125 mm smoothbore ammunition

The following is a list of ammunition fired by the 125 mm smoothbore gun series used in the T-64, T-72, T-80, M-84, T-90, PT-91, T-14 Armata, and other tanks derived from those designs, as well as the 2A45 Sprut Anti-Tank gun.

APFSDS-T

Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot tracer or APFSDS-T rounds. Typically used against other modern tanks.

3VBM3/3BM9/10

Entered service in 1962. The projectile is Maraging steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 410 mm 10: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 5.67 kg
• Projectile weight: 3.6 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1800 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 5.8 MJ
• Penetration: 245 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 80 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ)^[1]

3VBM6/3BM12/13

Entered service (estimated) in 1968. Essentially the same as the 3BM9 projectile with a tungsten carbide plug.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 410 mm 10: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 5.67 kg
• Projectile weight: 3.6 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1800 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 5.8 MJ
• Penetration: 280 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 110 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ)^[1]

3VBM7/3BM15/16

BM15 APFSDS projectile.

Entered service (estimated 1972). A slightly longer 3BM12 projectile.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 435 mm 12: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 5.9 kg
• Projectile weight: 3.9 kg including 2.9 kg and 0.27 kg tungsten carbide plug
• Muzzle velocity: 1780 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ
• Certified Penetration: 310 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 120 mm at 60° at 2000 m,
  • Interestingly, the 'predicted penetration' is 150mm at 60° at 2000 m, ^[2]

3VBM8/3BM17/18

Entered service (estimated 1972). An export version of the 3BM-15 without the tungsten carbide plug. Hence, it is an all-steel penetrator with inferior performance.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 450 mm 12: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 5.9 kg
• Projectile weight: 3.9 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1760 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ
• Certified Penetration: 290 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 110 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM9/3BM22/23

Entered service 1976. Tungsten carbide penetrator core sheathed in steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 400 mm 11: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 6.55 kg
• Projectile weight: 4.485 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1760 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
• Penetration: 380 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 170 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM10/3BM29/30

Entered service 1982. Depleted Uranium-nickel-iron alloy sheathed in steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 450 mm 12: 1 L/d - including 250 mm core.
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 6.55 kg
• Projectile weight: 4.85 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
• Penetration: 430 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 210 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM11/3BM26/27

Entered service 1983. Tungsten-nickel-iron alloy core sheathed in steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 395 mm 11: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.05 kg
• Projectile weight: 4.8 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1720 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.5 MJ
• Penetration: 410 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 200 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM13/3BM32/33

Entered service in 1985. The projectile is a depleted uranium-nickel-zinc alloy, sheathed in steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 380 mm 13: 1 L/d
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.05 kg
• Projectile weight: 4.85 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
• Penetration 500 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 250 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44)

A BM-42 APFSDS projectile.

Entered service in 1986. The projectile is a tungsten alloy core sheathed in steel.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 452 mm 15: 1 L/d
• Round weight: 20.4 kg
• Projectile weight: 4.85 kg ^[3]
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.05 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
• Penetration: 450 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 220 mm at 60° at 2000 m.

3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo")

Entered service in 1994 Utilising an improved penetrator and a new Sabot. Reported to be tungsten alloy.

• Country of origin: Russia
• Projectile dimension: 570 mm 22: 1 L/d
• Round weight: ?
• Projectile weight (including sabot): 6.95 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1750 m/s
• Muzzle energy: 7.4 MJ (estimated - assuming 4.85 kg projectile)
• Penetration: 650 mm at 0° at 2000 m

3VBM??/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets")

Entered service in 1991 Utilising a new Sabot. Reported to be Uranium alloy.

• Country of origin: Russia
• Projectile dimension: 546 mm : 22? L/d
• Round weight: 4.85 kg
• Projectile weight (including sabot): ?.?? kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
• Muzzle energy: ?.? MJ
• Penetration: 650 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 300 mm at 60° at 2000 m

3VBM??/3BM46 (3BM48 "Свинец-2")

Entered service : Unknown. Utilising a new Sabot. Reported to be tungsten alloy.

• Country of origin: Russia
• Projectile dimension: ??? mm
• Round weight: Unknown
• Projectile weight (including sabot): ?.?? kg
• Muzzle velocity: 1700? m/s
• Muzzle energy: ?.? MJ
• Penetration: 750?? mm at 0° at 2000?? m

HEAT-FS

High-explosive anti-tank fin stabilised or HEAT-FS rounds. Typically used against lighter or older tanks and Armoured personnel carriers.

