- Tandem-charge
A tandem-charge weapon is an
explosive device orprojectile that has two or more stages of detonation. It is effective againstcage armor as well asreactive armor which is designed to protect anarmored vehicle (mostly tanks) against anti-tank arsenal. [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/baes-lrod-cage-armor-03473 BAE’s Lrod Cage Armor - Defense Industry Daily ] ] The first stage of the weapon triggers the reactive armor of the target, limiting its effectiveness. However, after the reactive armor has protected the vehicle from the primary attack, it is no longer "reactive" in that location (since reactive armour is primarily a one-time defense solution) and the location is left more vulnerable. The second detonation from the same projectile (which defines it as a tandem charge) attacks the same location as the first detonation where the reactive armor has been compromised. Since the regular armor plating is often the only defense remaining, the tandem charge (second detonation) has an increased likelihood of penetrating the armor.The
PG-7VR warhead for theRPG-7 rocket launcher and the more modernRPG-29 rocket are examples of tandem charges. Additionally, many American missiles use the tandem charges because they were designed in the Cold War era to counter the reactive armor that was a common feature on Soviet tanks. Examples of American missiles that use tandem charges include theBGM-71 TOW and the Hellfire.See also
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Shaped charge
*HEAT References
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