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| === Saboted sub-caliber ammunition types === | === Saboted sub-caliber ammunition types === | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| * |
*] (APDS) | ||
| * |
*] (APFSDS) | ||
| * |
*] (SLAP) | ||
| *] (not necesarily a sub-caliber projectile) | |||
| *] (] is considered a sabot in some countries)<ref name="amordlista">{{Cite book|title=AMORDLISTA, Preliminär ammunitionsordlista|publisher=Försvarets materielverk (FMV), huvudavdelningen för armémateriel|year=1979|location=Sweden|pages=35}}</ref> | |||
| == Flange method == | == Flange method == | ||
| ] projectiles. Here seen in two examples: |
] projectiles. Here seen in two examples: an ] projectile with a tungsten core, and a regular armor-piercing non-rigid projectile without a tungsten core.]] | ||
| A common method during ] was to fit sub-caliber ammunition with soft metal ]s filling out the missing caliber and then fire them from ] barrels. Squeeze bore barrels, often found on ]s, progressively decreases its bore diameter towards the muzzle, resulting in a reduced final bore. When fired the flanges on the projectile would fold inwards as it travels through the reducing inner diameter of the squeeze bore.<ref name="Rollo"/> | A common method during ], often called the ''Gerlich-'', ''Littlejohn-'' or ''tapered bore'' principle, was to fit sub-caliber ammunition with soft metal ]s filling out the missing caliber and then fire them from ] barrels. Squeeze bore barrels, often found on ]s, progressively decreases its bore diameter towards the muzzle, resulting in a reduced final bore. When fired the flanges on the projectile would fold inwards as it travels through the reducing inner diameter of the squeeze bore.<ref name="Rollo"/> | ||
| <gallery mode="packed" heights=50 style="text-align:left"> | <gallery mode="packed" heights=50 style="text-align:left"> | ||
| File:Squeezebore Diagram Example.png|Diagram of the ] | File:Squeezebore Diagram Example.png|Diagram of the ] | ||
| </gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| === Flanged sub-caliber ammunition types === | |||
| *] (APCNR) | |||
| *Armor-piercing non-rigid (APNR) | |||
| == Sub-caliber barrel == | == Sub-caliber barrel == | ||
Revision as of 06:26, 8 December 2021
Sub-caliber ammunition is firearm ammunition were the projectile has a smaller diameter then the bore of the gun barrel from which it is fired. Firing sub-caliber ammunition has several potential benefits compared to full-caliber ammunition. It can for example allow for much higher muzzle velocities due to smaller lighter projectiles being fired from relatively larger propellant charges, but it can also lower the cost of ammunition due to less material being used to produce the round compared to a full-caliber ammunition etc.
Several methods exists to be able to fire sub-caliber ammunition.
Sabot method
The most traditional way to fire sub-caliber ammunition is to fit the projectile with an expendable sabot. The sabot is a device which fills out the missing caliber when the projectile is fired and then leaves the projectile once it has left the barrel.
-
Diagram of the sabot method
Saboted sub-caliber ammunition types
- Flechette
- Armour-piercing discarding sabot (APDS)
- Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS)
- Saboted light armor penetrator (SLAP)
- Flechette (not necesarily a sub-caliber projectile)
- Shotgun shell (the wad is considered a sabot in some countries)
Flange method
A common method during World War Two, often called the Gerlich-, Littlejohn- or tapered bore principle, was to fit sub-caliber ammunition with soft metal flanges filling out the missing caliber and then fire them from squeeze bore barrels. Squeeze bore barrels, often found on shotguns, progressively decreases its bore diameter towards the muzzle, resulting in a reduced final bore. When fired the flanges on the projectile would fold inwards as it travels through the reducing inner diameter of the squeeze bore.
-
Diagram of the flange method
Flanged sub-caliber ammunition types
- Armor-piercing composite non-rigid (APCNR)
- Armor-piercing non-rigid (APNR)
Sub-caliber barrel
A third method is to simply fit a smaller barrel into the original full caliber weapon which then allows the firing of smaller caliber cartridges. This is called sub-caliber training and it is used to lower the cost of training with large caliber weapons by allowing them to fire cheaper lower caliber ammunition and to not put wear on the original barrel.
References
Notes
- ^ Rollof, Yngve. "Artillerimaterielens utvecklingstendenser under senaste decenniet". Tidskrift i Sjöväsendet. Number 7 1953 – via Kungliga Örlogsmannasällskapet.
{{cite journal}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - AMORDLISTA, Preliminär ammunitionsordlista. Sweden: Försvarets materielverk (FMV), huvudavdelningen för armémateriel. 1979. p. 35.
- "sfhm-skriftserie_handbok-artilleripjaser-och-eldrorsvapen-1800-2000.pdf" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)