The following is a list of ammunition fired by the 125 mm smoothbore gun series used in the T-64, T-72, T-80, M-84, T-90, PT-91, T-14 Armata, and other tanks derived from those designs, as well as the 2A45 Sprut anti-tank gun.
APFSDS-T Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) using a sabot and tracer (APFSDS-T). Typically used against other modern tanks.
There are different ways to measure penetration value. NATO uses the 50% criteria against 260BHN Steel, while the Soviet/Russian standard is higher (80% had to go through).
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, 140 mm at 60° at 2000 m, (energy at 2000 m is 4.2 MJ) Note: The GRAU index of a penetrator differs from that of the complete round. 3BM9 refers only to the penetrator, while 3VBM3 refers to the complete round including the penetrator, propellant, and casing.
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: ?
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: 1785 m/s Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ Penetration: 400 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 150 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. Hence, it is an all-steel penetrator with inferior performance. 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: 1780 m/s Muzzle energy: 6.2 MJ Penetration: 150 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM9/3BM22/23 (3BM22 "Zakolka") Entered service 1976. Tungsten carbide penetrator core sheathed in steel. Enlarged cap to help reduce deflection at steep angles and to hold a larger penetrator. 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: 1785 m/s Muzzle energy: 7.0 MJ Penetration: 420 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 170 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM10/3BM29/30 (3BM29 "Nadphil-2) 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: 360 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 210 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM11/3BM26/27 (3BM26 "Nadezhda-R) Entered service 1983. Tungsten-nickel-iron alloy penetrator core sheathed in steel. Utilised new 4Zh63 high-energy propelling charge. Penetrator is base-installed to prevent deflection during penetration against multi-layered composite armour. Improved penetrator cap made of aluminium alloy. 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 (3BM32 "Vant") Entered service in 1985. The projectile is an integrated depleted uranium-nickel-zinc alloy penetrator. 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 395 mm at 0° at 2000 m, 230 mm at 60° at 2000 m
3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM42 "Mango")
Entered service in 1986. The projectile is double tungsten alloy rod sheathed in low melting point alloy covered with steel, intended to increase penetration against non-explosive reactive armour (NERA) such as Chobham armour. Is slowly being replaced by newer models such as 3BM59/60. Country of origin: Soviet Union Penetrator dimension: 532 mm 17: 1 L/d Round weight: 20.4 kg Projectile weight: 4.85 kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.05 kg Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s Muzzle energy: 7.1 MJ Penetration: 230mm @ 2000m at 60° and 520mm @ 2000m at 0° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo") From 1994, remained experimental and eventually evolved into the 3BM-59/60 meaning the outside design remained the same, the length of cartridge remained pretty much unchanged but the penetrator was further improved from the initial jacketed design which was improvement over the standard 3BM-42 Country of origin: Russia Penetrator dimension: 570 mm 25: 1 L/d Round weight: ? kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 6.95 kg Projectile weight: 4.6 kg Muzzle velocity: 1750 m/s? Muzzle energy: 7.04 MJ Penetration: 270mm @ 2000m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
3BM42-2 (3BM44-2 "Mango-2")
Currently in Experimental Phase, most famously seen at the Expo 2019 alongside 3BM-42 and 3BM-60. Uses the initial jacketed 3BM-42M penetrator but the cartridge is shorter over the Lekalo, designed to fit in the standard autoloader and is most likely to replace the standard 3BM-42 as main service round soon Country of origin: Russia Cartridge dimension: 685mm Penetrator dimension: 570 mm 26: 1 L/d Round weight: ? kg Projectile weight (including sabot): ? Penetrator weight: ? Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: 520mm 0° at 2000m 280 mm at 2000m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
3VBM20/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets") Entered service in 1991. Uses a new advanced high elongation uranium Monoblock penetrator. Country of origin: Soviet Union Penetrator dimension: 546 mm 21.84: 1 L/d Round weight: ?; kg Projectile weight (including sabot): ? Projectile weight: 4.85 kg Muzzle velocity: 1700 m/s Muzzle energy: 7.4 MJ Penetration: ~300mm @ 2000m at 60°, ~660mm @ 2000m at 0°
3VBM23/3BM60 (3BM60 "Svinets-2") Entered service : 2016.
