Name: 125 mm APFSDS ammunition
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<h2>Armament</h2><p>2A45 and 2A45M tank guns fitted to T-64 and early T-72 MBTs; 2A46 (D-81) and 2A46M (D-81M) tank guns fitted to T-64A and T-72 MBTs; 2A46M1 tank gun fitted to T-80 and T-90E MBTs; 2A75 gun fitted to 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun; 2A45M Sprut-B towed anti-tank gun.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The first Eastern Bloc MBT to carry a 125 mm smoothbore main gun was the T-64 , carrying a gun known as the 2A45. This gun has a vertical ammunition stowage system and was only fitted into T-64 series tanks and a few early examples of the T-72 . The more numerous and widely used D-81 and D-81M (2A46 and 2A46M respectively), also referred to as the Rapira 3 (Rapier 3) and fitted to the T-72 and early production T-80 tanks, employ a rotary carousel-type ammunition feed system. The T-80 and T-90E MBTs use the 2A46M1 gun. These guns all fire the same separate loading ammunition, including APFSDS projectiles. There is one further 125 mm gun, a towed 125 mm anti-tank gun, called the 2A45M Sprut-B , which fires the same ammunition as the 125 mm tank guns to a direct fire range of over 2,000 m (against a 2 m high target). A listing of 125 mm APFSDS projectiles of Russian Federation and Associated States (CIS) origin includes eight known variants: the 3BM9, 3BM12, 3BM15, 3BM17, 3BM22, 3BM32, 3BM42 and 3BM44. The base model for the series is the 3BM9, which may be regarded as a scaled-up version of the 115 mm BM-6 (qv). As the 125 mm APFSDS projectiles and rounds have separate designations, a checklist is provided: Round Projectile 3VBM3 3BM9 3VBM6 3BM12 3VBM7 3BM15 3VBM8 3BM17 3VBM9 3BM22 3VBM13 3BM32 3VBM17 3BM42 n/avail 3BM44 The 3VP6 is a training round, as is the generally similar 3VP5. In addition to the above it has been proposed that a Russian 125 mm APFSDS development (no designation yet forthcoming) could be the basis for some form of joint development lasting a period of about two years. This round weighs 20.3 kg with the projectile assembly, with incremental propellant charge, weighing 10.7 kg. Firing a tungsten alloy penetrator with an aluminium alloy sabot at a muzzle velocity of 1,750 m/s, the following penetration performances are forecast: a seven-layer target at 30º (penetration route 630 mm) at 4,000 m a seven-layer target at 60º (penetration route 620 mm) at 4,500 m a three-layer target at 65º (penetration route 1.83 m) at 3,500 m a 300 mm thick homogeneous target at 60º at 2,000 m. As a typical example, the T-72 usually carries a combat load of 39 rounds, 12 of which are APFSDS. It is known that 125 mm tank gun ammunition is produced in India but no information is available. A new munitions plant is being built at Bolangir in Eastern India which, when fully operational, will be able to produce 150,000 rounds of 125 mm ammunition, presumably including APFSDS rounds, every year.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>In common with the rest of the 125 mm ammunition range, the 125 mm APFSDS rounds are all separate loading munitions. They are automatically loaded into the breech, surrounded behind the sabot assembly by an attached combustible propellant charge increment in a combustible case, followed by the 4Zh63 main charge in a separate semi-combustible propellant case. On both the 3BM9 and 3BM15 the sabot assembly is of the ring type and is made of steel. It is short and interfaces to the penetrator rod via a series of mating buttresses. There are three 120º sabot segments and the entire sabot is encircled by a slipping copper drive band, 5.08 mm wide on the 3BM9 and 5.23 mm wide on the 3BM15. The 3BM12 differs only in detail from the 3BM9. With the 3BM9 the monobloc penetrator rod is hard steel and has a blunt nose covered by a light alloy ballistic cap. By contrast, the longer hard steel penetrator used with the 3BM15 has a nose insert containing a tungsten carbide slug weighing 270 g. In both cases the penetrator rod tapers towards the rear where a five-fin assembly is threaded into position. The 3BM9 is quoted as having a muzzle velocity of 1,800 to 1,825 m/s, with penetration of 350 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) set at an angle of 60º at a range of 1,000 m. At 3,000 m the penetration is 245 mm. The slightly heavier 3BM15 appears to have a muzzle velocity of 1,785 to 1,800 m/s and is quoted as being able to penetrate 250 mm of armour at 2,000 m. The maximum effective combat range for both projectile types is 2,200 m. The 3BM17 is a variant of the 3BM15 with a heavier (3.045 kg) steel penetrator. The 3BM42 penetrator used with the 3VBM17 round has a tungsten penetrator with the complete projectile assembly weighing 7.05 kg. The 3BM22 used with the 3VBM9 round has an enamel-coated steel body weighing 2.48 kg with a light steel windscreen. The 3BM32 projectile used with the 3VBM13 round differs from the earlier projectiles by having a Depleted Uranium (DU) penetrator. In contrast to many other penetrator designs produced elsewhere, the 3BM32 is relatively short at 486 mm. The fin assembly is steel, the sabot aluminium alloy, the obturator rubber and the sealing band a polyamide material. The 3BM32 is fired with a muzzle velocity of 1,700 m/s instead of the 1,800 to 1,825 m/s of the earlier models. A range of penetration performances can be quoted for the 3BM32. It will penetrate a 250 mm homogeneous armour target set at 60º at 2,000 m. A seven-layer target at 30º obliquity can be defeated at 3,200 m, producing a penetration route 630 mm long. If the same target is engaged at the same range, with the obliquity changed to 60º, the penetration route is 620 mm long. A three-layer spaced target set at an obliquity of 65º can be defeated at a range of more than 5,000 m with a penetration route 1,830 mm long. The 3BM42, used with the 3VBM17 round, has a tungsten alloy penetrator 571 mm long and the projectile body is made from high-strength maraging steel. Again the fin assembly is steel, the sabot aluminium alloy, the obturator rubber and the sealing band a