

[DISCLAIMER: The following text and illustrations are reproduced from a U.S. War Department pamphlet published in January 1945. The text may be inaccurate, and no attempt has been made to update or correct the material. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.] ARMOR-PIERCING AMMUNITION FOR GUN, 90-mm, M3 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. JANUARY 1945 INTRODUCTION Various models of the latest enemy Armored Force Vehicles encountered and captured on the battlefield were shipped to the Ordnance Research and Development Center, Aberdeen, Maryland, for tests and examination. Ballistic tests revealed the need for armor piercing ammunition with greater penetrative power to defeat the thick oblique armor plate being used. Immediate steps were taken to provide our troops with ammunition for the 90mm guns which possess the required penetrative ability. Three armor piercing rounds for the Gun, 90mm, M3 have been developed and a detailed description of each and comparative penetration performances are presented in this brochure. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Shot, Fixed, H.V., A.P.-T., 90mm, T30E16 Text .............................................. 1 Text .............................................. 2 Illustration of complete round .............................................. 2 Illustration of shot .............................................. 3 Firing Table .............................................. 3 Illustration: Penetration of gun mantlet of "Panther" Tank .............................................. 4 Illustration: Penetration of glacis plate of "Panther" Tank .............................................. 4 Illustration: Penetration of lower nose plate of "Panther" Tank .............................................. 5 Armor Penetration Curve .............................................. 5 Shot, Fixed, A.P.-T., 90mm, T33 Text .............................................. 6 Illustration of complete round .............................................. 7 Illustration of shot .............................................. 7 Firing Table .............................................. 8 Firing Table .............................................. 9 Illustration: Penetration of glacis plate of "Panther" Tank .............................................. 10 Illustration: Penetration of glacis plate of "Panther" Tank .............................................. 11 Armor Penetration Curve .............................................. 11 Projectile, Fixed, A.P.C.-T., 90mm, M82 Text .............................................. 12 Illustration of complete round .............................................. 13 Illustration of projectile .............................................. 13 Firing Table .............................................. 14 Firing Table .............................................. 15 Illustration: Penetration 2½ in. armor plate (55° obliq.) .............................................. 16 Illustration: Penetration 2½ in. armor plate (55° obliq.) .............................................. 16 Illustration: Penetration 1½ in. armor plate (55° obliq.) .............................................. 16 Armor Penetration Curve .............................................. 17 General Illustration: Comparison of complete rounds .............................................. 17 Aiming Data Chart 90-B-1 .............................................. 18 Aiming Data Chart 90-C-3 .............................................. 18 SHOT, FIXED, H.V., A.P.-T., 90mm, T30E16. DESCRIPTION. The Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., 90mm, T30E16 is issued as a fixed complete round for the Gun, 90mm, M3 mounted in Gun Motor Carriage, M36 or M36B1 and Heavy Tank, T26E3. The shot is a light weight projectile, consisting of a tungsten carbide core, aluminum body with nose plug and windshield and steel base tracer loaded. Length: Shot 13.20 in. Complete Round 35.90 in. Weight: Shot 16.70 lb. Complete Round 36.00 lb. (Approx.) Muzzle Velocity 3,350 f/s PURPOSE. This is a special hyper-velocity, armor piercing round for attack of heavily armored vehicles. It gives greatly increased penetrative performance up to 2,000 yards range over the standard A.P.C.-T., Projectile, 90mm, M82. It is especially effective at shorter ranges. Since tungsten carbide is a critical material these projectiles should be used sparingly and only when the situation requires increased armor penetration. This shot will penetrate all plates of the German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" and "King Tiger" Tanks. IT WILL DEFEAT THE GLACIS PLATE OF THE "PANTHER" AT RANGES UP TO 450 YARDS AND OF THE "KING TIGER" AT 100 YARDS RANGE. UP TO RANGES OF 800 YARDS THE SHOT WILL PENETRATE THE GUN MANTLET AND TURRET FRONT OF BOTH THE "PANTHER" AND "KING TIGER" TANKS. FIRING DATA. a. Aiming data charts are provided for use with the fire control instruments on the Gun Motor Carriages, M36 and M36B1 and, Heavy Tank, T26E3. The use of these charts provides direct fire with the following rounds: Shot, A.P.-T., T33 Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16 Projectile, A.P.C.-T., M82 Shell, H.E., M71 b. The following aiming data charts are contained in this brochure: A.D.C. 90-B-1, 90mm Gun, (with muzzle brake) M3 on Heavy Tank, T26E3 with Coaxial Telescope, M71C and Periscope Telescopes, M77F and M80D. A.D.C. 90-C-3, 90mm Gun, (without muzzle brake) M3 on Gun Motor Carriage, M36 or M36B1 with Coaxial Telescope, M76F. c. Firing Tables are included in this booklet. ACCURACY. Accuracy firings from the M3 Gun with the rounds loaded for a MV of 3,400 f/s have been conducted with the T30 type shot at a vertical target over a range of 2,100 yards. The extreme horizontal dispersion was 17 inches and the extreme vertical dispersion 30 inches. PENETRATION. A curve showing the comparison of penetration vs. range of Projectile, A.P.C.-T., M82 and Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16 when fired against homogeneous armor plate a t 20° and 30° obliquity is contained in this report. Illustrations are included indicating results obtained with this shot against the "Panther" tank. MARKING. Special markings appear on each cartridge case, container and box in red paint. HYPERVELOCITY MV 3350 F/S Shot, fixed, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16 for Gun, 90mm, M3. Shot, H.V., A.P., 90mm, T30E16. GUN, 90MM, M3. SHOT, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16. MUZZLE VELOCITY, 3350 F/S.

