120×570mm NATO tank ammunition (4.7 inch), also known as 120×570mmR, is a common, NATO-standard (STANAG 4385), tank gun semi-combustible cartridge used by 120mm smoothbore guns, superseding the earlier 105×617mmR cartridge used in NATO-standard rifled tank guns.
History The 120×570R cartridge was originally intended for the German Rh-120 smoothbore gun but an interoperability agreement signed between West Germany and France in April1979, followed in September1981 by a project to install the M256 120 mm smoothbore gun on future M1A1 Abrams tanks made it a NATO standard.
Characteristics The 120×570mm are one-piece ammunition with semi-combustible cartridge cases. These incorporate a short, metallic stub case with an elastomeric sealing ring which allows the use of a normal sliding wedge type of breech and at the same time significantly reduces the weight of the rounds. Thus, a round of 120 mm Rheinmetall APFSDS ammunition has a mass of 19.8 kg, which is little more than the 18 kg mass of a typical 105 mm APFSDS round with the traditional metallic cartridge case.
Ammunition
Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS)
DesignationOriginDesigner & producerYearCartridge length (mm)Sub-projectile length (mm)Penetrator dimension (⌀ mm × mm)L/D ratio (sub-projectile / penetrator only)Penetrator material & weight (kg)Sub-projectile weight with sabot / without sabot (kg)Weight, complete round (kg)Propellant type & weightChamber pressure (MPa)Muzzle velocity (m/s)Velocity drop (m/s at m)Perforation at normal and oblique incidencesNotesDM13Rheinmetall1979888 mm457.7 mm ⌀ 38-26 × 315 mm 8:1Tungsten alloy7.22 kg / 4.64 kg18.7 kg7.3 kg 510 MPa1650 m/s (L/44)75 m/s (at 1000 m)NATO single heavy target at 68° at 2000 mOFL 120 G1GIAT1981977 mm541.5 mm⌀ 26 mm × 375 mm 14.4:118 density DENAL DX 130 R tungsten alloy6.2 kg / 3.78 kg18.75 kg7.45 kg of B19T416 MPa1630 m/s (1981) 1650 m/s (upgraded, 1987)1780 m/s (all L/52)60 m/s (at 1000 m)420 mm at 1000 m, defeat the NATO Single heavy target at 8000 m and the Triple heavy target at 7000 m or 8400 m Use the same penetrator as the OFL 105 F1 105 mm APFSDS in a larger sabot. Upgraded with Israeli-style steel fins instead of aluminium in 1987.DM23Rheinmetall1982884 mm 457.7 mm ⌀ 32 × 360 mm 12:1Tungsten alloy7.2 kg / 4.3 kg or 4.6 kg7.3 kg1640 m/s or 1650 m/s (L/44)56 m/s (at 1000 m) 111 m/s (at 1000 m)420 mm at 2000 mProduced under licence by Switzerland as Pfeil Pat 87 M829Alliant Techsystems1984935 mm616 mm⌀ 27 × 460 mm 23:1 / 17:1Depleted uranium alloy, 3.94 kg7.1 kg / 4.27 kg18.7 kg8.1 kg of JA-2 (double-base)509 MPa1670 m/s (L/44)62 m/s (at 1000 m) 123 m/s (at 2000 m)525 mm to 540 mm at 2000 m (LoS 60°)Actual average diameter is around 24.2 mm, 27 mm is the maximum diameter of the buttress threads.DM33Rheinmetall1987⌀ 28 × 510 mm20:1 / 19:1Tungsten alloy 7.3 kg / 4.6 kg19 kg7.6 kg of 7-hole grain-type515 MPa1650 m/s (L/44)75 m/s (at 1000 m)120 m/s (at 2000 m)480 mm at 2000 mProduced under licence by Japan as JM33 and by Switzerland as Pfeil Pat 90M829A1Alliant Techsystems1988984 mm778 mm ⌀ 21.6 × 680 mm35:1 / 31:1Depleted Uranium alloy, 4.64 kg8.165 kg / 4.88 kg 20.9 kg7.9 kg of JA-2 (double-base) or 1575 m/s (L/44)69 m/s (at 1000 m) 135 m/s (at 2000 m)650 mm at 2000 m (LoS at 60°)Nicknamed the "silver bullet" by US tank crews in Operation Desert Storm.KE-TAlliant Techsystems1988983 mm658 mmTungsten alloy7.16 kg / 4 kg 18.7 kg8.1 kg of JA-2 (double-base)510 MPa1690 m/s Developed by Alliant Techsystems, NWM de Kruithoorn of the Netherlands for the penetrator and Chamberlain Manufacturing Company of the USA who provided the sabots, fins and projectile assembly facility.M321Elbit Systems1989936 mmTungsten alloyapprox. 