polyamide material. Muzzle velocity is 1,700 m/s. As with the 3BM32, a range of penetration performances can be quoted for the 3BM42. It will penetrate a 230 mm homogeneous armour target set at 60º at 2,000 m. A seven-layer target at 30º obliquity can be defeated at 3,300 m, producing a penetration route 630 mm long. If the same target is engaged at 3,800 m, with the obliquity changed to 60º, the penetration route is 620 mm long. A three-layer spaced target set at an obliquity of 65º can be defeated at a range of 2,000 m with a penetration route 1,830 mm long. The designation used for the round with the 3BM44 projectile is not known. The 3BM44 projectile weighs 7.05 kg and the muzzle velocity is 1,700 m/s. Projectiles are fired using a main semi-combustible charge case known as the 4Zh63 and weighing 9.6 kg, plus an increment attached to the projectile assembly and weighing a further 4.1 kg. The combustible cases are formed using nitrocellulose impregnated with TNT. Priming is electrical using a GUV-7 primer. After firing, a steel stub case weighing 3.4 kg remains to be automatically ejected, although manual ejection may be employed. The case, made from BW 11 steel, is 140 mm long and has a flange diameter of 171.9 mm. To simulate the above projectiles during training there is a relatively low-cost APFSDS-TP round known as the 3VP6, using the 3P31 projectile. The 3P31 projectile is fired at a high initial muzzle velocity (1,830 m/s) using the normal, main and incremental charges, but the penetrator assembly is a blunt steel rod which follows the operational APFSDS trajectory out to a range of 2,000 m, after which it rapidly decelerates, becomes unstable and falls to the ground. Maximum range with the gun barrel at an elevation of 3º is no more than 9,000 m. The complete round weighs 19.5 kg and the projectile 5.2 kg; it is 535 mm long. Weight of the projectile assembly complete with its propelling charge is 9.5 kg.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>None involved Equivalent rounds CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA</p><p>CZECH REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Konstrukta Defence</p><p>Type: APFSDS</p><p>Description: Probably 3BM15 but no confirmation available. Muzzle velocity given as 1,800 m/s.</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Synthesia as</p><p>Type: 125 mm KE</p><p>Description: Uses third-generation tungsten projectile weighing 6.7 kg and 678 mm long, in</p><p>conjunction with Z62 KE CZ combustible cartridge which reduces barrel wear and erosion; front charge</p><p>weight 3.3 kg, rear 5.5 kg. Offered as part of T-72 MBT upgrade package</p><p>IRAQ</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>State factories</p><p>Type: APFSDS</p><p>Description: Probably 3BM9 but no information available. Probably no longer in production</p><p>ISRAEL</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Israel Military Industries ( IMI ) Type: 125 mm APFSDS-T M711 Description: See separate entry</p><p>POLAND</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Zaklady Produkeji Specjalnej Sp zoo</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS-T</p><p>Description: See separate entry</p><p>ROMANIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>SN ROMARM SA</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS-T BM-9 and APFSDSHC-T BM-15</p><p>Description: BM-9 fired using supplementary charge BM-10. BM-15 fired using supplementary charge</p><p>BM-18</p><p>RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND ASSOCIATED STATES (CIS)</p><p>Marketing agency: Rosobornexport</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS 3VBM17</p><p>Description: Standard specifications - see text. 125 mm 3VP6 training round also available.</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Spetsvneshtekhnika, Moscow</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS</p><p>Description: Projectile assembly uses tungsten alloy long rod penetrator in `Western style' aluminium</p><p>alloy sabot. Weight of complete round is 20.4 kg. Armour penetration at 60º incidence is more than 300</p><p>mm (no range given)</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Engineering Research Institute (NIMI)</p><p>Moscow</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS 3VBM17</p><p>Description: Standard specifications</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>State Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Products</p><p>Kazan</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS 3VBM17</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. Produced in association with The State Kazan Scientific</p><p>Industrial Enterprise named after Lenin, Kazan</p><p>SLOVAKIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>ZVS jsc</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS (PpSv)</p><p>Description: Understood to be 3VBM15. A 125 mm APFSDS-T Tapna fires a tungsten alloy penetrator</p><p>weighing 3.4 kg and is stated to be able to penetrate 550 mm of armour.</p><p>UKRAINE</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>MINMASHPROM</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS 3VBM17</p><p>Description: Standard specifications - see text. MINMASHPROM has also announced a locally</p><p>designed advanced APFSDS round with the projectile designated as the 3BM44U. There is also a</p><p>3BM44U1 projectile with an elongated penetrator rod provided with bore-riding distance pieces on the</p><p>four-segment sabot. No details are available regarding these two rounds. 3VP6 APFSDS-TP round also</p><p>manufactured</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>TACKO</p><p>Type: 125 mm APFSDS 3VBM7, 3VBM9, 3VBM13 and 3VBM17</p><p>Description: Standard specifications - see text</p><p>YUGOSLAVIA , FEDERAL REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Yugoimport SDPR</p><p>Type: M88 with KE-T projectile Description: Appears to be based on 3BM15. Projectile weight, presumably with sabot, given as 10 kg.</p><p>Intended for use on M-84 and M-84A tanks, the Yugoslav versions of the T-72 . May no longer be in</p><p>production</p>