WEIGHT, 16.7 LBS. C 7 , 1.109. Range



yards Elev.



mils Time of

Flight

seconds Max.

Ord.

feet Terminal

Velocity

f/s Range



yards Elev.



mils Time of

Flight

seconds Max.

Ord.

feet Terminal

Velocity

f/s 0 0.0 0.00 0 3350 1800 9.4 1.84 14 2580 100 0.4 0.09 0 3305 1900 10.0 1.96 15 2540 200 0.9 0.18 0 3260 2000 10.7 2.08 17 2500 300 1.3 0.27 0 3216 2100 11.3 2.20 20 2461 400 1.8 0.36 1 3171 2200 12.0 2.32 22 2422 500 2.3 0.46 1 3127 2300 12.7 2.45 24 2383 600 2.8 0.56 1 3083 2400 13.4 2.57 27 2345 700 3.3 0.66 2 3039 2500 14.1 2.70 29 2307 800 3.8 0.76 2 2996 2600 14.8 2.83 32 2269 900 4.3 0.86 3 2953 2700 15.6 2.96 36 2232 1000 4.8 0.96 4 2910 2800 16.3 3.09 39 2195 1100 5.3 1.06 5 2868 2900 17.1 3.23 42 2159 1200 5.9 1.17 6 2826 3000 17.9 3.37 46 2123 1300 6.4 1.28 7 2784 3100 18.7 3.51 50 2087 1400 7.0 1.39 8 2742 3200 19.6 3.66 54 2052 1500 7.6 1.50 9 2701 3300 20.4 3.80 59 2017 1600 8.2 1.61 10 2660 3400 21.3 3.95 64 1982 1700 8.8 1.73 12 2620 3500 22.2 4.11 69 1948 Complete penetration of gun mantlet and turret front plate has been obtained against the German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" Tank by Shot, H.V., A.P., T30E16 at a range of 800 yards. Complete penetration at the juncture of machine gun ball mount with the glacis plate of German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" Tank by Shot, H.V., A.P., T30E16 at a range of 800 yards. Complete penetration of lower nose plate of German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" Tank by Shot, H.V., A.P., T30E16 fired at a range of 600 yards. SHOT, FIXED, A.P.-T., 90mm, T33. DESCRIPTION. The 90mm Armor Piercing Shot T33 is issued as a fixed complete round for the Gun, 90mm, M3 mounted in Heavy Tank, T26E3 and Gun Motor Carriages, M36 and M36B1. The shot is a modification of the standard AP, M77 which has been reheat-treated and to which a ballistic windshield has been attached. Length: Shot 14.78 in. Complete Round 37.53 in. Weight: Shot 24.06 lb. Complete Round 43.82 lb. Muzzle Velocity 2,800 f/s PURPOSE. This is the most effective shot for the defeat of high obliquity caliber thickness homogeneous armor plate. The shot will defeat all plates of the German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" Tank except the gun mantlet. IT WILL PENETRATE THE GLACIS PLATE OF THE "PANTHER" TANK UP TO 1,100 YARDS RANGE. FIRING DATA. a. Aiming data charts are provided for use with the fire control instruments on the Gun Motor Carriages, M36 and M36B1 and Heavy Tank, T26E3. The use of these charts provides direct fire with the following rounds: Shot, A.P.-T., T33 Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16 Projectile, A.P.C.-T., M82 Shell, H.E., M71 b. The following aiming data charts are contained in this brochure: A.D.C. 90-B-1, 90mm Gun, (with muzzle brake) M3 on Heavy Tank, T26E3 with Coaxial Telescope, M71C and Periscope Telescopes, M77F and M80D. A.D.C. 90-C-3, 90mm Gun, (without muzzle brake) M3 on Gun Motor Carriage, M36 or M36B1 with Coaxial Telescope, M76F. c. Firing Tables are included in this booklet. ACCURACY. Accuracy firings have been conducted with the T33 round loaded for a M.V. of 2800 f/s and fired from a standard 90-mm Gun over a range of 700 yards at a vertical target. An extreme horizontal dispersion of 16 inches and an extreme vertical dispersion of 19 inches was obtained. PENETRATION. Armor penetration curves for the shot compared with the standard A.P.C.-T., M82 Projectile when fired against homogeneous armor plate at 20° obliquity are contained herein. Included are illustrations of results obtained, with this shot, against the German Pz Kpfw V "Panther" Tank. MARKING. A special marking in black appears on each cartridge case, container and box: MV 2800 F/S Shot, fixed, A.P.-T., T33 for Gun, 90mm, M3. Cross Section of Shot, A.P., 90mm, T33. GUN, 90MM, M3. SHOT, 90MM, A.P.-T., T33. MUZZLE VELOCITY, 2800 F/S. WEIGHT, 24.06 LBS. Range



