125 mm smoothbore rounds

The following is a list of ammunition fired by 125 mm Smoothbore guns series used in the T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks as well as the 2A45 Sprut Anti-Tank gun.

APFSDS-T

Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot or APFSDS rounds. Typically used against tanks.

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, 80 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ [http://www.kotsch88.de/tafeln/st_125_mm-ke.htm] )

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: 280 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 110 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ [http://www.kotsch88.de/tafeln/st_125_mm-ke.htm] )

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: 1780 m/s
* Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ
* Penetration: 310 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 120 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.
* 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: 1760 m/s
* Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ
* Penetration: 290 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 110 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM9/3BM22/23

Entered service 1976. tungsten carbide penetrator core sheathed in steel.
* 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: 1760 m/s
* Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
* Penetration: 380 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 170 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM10/3BM29/30

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: 430 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 210 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM11/3BM26/27

Entered service 1983. Tungsten-nickel-iron alloy core sheathed in steel.
* 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

Entered service in 1985. The projectile is a depleted uranium-nickel-zinc alloy, sheathed in steel.
* 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 500 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 250 mm at 60° at 2000 m,

3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44)

Entered service in 1986. The projectile is a tungsten alloy core sheathed in steel.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile dimension: 452 mm 15: 1 L/d
* Round weight: 20.4 kg
* Projectile weight: 4.85 kg [http://www.kotsch88.de/m_125_mm_d-81.htm]
* Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.05 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
* Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ
* Penetration: 450 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 220 mm at 60° at 2000 m.

3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M)

Entered service in 1994Utilising an improved penetrator and a new Sabot. Reported to be tungsten alloy.
* Country of origin: Russia
* Projectile dimension: 570 mm 22: 1 L/d
* Round weight: ?
* Projectile weight (including sabot): 6.95 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 1750 m/s
* Muzzle energy: 7.4 MJ (estimated - assuming 4.85 kg projectile)
* Penetration: 600 mm to 650 mm at 2000 m

3VBM??/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets")

Entered service in 1991Utilising a new Sabot. Reported to be tungsten alloy.
* Country of origin: Russia
* Projectile dimension: 546 mm : 22 L/d
* Round weight: 4.85 kg
* Projectile weight (including sabot): ?.?? kg
* Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s
* Muzzle energy: ?.? MJ
* Penetration: 600 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 300 mm at 60° at 2000 m

HEAT-FS

High-explosive anti-tank fin stabilised or HEAT-FS rounds. Typically used against tanks and Armoured personnel carriers.

3VBK7/3BK12

Entered service 1962.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 19 kg
* Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Charge: shaped charge, Steel liner, A-IX-1 (RDX phlegmatized with 5% wax), I-238 detonator
* Penetration: 420 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK12M

Entered service 1968. Uses improved 3V-15 detonator.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union

3VBK10/3BK14

Entered service 1968.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 19 kg
* Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Charge: shaped charge, Steel liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
* Charge weight: 1.62 kg
* Penetration: 450 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK14M

Improved version, replacing steel liner with a copper liner [http://www.kotsch88.de/m_125_mm_d-81.htm] .

3VBK16/3BK18

Entered service estimated 1975.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Round weight: 29.0 kg
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 19 kg
* Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Charge: shaped charge, copper liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
* Penetration: 500 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK18M

Improved warhead. Entered service estimated 1978. Introduces wave shaping booster.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile weight: 19.02 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Penetration: 550 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3VBK17/3BK21

Entered service estimated 1980. Enhancements to improve reliability of the copper jet formation.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 19 kg
* Max dispersion: 0.21 mil (0.21 mrad)
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Charge: shaped charge, copper liner, phlegmatized 75% HMX, 25% TNT; 3V-15 detonator
* Penetration: 550 mm RHA at 0 degrees.

3BK21B

Entered service estimated 1982. Depleted uranium Liner to enhance penetration of advanced composite armours like Chobham.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 19 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s
* Penetration: 750 mm RHA at 0 degrees [http://www.knoe.odgw.net/Military/125.htm] .

3VBK21/3BK25

Entered service estimated 1985.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Muzzle velocity: 905 m/s

3VBK25/3BK29

Entered service estimated 1988.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Round weight: 28.4 kg
* Projectile dimension: 680 mm
* Projectile weight: 18.4 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
* Penetration: Estimated at 650 mm tandem charge

3BK29M

First seen publicly in 1998. Reportedly a triple charge warhead [http://www.knoe.odgw.net/Military/125.htm] .
* Country of origin: Russia
* Projectile weight: 18.4 kg
* Charge weight: 1.62 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
* Penetration: Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT [http://armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/] [http://www.knoe.odgw.net/Military/125.htm] .

HE-FRAG-FS

High Explosive Fragmentation Fin Stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and vehicles.

3VOF22/3OF19

Entered service in 1962. Uses the 3V-21 detonator (mass = 0.431 kg, reliability = 0.98). The 90% lethal zone for infantry is reported to be 40 m wide and 20 m deep [http://www.kotsch88.de/m_125_mm_d-81.htm] .
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Round weight: 33.0 kg
* Projectile weight: 23.0 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s
* Max dispersion: 0.23 mil (0.23 mrad)
* Charge weight: 3.148 kg
* Charge: TNT

3VOF36/3OF26

Entered service in 1970. Uses the 3V-21 detonator (mass = 0.431 kg, reliability = 0.98). The projectile creates between 600 and 2,000 fragments.
* Country of origin: Soviet Union
* Round weight: 33.0 kg
* Projectile weight: 23.0 kg
* Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s
* Max dispersion: 0.23 mil (0.23 mrad)
* Charge weight: 3.148 kg
* Charge: A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.4 kg

References

* http://armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/ - Extensive information
* http://www.kotsch88.de/m_125_mm_d-81.htm
* http://www.knoe.odgw.net/Military/125.htm - table of data culled from various sources see http://63.99.108.76/forums/index.php?showtopic=8450&hl=3bk29&st=20 for discussion on the data.
* http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/687.pdf
* http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/688.pdf
* http://www.milparade.com/catalog/pdf/689.pdf
* http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/1852/Headstamp.html - Explosive compositions and designations