M829
Encyclopedia
Kinetic energy penetrator
A kinetic energy penetrator is a type of ammunition which, like a bullet, does not contain explosives and uses kinetic energy to penetrate the target....
) tank round
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
designed specifically for the 120 mm M256 main gun on the M1A1
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
, M1A2
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
. and M1A2 SEP Abrams main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s. This heavy anti-tank round is essentially a dart made of a depleted uranium
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
(DU) alloy which gives it excellent performance against almost all types of tank armors. The M829 has a ballistic cap and five tail fins made of aluminum; it also has a long aluminum sabot
Sabot
A sabot is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter, or which must be held in a precise position. The term is also applied to a battery stub case, a device used similarly to make a small electrical battery usable in a...
, which holds the sub-caliber round in place in the barrel, that breaks off into five "petals" as the round leaves the gun tube. The propulsion system uses an obturating case base with a semi-combustible wall. It has a total weight of 41.1 pounds.
Design
The heavy anti-tank round is a depleted uraniumDepleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
(DU) alloy kinetic penetrator which gives it excellent performance against all types of tank armors, with the exception of newer explosive reactive armor (ERA). The M829 has a ballistic cap and five tail fins made of aluminum; it also has a long aluminum sabot
Sabot
A sabot is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter, or which must be held in a precise position. The term is also applied to a battery stub case, a device used similarly to make a small electrical battery usable in a...
, which holds the sub-caliber round in place in the barrel, that breaks off into five "petals" as the round leaves the gun tube. The propulsion system uses an obturating case base with a semi-combustible wall. It has a total weight of 41.1 pounds.
M829
The M829 is no longer in production and has been succeeded by the M829A1, M829A2, and M829A3.M829A1
The M829A1 (nicknamed the "Silver Bullet" by Operation Desert StormGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
tank crews) is widely regarded as one of the most effective tank-fired anti-armor weapons in the world, and overwhelmed Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i armor during Operation Desert Storm. The M829A1 is a depleted uranium long-rod kinetic energy penetrator
Kinetic energy penetrator
A kinetic energy penetrator is a type of ammunition which, like a bullet, does not contain explosives and uses kinetic energy to penetrate the target....
round capable of defeating heavily armored vehicles. However, this effect has been reduced by modern reactive armor (like the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Kontakt-5
Kontakt-5
Kontakt-5 is a type of third-generation explosive reactive armour originating in the Soviet Union. It is the first type of ERA which is effectively able to defeat modern armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds....
) which led to the rapid development of the M829A2 and later the M829A3 (which led to Russian development of 'Relikt' ERA). Physical properties: Round weight: 20.9 kg (46.1 lb), Length: 984 mm (38.7 in), Propellant: JA 19 Perf (7.9 kg (17.4 lb)) creating a chamber pressure of 5,600 bar. The Projectile length: 780 mm (30.7 in). Weight: 9 kg (19.8 lb). Penetrator is made of depleted uranium. length: 684 mm (26.9 in). Diameter: 22 mm (0.866141732283465 in). Weight: 4.6 kg (10.1 lb). Muzzle velocity: 1575 m/s (5,167.3 ft/s). Target range: 3000 m (3,280.8 yd).
M829A2
The M829A2 APFSDS is a third-generation anti-tank round based on the M829 penetrator and designed for the 120 mm M256 main gun in the M1A1 (or later) Abrams main battle tank. The M829A2 was rapidly developed to have the capability to destroy tanks equipped with Kontakt-5 reactive armor. The M829A2 has several improvements over the M829A1, including: a longer depleted uranium penetrating rod than previous designs, giving it improved performance over previous types of anti-tank rounds; better manufacturing processes for the penetrator; and a partially cut propelling charge to allow it to be more energetic while loading like a stick charge. The M829A2 was also the first APFSDS round to use carbon fiberCarbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
sabot petals, reducing the weight of the overall round and allowing for the larger penetrator. Combined these features boost its muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
to 1680 m/s (5,511.8 ft/s), while operating at slightly lower pressure. The M829A2 entered service in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1993.
M829A3
The M829A3 is a 120 mm APFSDS round developed from the M829A2 round. It completed type classification standard in March 2003 and is currently in full rate production for the US Army.Very little is known about the round. The M829A3 uses a more efficient propellant
Propellant
A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...
, RPD-380, giving it a boost in muzzle velocity. The M829A3 round has a total weight of 22.3 kg (49.2 lb) kg and length of 892 mm (35.1 in). It uses 8.1 kg (17.9 lb) kg of RPD-380 stick propellant, accelerating a 10 kg (22 lb) kg long depleted uranium rod penetrator believed to be about 920 mm (36.2 in) long and 20 mm (0.78740157480315 in) in diameter to a muzzle velocity of 1555 m/s (5,101.7 ft/s). The sabot is built of composite material.
M829E4
The E4 variant is under development by General Dynamics Ordnance and TacticalSystems and Alliant Techsystems. One contractor will be downselected.