yards Elevation



mils Time of

Flight

seconds Maximum

Ordinate

feet Terminal

Velocity

f/s 0 0.0 0.00 0 2800 100 0.6 0.11 0 2774 200 1.2 0.22 0 2747 300 1.9 0.33 0 2720 400 2.5 0.44 0 2694 500 3.2 0.55 1 2668 600 3.9 0.66 2 2642 700 4.6 0.77 2 2615 800 5.3 0.88 3 2588 900 6.0 1.00 4 2562 1000 6.7 1.12 5 2536 1100 7.4 1.44 6 2510 1200 8.1 1.36 7 2484 1300 8.9 1.48 9 2457 1400 9.6 1.61 10 2431 1500 10.4 1.73 12 2405 1600 11.2 1.85 14 2379 1700 12.0 1.98 16 2353 1800 12.8 4.11 18 2328 1900 13.6 2.24 20 2302 2000 14.4 2.37 23 2276 2100 15.2 2.50 26 2250 2200 16.0 4.63 29 2225 2300 16.9 2.77 32 2200 2400 17.8 2.91 35 2174 2500 18.7 3.05 38 2149 2600 19.6 3.19 41 2123 2700 20.5 3.33 45 2097 2800 21.4 3.47 49 2072 2900 22.3 3.62 53 2048 3000 23.3 3.77 58 2023 3100 24.3 3.92 63 1998 3200 25.3 4.07 68 1973 3300 26.3 4.22 73 1948 3400 27.3 4.38 78 1924 3500 28.3 4.54 84 1900 3600 29.4 4.70 90 1876 3700 30.5 4.86 96 1852 3800 31.6 5.02 103 1828 3900 32.7 5.19 110 1804 4000 33.8 5.36 117 1781 4100 35.0 5.53 124 1758 4200 36.2 5.70 132 1734 4300 37.4 5.87 140 1711 4400 38.6 6.05 149 1688 4500 39.8 6.23 158 1666 4600 41.1 6.41 167 1644 4700 42.4 6.59 177 1622 4800 43.7 6.78 187 1600 4900 45.0 6.97 197 1578 5000 46.4 7.16 208 1556 5100 47.8 7.35 219 1535 5200 49.2 7.55 231 1514 5300 50.7 7.75 243 1493 5400 52.2 7.95 256 1472 5500 53.7 8.16 270 1452 5600 55.2 8.37 294 1432 5700 56.8 8.58 299 1412 5800 58.4 8.80 314 1392 5900 60.0 9.02 330 1373 6000 61.7 9.24 346 1354 6100 63.4 9.46 363 1335 6200 65.1 9.69 381 1316 6300 66.9 9.92 399 1298 6400 68.7 10.16 418 1280 6500 70.5 10.40 438 1262 6600 72.4 10.64 459 1244 6700 74.3 10.89 481 1227 6800 76.3 11.14 503 1210 6900 78.3 11.39 546 1193 7000 80.4 11.65 550 1177 Note: When firing with the 90mm Gun, M3 without muzzle brake mounted in the

