120 mm APFSDS-T M829

M1A1 Abrams MBT, a decision was taken to develop a Depleted Uranium (DU, also known as staballoy) penetrator to enhance the overall anti-armour performance of the penetrator. As the use of DU penetrators is not permitted in Europe for environmental and other reasons a new penetrator design was undertaken by Honeywell, now Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK), based on the Rheinmetall original. The first result was the XM827, with a one-piece DU penetrator sheathed in a maraging steel body in place of the German two-piece tungsten design. The XM827 was type classified in early 1983 but accepted as an interim design only, pending the development of the M829 which uses a heavier and longer penetrator, while retaining the original Rheinmetall-derived propulsion unit . The M829 was type classified in late 1984 as a full service round which may normally only be fired in time of war. The M829 projectile was also produced by the Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation at its Waterloo, Iowa, facility. The M829 is currently out of production. Enhanced versions, the M829A1, M829A2 and M829E3, have been produced - see following entry. Description The 120 mm APFSDS-T M829 round resembles the earlier XM827 but the DU penetrator is heavier and longer and has a higher length-to-diameter ratio. The round is fixed with the projectile assembly secured to the Combustible Cartridge Case (CCC) by a case adaptor ring. The CCC has a steel cartridge case base with a silicone rubber sealing ring around the top. An M215 electrical primer is secured to the cartridge case base and extends some two-thirds of the way up the centre of the CCC. The projectile assembly consists of a subcalibre one-piece DU penetrator 615 mm long and assembled in a four-piece aluminium sabot by grooves. The sabot uses a nylon obturator and a silicone rubber seal at the rear to prevent gas leakage. The penetrator has a six-finned aluminium fin assembly at the rear which also houses a tracer element which burns for 2.5 seconds. A pointed aluminium windshield with a steel tip is fitted to the front. The CCC contains 8.1 kg of granular JA-2 `solventless' propellant, loosely packed in a containment bag which prevents spillage in the event of a rupture of the combustible case walls. Although described as combustible, case ignition does leave the steel base stub intact for ejection from the gun after firing. The muzzle velocity of this round is 1,670 m/s and it is understood to have an effective range of over 3,000 m. Standard armour penetration performance is 540 mm of RHA at 2,000 m. The training equivalent for this round is the M865 TPCSDS-T - see separate entry for details. Authorised fuzes None involved Equivalent rounds UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) Type: APFSDS-T M829 Description: Standard specifications. No longer in production Manufacturer General Dynamics, Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) Type: APFSDS-T M829 Description: Standard specifications. No longer in production