Phocks
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/12/2001 From: Arizona Status: offline
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Just to clarify the reason why tungsten was/is used for AP projectiles:
1. It is dense. Thus, a projectile with a given diameter will weigh more when manufactured from tungsten.
2. It is very (very) hard- and when alloyed, tough. This is ballistically very important, as the round won't shatter at very high velocities, or deform on impact.
This metal is also rather rare and hard to process and is used for many other, more critical items, e.g., machine tools. This explains why the Germans stopped using it in ammo after mid-1942 (at least it became extremly rare). The Allies on the other hand, cleverly managed to buy up virtually all the wolfram (tungsten-bearing ore) in the world, thus denying it form the Germans (Portugal produced a lot of it, and thus could export to Germany through Spain). It was still too expensive to manufacture EVERY AP round from the stuff, and unnecessary as well.
BTW, there were many, many MANY types of AP ammo- the 37mm used by the US didn't use a sub-calibre penetrator of any sort that I am aware of during WWII, only the 76mm+ weapons did. Hope this helps.
P.S., the US 37mm Gun also had a longer barrel, resulting in a higher velocity, even with the heavier projectile.
[ June 15, 2001: Message edited by: Phocks ]
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Damien Fox
"Wherever books are burned men also, in the end, are burned"
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