Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) using a
sabot and
tracer (APFSDS-T). Typically used against other modern
tanks. There are different ways to measure penetration value. NATO uses the 50% criteria against 260BHN Steel, while the Soviet/Russian standard is higher (80% had to go through).
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, 140 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ)
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: ?
3VBM7/3BM15/16 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: 1785 m/s •
Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ •
Penetration: 400 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 150 mm at 60° at 2000 m
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: 1780 m/s •
Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ •
Penetration: 150 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM9/3BM22/23 (3BM22 "Zakolka") Entered service 1976. Tungsten carbide penetrator core sheathed in steel. Enlarged cap to help reduce deflection at steep angles and to hold a larger penetrator. •
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: 1785 m/s •
Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ •
Penetration: 420 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 170 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM10/3BM29/30 (3BM29 "Nadphil-2) 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: 360 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 210 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM11/3BM26/27 (3BM26 "Nadezhda-R) Entered service 1983. Tungsten-nickel-iron alloy penetrator core sheathed in steel. Utilised new 4Zh63 high-energy propelling charge. Penetrator is base-installed to prevent deflection during penetration against multi-layered
composite armour. Improved penetrator cap made of aluminium alloy. •
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 (3BM32 "Vant") Entered service in 1985. The projectile is an integrated depleted uranium-nickel-zinc alloy penetrator. •
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 395 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 230 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM42 "Mango") Entered service in 1986. The projectile is double tungsten alloy rod sheathed in low melting point alloy covered with steel, intended to increase penetration against non-explosive
reactive armour (NERA) such as
Chobham armour. Is slowly being replaced by newer models such as 3BM59/60. •
Country of origin:
Soviet Union •
Penetrator dimension: 532 mm 17: 1 L/d •
Round weight: 20.4 kg •
Projectile weight: 4.85 kg The new round uses a new sabot design, and a Tungsten Alloy penetrator of increased length compared to prior generation Russian APFSDS ammunition. Used on 2A46M-4/5 with new autoloader. •
Cartridge dimension: 735 mm •
Penetrator dimension: 640 mm 28-29: 1 L/D •
Round weight: ? kg •
Projectile weight (including sabot): 8.4 kg •
Penetrator weight: •
Muzzle velocity: 1660 m/s •
Muzzle energy: 12.1 MJ? •
Penetration: 300mm at 2000m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1") Entered service: 2016. •
Penetration: ~315-330mm at 60° at 2000m
3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1" Uses a new sabot. Reported to be uranium alloy. For use on 2A82-1M cannon on
T-14 Armata. •
Country of origin:
Russia •
Projectile dimension: ? •
Round weight: ? •
Projectile weight (including sabot): ? •
Projectile weight: estimated 11 kg •
Muzzle velocity: 2050 m/s •
Country of origin: China •
Projectile dimension: 670 mm •
Round weight: ? •
Projectile weight (including sabot): ? •
Muzzle velocity: 1760 m/s •
Muzzle energy: ? •
Penetration: 220mm @ 2000m at 71.12° against 4340 Steel
TAPNA Produced by MSM Group in Slovakia. The penetrator is made from tungsten alloy. •
Country of origin:
Slovakia •
Projectile dimension: 610mm •
Round weight: 20 kg •
Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.15 kg •
Muzzle velocity: 1690 m/s •
Muzzle energy: ? •
Penetration: 270 mm @ 2000 m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target ==HEAT-FS==