikon designation PMD 044. This round was developed to provide an armour-piercing capability against land or naval targets. It has a relatively thick-walled hardened steel HE projectile, with an armour-piercing nose intended to penetrate target armour at virtually any angle of incidence. An aluminium alloy nose cap acts as a ballistic windshield. The 22 g filling of Hexal P30 is detonated by a BZD 342 self-destruct delayed action impact base fuze. The fuze will self-destruct the projectile after a range of 4,000 m or after a trajectory time of flight of 6 to 12 seconds. At a range of 1,000 m this projectile can penetrate 40 mm of armour plate set at an angle of 0º NATO (90º) and then detonate to produce a large number of fragments and blast. APDS-T Oerlikon designation PMD 049. Intended primarily for use against armoured land and/or naval targets, this round uses a heavy metal subcalibre penetrator weighing 302 g carried in a discarding plastic sabot with a high-grade aluminium alloy base. The projectile has a muzzle velocity of 1,440 m/s. A tracer element burning for a minimum of 1.6 seconds (corresponding to a range of 2,000 m) is located in the penetrator base. The penetrator can pierce 90 mm of armour plate set at an angle of 0º NATO (90º) at 1,000 m. FAPDS Oerlikon designation PMD 055. The projectile for this round follows the same general lines as the APDS-T but is arranged so that the penetrator is designed to produce a large number of fragments once the outer armour layer of the target has been penetrated. It has been demonstrated that in air defence terms this provides the projectile with destructive effects similar to those of the HE-I projectile but deeper inside a target. APFSDS-T Oerlikon designation PMD 060. The fin-stabilised penetrator used with this round has a muzzle velocity of 1,417 m/s. The complete round weighs 1.455 kg and the projectile assembly 388 g. It is foreseen that this round will replace the APDS-T round, reaching a growth potential of approximately 25 per cent on penetration. AHEAD See following entry. Rh 503 ammunition See separate entry under Tank and Anti-tank Guns section. Authorised fuzes See text Equivalent rounds CANADA CANADA Manufacturer SNC TEC Type: HE-I C123, TP-T C122 Description: Standard specifications. AHEAD and Break-up ammunition also manufactured (see separate entries). CHINA , PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC Manufacturer China North Industries (NORINCO) Type: HE-I, HE-I-T, TP-T Description: Intended primarily for the NORINCO Twin 35 mm Towed AA Gun System, a locally produced version of the Oerlikon Contraves GDF-002 , these rounds are dimensionally and ballistically identical to their Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG equivalents. The delayed action PD nose fuze for the HE-I and HE-I-T is given as the KZD338. The production status of these rounds is uncertain. FINLAND Manufacturer Patria Vammas Oy Type: HEI, HEI-T, TP, TP-T. SRTP-T Description: Standard specifications. Produced by Vammas Defencetec Ltd FRANCE Manufacturer Giat Industries Type: HE-I/SD, HE-I-T/SD, SAPHEI-T, TP, TP-T, TP-T/SR Description: Projectiles containing explosive fuzed with PD MR3501 (HE-I) or BD MR3505 (SAPHEI). TP-T/SR is a Short Range Target Practice tracer round. Otherwise standard specifications GERMANY Manufacturer Diehl-Wehrtechnik Type: DM 31 MP Description: Fitted with DM 821 base fuze. Muzzle velocity is 1,180 m/s Manufacturer Diehl-Wehrtechnik Type: Ammunition for TPGID Description: See separate entry Manufacturer Rheinmetall DeTec AG Type: HETF and APFSDS-T Description: For use with Rheinmetall MK 35/50 Rh 503. For details see separate entry Manufacturer Rheinmetall DeTec AG Type: FAPDS DM 33 Description: For details see separate entry Manufacturer Mauser-Werke Type: FAPDS Description: See separate entry GREECE Manufacturer PYRKAL: Greek Powder & Cartridge Company Type: HE-I, HE-I-T, TP, TP-T Description: Standard specifications IRAN Manufacturer Defence Industries Organisation, Ammunition Group Type: HE Description: Standard specifications. TP may also be produced KOREA, SOUTH Manufacturer Daewoo Corporation Type: HE-I, TP-T Description: Standard specifications Manufacturer Poongsan Corporation Type: HEI-SD K202 KA1, TP-T K203 Description: Some slight differences from original to suit local production facilities. For instance a steel K2 case is used together with a K603 primer. The nose fuze is a PD K504KA1 (M504A1). Otherwise standard specifications NETHERLANDS Manufacturer Eurometaal NV Type: HE-I-T, APHE, TP-T Description: Standard specifications. Now part of Rheinmetall DeTec but Eurometaal stocks still widely held. PAKISTAN Manufacturer Pakistan Ordnance Factories Type: HE-I, HE-I-T, SAPHEI-T, TP, TP-T Description: Standard specifications SOUTH AFRICA Manufacturer PMP Type: HE-I, TP-T Description: Standard specifications. Marketed by Denel. See also separate entry for details of PMP 35 × 228 mm new generation ammunition SPAIN Manufacturer DEFEX SA Type: HE-T, TP-T Description: Standard specifications Manufacturer SANTA BARBARA SA Type: HE-I, SAPHEI-T, TP-T Description: Standard specifications SWITZERLAND Manufacturer Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG Type: See text Description: See text Manufacturer Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG Type: 35 mm Break-Up Description: See separate entry TURKEY Manufacturer Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kumuru ( MKEK ) Type: HE-I, TP-T Description: Standard specifications. TP-T also used with the MKEK 35 mm barrel insert system for tank gunnery training. UNITED KINGDOM Manufacturer BAE Systems , RO Defence Type: Clip fed; HE-I, HE-I-T, SAPHEI, APDS, TP-T; belt fed; TP Description: Standard specifications UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) Type: APFSDS-T, HEI, TP, TPDS-T Description: Developed for possible use in the 35/50 mm Bushmaster III gun for the Bradley IFV mid-life improvement programme. The APFSDS-T has an MV of 1,400 m/s with a projectile weight of 365 g. The HEI has an MV of 1,175 m/s with a 550 g projectile containing 112 g of explosive; the nose fuze could be the PD M760 . The TP matches the HEI ballistically but is inert. The final form of the TPDS-T is under consideration