Gun Motor Carriages, M36 or M36B1 add 0.6 mils to all values of elevation. German Pz Kpfw V (Panther) Tank, before firing. German Pz Kpfw V (Panther) Tank; Complete penetration at 500 yards with Shot, A.P., 90mm, T33. Complete penetration of glacis plate of German Pz Kpfw V (Panther) Tank by Shot, A.P., 90mm, T33 at a range of 1000 yards. Projectile, Fixed, A.P.C.-T., M82 (2,800 f/s M.V.) DESCRIPTION. The M82 armor piercing projectile is issued as a fixed complete round for the Gun, 90mm, M3 mounted in Heavy Tank, T26E3 and Gun Motor Carriages, M36 and M36B1. The projectile has an armor piercing cap, ballistic windshield and an Expl. "D" bursting charge which is functioned by the Fuze, B.D., M68. Length: Projectile 16.40 in. Complete Round 38.24 in. Weight: Projectile 24.11 lb. Complete Round 43.87 lb. Muzzle Velocity 2,800 f/s PURPOSE. The muzzle velocity of this round is 2,800 f/s. The armor piercing cap makes this projectile especially efficient against thick face hardened armor plate. The bursting charge makes it extremely effective when penetrations are obtained. PENETRATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED ON ALL PLATES OF THE "PANTHER" AND "KING TIGER" TANKS EXCEPT FOR THE GLACIS PLATE AND THE GUN MANTLET. FIRING DATA. a. Aiming data charts are provided for use with the fire control instruments on the Gun Motor Carriages, M36 and M36B1 and Heavy Tank, T26E3. The use of these charts provides direct fire with the following rounds: Shot, A.P.-T., T33 Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., T30E16 Projectile, A.P.C.-T., M82 Shell, H.E., M71 b. The following aiming data charts are contained in this brochure: A.D.C. 90-B-1, 90mm Gun, (with muzzle brake) M3 on Heavy Tank, T26E3 with Coaxial Telescope, M71C and Periscope Telescopes, M77F and M80D. A.D.C. 90-C-3, 90-mm Gun, (without muzzle brake) M3 on Gun Motor Carriage, M36 or M36B1 with Coaxial Telescope, M76F. c. Firing Tables are included in this booklet. ACCURACY. Firings for accuracy with the round loaded for a M.V. of 2,800 f/s from the M3 Gun over a range of 2,100 yards at a vertical target gave an extreme horizontal dispersion of 41 inches and 70 inches extreme vertical dispersion. PENETRATION. Armor penetration vs. range curves for the projectile when fired against 20° and 30° obliquity homogeneous armor plate are included in this booklet. Illustrations showing the results of firings of this round against plates similar to those of the "Panther" tank are presented following this discussion. MARKINGS. Special markings are painted in black on each cartridge case, container and box. MV 2800 F/S Projectile, fixed, A.P.C.-T., M82 for Gun, 90mm, M3. Cross Section of Projectile, A.P.C.-T., 90mm, M82. GUN, 90MM, M3. PROJECTILE, A.P.C.-T., M82. FUZE, B.D., M68. MUZZLE VELOCITY, 2800 F/S. WEIGHT, 24.11 LBS. Range



