Logo from Scott Cunningham.
Logo from Scott Cunningham.
haped charges have the same penetration capabilities regardless of range. However their effective range is limited to usually no more than about 600 metres because the low muzzle velocity results in a much lower hit probability. Determining the maximum effective range is quite difficult but a rough and ready approximation is given below.
HEAT projectiles have a low muzzle velocity because of the limitations of the fuse. The fuse has to detonate rapidly after contact with the target for the shaped charge to function properly; if the impact velocity of a HEAT projectile is too high this will not occur. Note that this is even more critical than the problem faced by an armour piercing projectile with an HE filler, which detonates a short time after contact so that it explodes after piercing the armour; a HEAT projectile must detonate immediately on contact with the target. It is for this reason that all World War II HEAT projectiles had muzzle velocities of less than 600m/s, and usually no more than 450m/s.
German and British reports indicate quite a low range for HEAT projectiles…
Although some sources give various effective ranges of 1,000m and more for HEAT projectiles, these must be viewed with some suspicion. A report from the Infanterie-Division “Großdeutschland” on 3 April 1943 gives an indication of the true effective range:
“Our own Panzerkopfgranate (i.e., APCBC or APCR) are exceptionally effective and amazingly accurate. However, to the contrary, due to its large dispersion the Hl/B-Granaten (shaped charge shells, i.e., HEAT) is usable at a maximum range of 500 metres. If a hit is obtained at long range by expenditure of a high number of rounds, the effect of the Hl/B Granate is good. However the troops have no faith in the Hl/B-Granate. It is desired that the supply of Panzer-Kopfgranaten be increased.” 12
At the time the division had 10 Pz.Kpfw.IV with 7,5cm Kw.K.37 L/24 and 75 Pz.Kpfw.IV with the longer barrelled 7,5cm Kw.K.40 L/43, as well as various other vehicles.12 The muzzle velocity for the Gr.38 Hl/B fired from these guns is 450m/s.
A British report from 1943 draws similar conclusions regarding the use of HEAT ammunition for the 95–mm Howitzer which had a muzzle velocity of 503m/s:
“…at a range of 1,000 yards (i.e., 914m), the chances are about one-third those of the 6–pdr and at longer ranges the falling-off increases rapidly. For effective anti-tank engagement the maximum opening range of the 95–mm is say 600/700 yards (i.e., 549–640m), preferably less.” 13
Note that the 6–pdr had a 33% chance of a first round round hit at 1,000 yards against a static, hull-up target of Pz.Kpfw.VI size,14 so presumably from the above quote the 95–mm Howitzer had an 11% chance firing HEAT ammunition under the same conditions.
The above two reports give a good indication of a maximum range for opening fire in combat, which usually means a first hit probability of 50% (certainly it means this for British weapons). Other sources quote a “maximum effective range” for HEAT projectiles which is undefined but I take it to mean an absolute upper limit to the chances of hitting a target, say 15% or even less. For the 3,7cm Pak 35/36 firing Steil.Gr. projectiles at 110m/s the maximum effective range is given as 200m,15 or 150m against a moving target;16 for the 8cm P.A.W.600 with a muzzle velocity of 520m/s the maximum effective range is given as 750m.10
A rough and ready approximation for range of HEAT projectiles…
As a rough and ready approximation which fits the data given above, an estimate of the maximum range in metres for a first hit probability of 50% against a static hull-up target can be made by using the value of the muzzle velocity in m/s. For the maximum effective range, where the probability of hit is much lower, 1.5 to maybe as much as 2 times the muzzle velocity can be used, depending upon how generous you feel. For example, a muzzle velocity of 450m/s for a HEAT projectile would result in a range of 450m for a 50% first hit probability, and a range of 675m (1.5 × 450) to 900m (2 × 450) for the maximum effective range.
Shaped Charge Ammunition Part 4 Post-War Developments
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