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This photo shows a 105mm TPFSDS-T long rod penetrator. This type of round is used to train
armor troops on the ballistics and handling of Sabot type rounds. The penetrator is normally
wrapped by a three piece aluminum sabot which keeps the round centered in the bore. As the
105mm tank cannon tube (aka: barrel, bore) is rifled, and the penetrator is fin stabilized, the
sabot uses a rotating obturator band to prevent the projectile from rotating in the bore. The
obturator is also known as a driving band, and it also functions to seal the bore and keep the
expanding gun gasses behind the projectile as it moves. This projectile weighs 9 lbs and is 19" long. The whole round weighs nearly fifty pounds. The projectile travels at a velocity over 1000 meters per second. The ballistics are similar to the war round which is made of materials including depleted uranium (DU). DU is a hard, dense substance which makes it ideal for this kind of ballistic use. DU also has one other physical characteristic that makes it particularly effective in the anti-tank role. DU has a 'pyrophyrettic' (SIC) effect. This means that when the DU travels through steel at high velocity it scrapes off particles of the DU which ignite and burn fiercly. These particles are responsible for the white splash of sparks on impact. When the round penetrates, the particles spray around the interior of the vehicle and ignite any flamable material they encounter. This usually includes the hydraulic fluids, fuel, and ammunition componants of the vehicle. |
