projectile, armour-piercing, drill, 120mm APFSDS L23

1923874506
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Use this image under Non-Commercial licence

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© IWM (MUN 3496)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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<a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30021556" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/261/99/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Weapons%20and%20ammunition" alt="projectile, armour-piercing, drill, 120mm APFSDS L23"> </a> <span> projectile, armour-piercing, drill, 120mm APFSDS L23 <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (MUN 3496)</a> </span>

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Description

Object description

Inert, instructional 120mm APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) L23 projectile. Drill version of the type issued for use with Challenger Mark 1 tanks in the 1980s. The live round used a monobloc tungsten alloy rod penetrator fitted with aluminium fins, and was carried in a light alloy sabot.

Physical description

Representative of a thin piercing sub-projectile encased in a tapered centre sabot case. A narrower body at the base representing the fin case. Dark blue for 'drill', white stencilled inscription.

Label

The APDS (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot) was developed in Britain by Permutter and Coppock in 1941/42 and was first introduced for the 6 pdr anti-tank gun in 1943. There are however two conflicting requirements which need addressing. In order to successfully pierce armour, it is necessary to strike at high velocity. Steel shot striking at velocities higher than about 854m/sec shatters instead of piercing, so tungsten carbide was adopted as the penetrative agent. This being more dense than steel cannot be used as a full-calibre shot since it would be too heavy to reach a worthwhile velocity. However, by using a sub-projectile inside a light alloy casing the weight of the complete projectile is less than the weight of a steel shot, and thus the propelling charge will give the composite shot a greater muzzle velocity. As a light shot of full-calibre has poor aerodynamics and will soon lose velocity, it is better to have a small and heavy shot. The APDS reconciles the two demands by having a light shot of full diameter in the bore to give maximum velocity, and then after discarding the sabot, having a small-calibre shot of high density outside the bore with good flight characteristics.

Stencilled

120mm TK DRILL REP APFSDS L23A1 RLB 4/83

Object Details

Category: Weapons and ammunition
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), 1945-1989 (association), 1990 to the present day (association)
Creator: Royal Ordnance (manufacturer)
Production date: 1983-04
Place made: United Kingdom
Materials: whole: metal
Dimensions: whole: Diameter 120 mm, Height 500 mm
Catalogue number: MUN 3496

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

British Army
Associated keywords

Anti-Tank Warfare
Artillery
Training
Associated themes

British Army 1945-2000

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projectile, armour-piercing, drill, 120mm APFSDS L23

Description

Object description

Physical description

Label

Stencilled

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

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