20 kgapprox. 8 kg of M26 (double-base)1650 m/s (L/44)M321 penetrator was later re-used on the 105 mm M426 APFSDS in 1990.M1080MECARearly 1990s995 mm625 mmTungsten alloy7.2 kg /25 kgapprox 8 kg1675 m/s>540 mm of RHA at 0°Features an advanced-design tungsten penetrator. In 1995, the firm began development of an enhanced version of the M1080 which became available in 1999. M322Elbit Systems1990s984 mmTungsten alloy8 kg / 5.6 kg20 kg8 kg of NC-NG (double-base)1705 m/s (L/44)130 m/s (at 2000 m)658 mm at 70° at 2000 mProduced under licence by Turkey as MOD 290. Also known as CL-3143 (Italy) and Slpprj 95 (Sweden) on the export market.DM43A1 and Giat Industries and Rheinmetall 1992 or 1996978 mm⌀ 26 × 600 mm27:1Tungsten alloy7.2 kg / 4 kg 19.5 kg or 20 kg 7.6 kg of L1 M (double-base)550 MPa or 560 MPa1740 m/s (L/44)100 m/s (at 2000 m)560 mm at 2000 mFrench-German development, never adopted by the Bundeswehr and used in the French Army under the OFL 120 F1 designation.OFL 120 F1 and Giat Industries and Rheinmetall 1992 or 1994984 mm⌀ 26 × 600 mm 27:1Tungsten alloy7.3 kg / 4 kg 19.6 kg 8.3 kg 580 MPa1790 m/s (L/52)100 m/s (at 2000 m)560 mm at 2000 mFeature the same penetrator as the DM43 but use a French propellant, later redesignated as 120 OFLE F1A. Late production, upgraded models are known under the 120 OFLE F1B and 120 OFLE F1B+ designations.M829A2General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems1994780 mm ⌀ 21.6 × 695 mm35:1 / 32:1Depleted Uranium alloy, 4.74 kg7.9 kg / 4.92 kg8.7 kg of JA-2 (double-base)565 MPa or 580 MPa1680 m/s (L/44)60 m/s (at 1000 m)120 m/s (at 2000 m)Improvements over M829A1 include a stepped tip and use of a new lightweight composite Sabot, which allowed for increased muzzle velocity.KE-W TerminatorOlin Defense System Groups (Primex Technologies) General Dynamics Ordnanceand Tactical System (later)1996980 mm778 mm⌀ 21.6 × 680 mm 35:1 / 31:1C2 Tungsten alloy 4.32 kg or 4.37 kg8.2 kg / 4.6 kg 20.5 kg7.91 kg of JA-2 (double-base)496.6 MPa1585 m/s (L/44)60 m/s (at 1000 m)in excess of 600 mmUS Export version of M829A1, features a Tungsten alloy penetrator instead of depleted uranium.K276Poongsan Corporation1996973 mm703.6 mm p. 118600 mm25:1Tungsten alloy7.35 kg /19.7 kgK683 (triple-base)586 MPa p. 461700 m/s (L/44)>600 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 m or 650 mm at 2000 mPenetrators are manufactured by cyclic heat-treatment and double-cycle sintering process. This causes a phenomenon similar to the self-sharpening effect of the depleted uranium penetrator.OFL 120 F2Giat Industries1996984 mm⌀ 27 × 594 mm 22:1 (penetrator)Depleted Uranium alloy7.78 kg / 4.5 kg 20.5 kg 8.1 kg 560 MPa1740 m/s (L/52)640 mm at 2000 mHas superior penetration performance compared to the OFL 120 F1. 60 000 rounds were made from 1996 to 2000.12 cm Pz Kann Pfeil Pat 98 Lsp/Rheinmetall DeTec/RUAG Ammotec1999745 mm26:1WSM 4-1 tungsten alloy19 kg8.9 kg of L1 545 MPa1640 m/s (L/44)First iteration of the DM53 purchased by the Swiss Army. Fitted with a tracer.DM53Rheinmetall2001745 mm⌀ 26 × 685 mm 26:1WSM 4-1 tungsten alloy8.35 kg / 5 kg21.4 kg8.9 kg of L1 (DM53) 8.45 kg of L15190 SCDB (DM53A1)545 MPa1670 m/s (L/44) 1720 m/s (L/55) 55 m/s (at 1000 m)110 m/s (at 2000 m)Development in Germany continued after the Swiss purchase, the German DM53 round includes a minor geometric modification and the replacement of the tracer element with an incendiary cartridge to add behind-armour effect. The DM53A1 version differs from the DM53 by its SCDB propellant firstly introduced with the DM63.KE-W A1General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems1999 or 2000Tungsten alloy/ 4 kg8.4 kg of L1/M2400 (double-base)580 MPa1740 m/s (L/44)100 m/s (at 2000 m)US export variant of the French-German DM43M338Elbit Systems984 mmTungsten alloy21 kg8 kg of LOVA (double-base)1680 m/s (L/44)3rd generation Israeli APFSDS-T.M829A3Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Armtech Defense, Aerojet GenCorp and Northrop Grumman2003924 mmMain Rod ⌀ 25 x 670 mm