yards Elevation



mils Time of

Flight

sec Maximum

Ordinate

feet Terminal

Velocity

f/s 0 0.0 0.00 0 2800 100 0.6 0.11 0 4777 200 1.3 0.22 0 2753 300 1.9 0.33 0 2729 400 2.5 0.44 1 2706 500 3.2 0.55 1 2683 600 3.9 0.66 2 2660 700 4.5 0.77 2 2636 800 5.2 0.88 3 2612 900 5.9 1.00 4 2589 1000 6.6 1.12 5 2566 1100 7.3 1.44 6 2543 1200 8.1 1.36 7 2520 1300 8.8 1.48 8 2496 1400 9.5 1.60 10 2473 1500 10.3 1.72 12 2450 1600 11.1 1.84 14 2427 1700 11.8 1.96 16 2403 1800 12.6 2.08 18 2380 1900 13.4 2.21 20 2357 2000 14.2 2.34 22 2334 2100 15.0 2.47 24 2311 2200 15.8 2.60 27 2288 2300 16.6 2.73 30 2265 2400 17.4 2.86 33 2242 2500 18.3 3.00 36 2220 2600 19.2 3.14 39 2198 2700 20.0 3.28 43 2176 2800 20.9 3.42 47 2153 2900 21.8 3.56 51 2130 3000 44.7 3.70 55 2108 3100 23.6 3.84 59 2086 3200 24.5 3.99 64 2063 3300 25.4 4.13 69 2041 3400 26.4 4.28 74 2019 3500 27.4 4.43 79 1997 3600 28.4 4.58 84 1975 3700 29.3 4.73 90 1953 3800 30.3 4.88 96 1931 3900 31.3 5.04 102 1910 4000 32.4 5.20 109 1889 4100 33.5 5.36 116 1868 4200 34.5 5.52 123 1847 4300 35.6 5.68 130 1826 4400 36.7 5.85 138 1805 4500 37.9 6.02 146 1784 4600 39.1 6.19 154 1763 4700 40.3 6.36 163 1743 4800 41.5 6.53 174 1722 4900 42.7 6.71 182 1701 5000 44.0 6.89 192 1681 5100 45.3 7.07 202 1662 5200 46.6 7.25 413 1642 5300 47.9 7.44 224 1623 5400 49.2 7.62 235 1604 5500 50.5 7.81 247 1585 5600 51.9 8.00 259 1566 5700 53.2 8.19 474 1547 5800 54.6 8.39 285 1528 5900 56.1 8.59 299 1509 6000 57.5 8.79 313 1491 6100 59.0 8.99 328 1473 6200 60.5 9.20 343 1455 6300 62.0 9.41 359 1437 6400 63.6 9.62 375 1419 6500 65.2 9.84 392 1401 6600 66.8 10.06 410 1384 6700 68.5 10.28 428 1366 6800 70.2 10.50 447 1349 6900 71.9 10.73 466 1333 7000 73.6 10.96 486 1316 Note: When firing with the 90mm Gun, M3 with muzzle brake mounted in the

Heavy Tank, T26E3, add 0.4 mil to all values of elevation.



When firing with the 90mm Gun, M3 without muzzle brake mounted in the

Gun Motor Carriages, M36 or M36B1, add 0.3 mil to all values of elevation. Complete penetration of Projectile, A.P.C., M82 (2800 f/s M.V.) fired against 2.5 in. of homogeneous armor at 55° obliquity. (Lower nose plate of "Panther" Tank is 2.4 in. at 55°.) Penetration obtained at the following ranges: Rd. 5, Point Blank; Rd. 6, 650 yards; Rd. 8, 950 yards. Complete penetration of Projectile, A.P.C., M82 (2800 f/s M.V.) fired against 2.5 in. of homogeneous armor late at 55° obliquity. (Lower nose plate of "Panther" Tank is 2.4 in. at 55°.) Penetration obtained at the following ranges: Rd. 5, Point Blank; Rd. 6, 650 yards; Rd. 8, 950 yards. Projectile, A.P.C., M82 (2800 f/s M.V.) fired against 1.5 in. of homogeneous armor plate at 50°. (Side superstructure plate of "Panther" Tank is 1.5 in. at 40°). Penetration obtained at the following ranges: Rd. 9, 4800 yards; Rd. 10, 5450 yards; Rd. 11, 5850 yards. Complete rounds for 90mm Gun, M3. No. 1—Projectile, A.P.C.-T., 90mm, M82; No. 2—Shot, A.P.-T., 90mm, T33; No. 3—Shot, H.V., A.P.-T., 90mm, T30E16. All rounds assembled with Case, Cartridge, 90mm, M19.