The 125 mm APFSDS ammunition is in common with the rest of the 125 mm ammunition range, the 125 mm APFSDS rounds are all separate loading munitions. They are automatically loaded into the breech, surrounded behind the sabot assembly by an attached combustible propellant charge increment in a combustible case, followed by the 4Zh63 main charge in a separate semi-combustible propellant case. On both the 3BM9 and 3BM15 the sabot assembly is of the ring type and is made of steel. It is short and interfaces to the penetrator rod via a series of mating buttresses. There are three 120º sabot segments and the entire sabot is encircled by a slipping copper drive band, 5.08 mm wide on the 3BM9 and 5.23 mm wide on the 3BM15. The 3BM12 differs only in detail from the 3BM9. With the 3BM9 the monobloc penetrator rod is hard steel and has a blunt nose covered by a light alloy ballistic cap. By contrast, the longer hard steel penetrator used with the 3BM15 has a nose insert containing a tungsten carbide slug weighing 270 g. In both cases the penetrator rod tapers towards the rear where a five-fin assembly is threaded into position.

A seven-layer target at 30º obliquity can be defeated at 3,200 m, producing a penetration route 630 mm long. If the same target is engaged at the same range, with the obliquity changed to 60º, the penetration route is 620 mm long. A three-layer spaced target set at an obliquity of 65º can be defeated at a range of more than 5,000 m with a penetration route 1,830 mm long. The 3BM42, used with the 3VBM17 round, has a tungsten alloy penetrator 571 mm long and the projectile body is made from high-strength maraging steel. Again the fin assembly is steel, the sabot aluminium alloy, the obturator rubber and the sealing band a polyamide material. Muzzle velocity is 1,700 m/s. As with the 3BM32, a range of penetration performances can be quoted for the 3BM42. It will penetrate a 230 mm homogeneous armour target set at 60º at 2,000 m. A seven-layer target at 30º obliquity can be defeated at 3,300 m, producing a penetration route 630 mm long. If the same target is engaged at 3,800 m, with the obliquity changed to 60º, the penetration route is 620 mm long.

125 mm APFSDS ammunition

125 mm APFSDS ammunition

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