Tip Section
⌀25 x 100 mm37:1 / 31:1Depleted Uranium alloy Main Rod with Tungsten Alloy Tip Section10 kg / 7.2 kg8.1 kg or 8.15 kg of RPD-380 sticks566 MPa1555 m/s (L/44)Features an improved penetrator using a special tip assembly to overcome newer types of heavy ERA.KEW-A2General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems2003780 mm ⌀ 21.6 × 695 mm35:1 / 32:1Tungsten-nickel-iron alloy7.6 kg8.6 kg of JA-2 (double-base)580 MPa1700 m/s (L/44)660 mm at 2000 mExport version of the M829A2 round, it features a tungsten penetratorDM63Rheinmetall2005745 mm 26:1WSM 4-1 tungsten alloy8.35 kg / 5 kg21 kg8.45 kg of L15190 SCDB545 MPa1650 m/s (L/44) 1720 m/s (L/55)55 m/s (at 1000 m)110 m/s (at 2000 m)Based on the DM53, it features a Temperature Independent Propulsion System (TIPS) utilizing the SCDB technology. Those modifications improve the accuracy through a wide operational temperatures ensuring safe operation extreme climate zones, and minimizing the erosion of the barrel. The DM63A1 is a 2014 version of the DM63 designed to be compatible with all 120 mm smoothbore guns without modifications.K279Poongsan Corporation2008998 mm761.6 mm27:1Tungsten alloy8.27 kg / 5 kg21.3 kg8.6 kg of L15190 (SCDB) p. 3 p. 441760 m/s (L/55)120 m/s (at 2000 m)>700 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 mThe penetrator is manufactured of a composite material consisting of tungsten, nickel, iron, and molybdenum.Type 10DAIKIN, CHUGOKU-KAYAKU 2010⌀ 24 mm × 630 mm26:1Tungsten alloy 7.8 kg / 4.2 kg1780 m/s (L/44)A Japanese APFSDS round only dedicated to Type 10 MBT. Although this is a NATO-standard round, it can only be used with the Type 10 Cannon due to the increased load and resulting increased pressure when fired.120 OFLE F2Nexter2013Depleted uranium alloyQualified in 2009, 3000 rounds ordered in 2010, 500 were to be delivered in 2013.KETOrbital ATKbefore 2015Tungsten alloy9.67 kg 8.1 kg of RPD-380 or SCDB1562 m/sNot to be confused with the older KE-T from Alliant Techsystems, the KET features a lightweight composite sabot, consistent performance across full temperature range and improved defeat capability against heavy explosive reactive armor.Pz-531WITU2015Tungsten alloy 6.6 kg /8.2 kg490 MPa1650 m/s (L/44)≥500 mm at 2000 mFeatures a segmented penetrator made of two rods.K279 ImprovedPoongsan Corporation2016998 mm761.6 mm27:1Tungsten alloy8.27 kg / 5 kg21.3 kg8.6 kg of 19-hole cylinder-type DNDA-57 (SCDB)690 MPa1800 m/s (L/55)122 m/s (at 2000 m)Produced with a new SCDB propellant based on Solventless powder coated with polyester developed by Poongsan Corporation.M829A4General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems and Alliant Techsystems 2016depleted uranium alloySCDB granules, 19-perforated stick of DEGN 1650 m/s (L/44)The M829A4 subprojectile has comparable characteristics to its predecessor, the M829A3, in length, weight, and center of gravity. The visible difference between the two cartridges is the Ammunition Data Link (ADL) interface rings on the base of the M829A4.AKE-T2021Main rod ⌀ 25 x 670 mm
Tip section