Name: 85 mm FRAG O-365K
Availability: InStock

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Northern Africa

Egypt

Eastern Europe

Romania

<h2>Armament</h2><p>85 mm Divisional Gun D-44 ; 85 mm Auxiliary-propelled Field Gun SD-44 ; 85 mm M1944 ZIS-S-53 tank gun; 85 mm Anti-aircraft Gun M1939 and M1944 ; 85 mm Field Gun Type 56 ; 85 mm Field Gun M52 and M52/55 .</p><h2>Development</h2><p>From the 85 mm M1939 anti-aircraft gun onwards, the 85 mm calibre became a virtual all-purpose calibre for the Soviet Union and its later Warsaw Pact allies. It was applied to field, anti-tank, tank and anti-aircraft guns, all firing essentially similar ammunition. The 85 mm calibre weapons are still in service with many nations (including China , where many of the Soviet artillery designs were copied), usually as a towed anti-armour weapon which can double as a field gun, for example the 85 mm Divisional Field Gun D-44 or its Czech counterpart the 85 mm Field Gun M52 . For this latter role the 85 mm FRAG O-365K, often referred to as a FRAG-HE, acts as the latest in a line of similar general purpose HE rounds. For instance, the earlier and similar FRAG O-365 was produced in two-part form. The upper portion of the ogive could be unthreaded to allow a T-5 powder train time fuze to be installed for firing from anti-aircraft guns. The 85 mm FRAG O-365K is still available from ROMARM of Romania although it is no longer in series production. Standard 85 mm projectiles were used with the 85 mm anti-tank gun D-48 and the 85 mm D-70 gun used on the ASU-85 air-portable self-propelled anti-tank gun. These rounds have 100 mm cartridge cases necked down to 85 mm to provide the high muzzle velocities produced by their increased propellant loadings. Polish equivalents include the O-365Z and O-365ZW with sintered iron drive bands and cast-iron projectiles. Other similar rounds include the O-367A, O-367AZ and O-367AZW.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The 85 mm FRAG O-365K is a fixed round for anti-aircraft guns. The projectile is rigidly fixed to the cartridge case by two 360º crimping rings engaging in two cannelures located under the twin gilding metal or copper drive bands, one 12.2 mm wide and the other 11.2 mm wide. The 85 mm FRAG O-365K body is made from forged steel; it has relatively thick walls, a bourrelet and a boat tail. The filling is 780 g of cast TNT, although other explosives have been used. One version of the FRAG O-365K was produced in two-part form, with which the upper portion of the ogive could be unthreaded to enable powder train time fuzes to be employed when firing from anti-aircraft guns. An 85 mm FRAG O-367A round was in service with the East German Army. The complete round weighed 15.9 kg and the projectile 9.54 kg. Muzzle velocity was 805 m/s with a full propellant charge (2.77 kg) or 655 m/s with a reduced (1.52 kg) propellant charge. The cartridge case is usually brass, although lacquered steel has been used. It contains 2.6 kg of 14/7 stick and powder propellant plus S-1 decoppering agent and wear additives, to provide a muzzle velocity of 793 m/s, although some reduced propellant loads were developed and produced. A percussion primer is threaded into the base and surrounded internally by a black powder priming charge. The muzzle velocity of 793 m/s can produce a maximum range of 15,650 m when fired from the 85 mm Divisional Gun D-44 . For training use over short ranges a special variant of the 85 mm FRAG O-365K was developed. This reduced range version contains a self-destruct assembly threaded into, and protruding from, the projectile base and containing a tracer element burning for 2 to 6 seconds. The self-destruct device operates between 3.5 and 5 seconds after firing, equating to a range between 2,000 and 3,400 m. This training round is otherwise identical in appearance and external ballistics to the operational 85 mm FRAG O-365K, including the retention of the nose-mounted fuze. It is still produced in Romania where it is marketed by SN ROMARM SA.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>PD KTM-1, KTM-1U, KTM3-1Y MT WM-16 or Time T-5 Equivalent rounds EGYPT</p><p>EGYPT</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Heliopolis Company for Chemical Industries</p><p>Type: HE and FRAG-HE</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. No longer in production</p><p>ROMANIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>SN ROMARM SA</p><p>Type: HE and Reduced Range HE O-365KV</p><p>Description: No longer in series production. HE identical to FRAG O-365K. For details of Reduced</p><p>Range HE see text</p>

The 85 mm FRAG O-365K is a fixed round for anti-aircraft guns. The projectile is rigidly fixed to the cartridge case by two 360º crimping rings engaging in two cannelures located under the twin gilding metal or copper drive bands, one 12.2 mm wide and the other 11.2 mm wide. The 85 mm FRAG O-365K body is made from forged steel; it has relatively thick walls, a bourrelet and a boat tail. The filling is 780 g of cast TNT, although other explosives have been used. One version of the FRAG O-365K was produced in two-part form, with which the upper portion of the ogive could be unthreaded to enable powder train time fuzes to be employed when firing from anti-aircraft guns. An 85 mm FRAG O-367A round was in service with the East German Army. The complete round weighed 15.9 kg and the projectile 9.54 kg. Muzzle velocity was 805 m/s with a full propellant charge (2.77 kg) or 655 m/s with a reduced (1.52 kg) propellant charge.

The cartridge case is usually brass, although lacquered steel has been used. It contains 2.6 kg of 14/7 stick and powder propellant plus S-1 decoppering agent and wear additives, to provide a muzzle velocity of 793 m/s, although some reduced propellant loads were developed and produced. A percussion primer is threaded into the base and surrounded internally by a black powder priming charge. The muzzle velocity of 793 m/s can produce a maximum range of 15,650 m when fired from the 85 mm Divisional Gun D-44. For training use over short ranges a special variant of the 85 mm FRAG O-365K was developed. This reduced range version contains a self-destruct assembly threaded into, and protruding from, the projectile base and containing a tracer element burning for 2 to 6 seconds. The self-destruct device operates between 3.5 and 5 seconds after firing, equating to a range between 2,000 and 3,400 m. This training round is otherwise identical in appearance and external ballistics to the operational 85 mm FRAG O-365K, including the retention of the nose-mounted fuze. It is still produced in Romania where it is marketed by SN ROMARM SA.

85 mm FRAG O-365K

85 mm FRAG O-365K

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