The new round uses a new sabot design, and a Tungsten Alloy penetrator of increased length compared to prior generation Russian APFSDS ammunition. Used on 2A46M-4/5 with new autoloader. Cartridge dimension: 735 mm Penetrator dimension: 640 mm 28-29: 1 L/D Round weight: ? kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 8.4 kg Penetrator weight: Muzzle velocity: 1660 m/s Muzzle energy: 12.1 MJ? Penetration: 300mm at 2000m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1") Entered service: 2016.
Uses a new sabot design, and a new depleted uranium penetrator. Used on 2A46M-5 with new autoloader. Country of origin: Russia Cartridge dimension: 735mm Penetrator dimension: 640 mm 28-29: 1 L/D Round weight: 22.0 kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 8.5 kg Penetrator weight: Muzzle velocity: 1650 m/s Muzzle energy: 12.1 MJ Penetration: ~315-330mm at 60° at 2000m
3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1" Uses a new sabot. Reported to be uranium alloy. For use on 2A82-1M cannon on T-14 Armata. Country of origin: Russia Projectile dimension: ? Round weight: ? Projectile weight (including sabot): ? Projectile weight: estimated 11 kg Muzzle velocity: 2050 m/s Muzzle energy: 15–24 MJ (described 15MJ probably refer to high-explosive shell) Penetration: estimated 850 to 1,000 mm at 0° at 2000m
3VBM?/3BM70 "Vacuum-2" Uses a new sabot. Identical to 3BM69 in dimensions, the difference being that the projectile is made out of tungsten. Country of origin: Russia Projectile dimension: ? Round weight: ? Projectile weight (including sabot): ? Muzzle velocity: ? Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: ~900mm at 0° 2000m steel target
125-I First-generation Chinese sabot round in service since 1993, also license produced by Pakistan. Country of origin: China Projectile dimension: 554 mm Round weight: 21.3 kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.37 kg Muzzle velocity: 1730 m/s Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: 220mm @ 2000m at 61.5° against 4340 Steel
DTW-125 Second-generation Chinese sabot round introduced in 1999. Initially 125-IIM acted as the export version with reduced velocity but with the introduction of DTC10-125, the DTW-125 itself became exported under the name “BTA4” Country of origin: China Projectile dimension: 642 mm Round weight: 21.36 kg Projectile weight (without Sabot): 4.1 kg Muzzle velocity: 1740 m/s Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: 230mm @ 200 at 68.5° against 4340 Steel
DTC10-125 Third-generation Chinese sabot round which was introduced in 2010 and the subject of a data leak on the War Thunder forum in June 2022 (leaked data is used here). This performance value is identical to value shown on Chinese state media, CCTV7. Country of origin: China Projectile dimension: 670 mm Round weight: ? Projectile weight (including sabot): ? Muzzle velocity: 1760 m/s Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: 220mm @ 2000m at 71.12° against 4340 Steel
TAPNA Produced by MSM Group in Slovakia. The penetrator is made from tungsten alloy. Country of origin: Slovakia Projectile dimension: 610mm Round weight: 20 kg Projectile weight (including sabot): 7.15 kg Muzzle velocity: 1690 m/s Muzzle energy: ? Penetration: 270 mm @ 2000 m at 60° against standard 260BHN Steel Target
HEAT-FS High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) fin stabilized (HEAT-FS) rounds. Typically used against lighter or older 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, replacing steel liner with a copper liner. "M" means медь ("copper" in Russian) Uses 3V-15 detonator. Due to Soviet Union's copper economize policy production of the model is limited. Penetration performance claimed to be 10% higher than steel liner version. 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, Okfol (phlegmatized HMX with 5% plasticizer); 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.
3VBK16/3BK18 Entered service estimated 1975. Introduced wave-shaping booster. 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, steel liner, Okfol (phlegmatized HMX with 5% plasticizer); 3V-15 detonator Penetration: 500 mm RHA at 0 degrees
3BK18M Improved warhead. Entered service estimated 1978, replacing steel liner with a copper liner. Improved 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, Okfol (phlegmatized HMX with 5% plasticizer); 3V-15 detonator Penetration: 550 mm RHA at 0 degrees
3BK21B