3VBK7/3BK12

Entered service 1962.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 19 kg
• Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Charge: shaped charge, Steel liner, A-IX-1 (RDX phlegmatized with 5% wax), I-238 detonator
• Penetration: 420 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK12M

Entered service 1968. Uses improved 3V-15 detonator.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union

3VBK10/3BK14

Entered service 1968.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 19 kg
• Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Charge: shaped charge, Steel liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
• Charge weight: 1.62 kg
• Penetration: 450 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK14M

3BK14M Round.

Improved version, replacing steel liner with a copper liner.^[3]

3VBK16/3BK18

Entered service estimated 1975.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Round weight: 29.0 kg
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 19 kg
• Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Charge: shaped charge, copper liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
• Penetration: 500 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK18M

Improved warhead. Entered service estimated 1978. Introduces wave shaping booster.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile weight: 19.02 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Penetration: 550 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3VBK17/3BK21

Entered service estimated 1980. Enhancements to improve reliability of the copper jet formation.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 19 kg
• Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Charge: shaped charge, copper liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
• Penetration: 550 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK21B

Entered service estimated 1982. Depleted uranium Liner to enhance penetration of advanced composite armours like Chobham.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 19 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
• Penetration: 750 mm RHA at 0 degrees.^[4]

3VBK21/3BK25

Entered service estimated 1985.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s

3VBK25/3BK29

A 3BK29 HEAT round.

Entered service estimated 1988.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Round weight: 28.4 kg
• Projectile dimension: 680 mm
• Projectile weight: 18.4 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
• Penetration: 350mm to 400mm RHA at 60 degree tandem charge

3VBK27?/3BK29M

First seen publicly in 1998. Reportedly a triple charge warhead.^[4]

• Country of origin: Russia
• Projectile weight: 18.4 kg
• Charge weight: 1.62 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
• Penetration: Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT.^[5]

HE-FRAG-FS

High Explosive Fragmentation Fin Stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and light vehicles and other 'soft' targets.

3VOF22/3OF19

A OF-19 HE-FRAG projectile.

Entered service in 1962. Uses the 3V-21 detonator (mass = 0.431 kg, reliability = 0.98). The 90% lethal zone for infantry is reported to be 40 m wide and 20 m deep.^[3]

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Round weight: 33.0 kg
• Projectile weight: 23.0 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s
• Max dispersion: 0.23 mil (0.23 mrad)
• Charge weight: 3.148 kg
• Charge: TNT

3VOF36/3OF26

A 3OF26 HE-FRAG round.

Entered service in 1970. Uses the 3V-21 detonator (mass = 0.431 kg, reliability = 0.98). The projectile creates between 600 and 2,000 fragments.

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Round weight: 33.0 kg
• Projectile weight: 23.0 kg
• Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s
• Max dispersion: 0.23 mil (0.23 mrad)
• Charge weight: 3.148 kg
• Charge: A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.4 kg

ATGW/ATGM

9M112 Kobra

The 9K112 Kobra round in flight configuration

The 9K112 Kobra (NATO reporting name is AT-8 Songster) is also fired from the 125 mm main guns of the T-64 and T-80 series of tanks.^[6]

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile weight: 23.2 kg
• Warhead weight: 4.5 kg
• Guidance system: Radio-command guided
• Range: 100 – 4000 metres
• Penetration: Estimated at 600 millimetres (24 in) tandem charge HEAT.

9M119 Refleks

The 9M119 Svir and 9M119M Refleks (NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper) anti-tank guided missile has semi-automatic laser beam-riding guidance and a tandem hollow-charge HEAT warhead. It has an effective range of 75 m to 5000 m, and takes 17.6 seconds to reach maximum range. Refleks can penetrate about 900 millimetres (35 in) of steel armour and can also engage low-flying air targets such as helicopters.^[6]

• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Projectile weight: 16.5 kg
• Warhead weight: 4.5 kg
• Guidance system: Laser-beam riding
• Range: 75 – 5000 metres
• Penetration: Estimated at 900 millimetres (35 in) tandem charge HEAT.

See also

• 2A46 D-81T
• 2A45 Sprut

References

1. http://www.kotsch88.de/tafeln/st_125_mm-ke.htm
2. Zaloga, Steven J. (1993). T-72 Main Battle Tank 1974–93. Osprey. pp. 24. ISBN 1-85532-338-9.
3. Stefan Kotsch. "Das Panzerdetail - Munition der 125 mm Kanone D-81" (in German). Kotsch88.de. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
4. http://web.archive.org/web/20050407021009/http://www.knoe.odgw.net/Military/125.htm
5. "Vasiliy Fofanov's Modern Russian Armour Page". Armor.kiev.ua. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
6. http://fofanov.armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/ARM/atgm/ammo.html

External links

• http://armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/ - Extensive information
• http://www.russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_Headstamp.html - Explosive compositions and designations