Belgian Exotic Squash-Head Munitions for Leopard 1A5 Tanks Were being Spotted in Ukraine
A pile of significant ammunition in a seemingly unremarkable image observed on social media reveals that Ukrainian forces have gained 105mm tank rounds produced by Belgian enterprise Mecar, subsidiary of the KNDS conglomerate.
Between them, two shells are Belgian: a traditional M1060A2/A3 APFSDS-T armor-piercing penetrator and an fascinating M393A3-E HESH-T squash-head munition, the third object is the American M456A2 Heat-T shaped demand tank spherical.
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The photo was found by an OSINT-researcher Weapons Illustrated. As pointed out, all the ammunition highlighted is intended for use by several types of major fight tanks in Ukrainian assistance — the German Leopard 1A5/A5DK and the M-55S, a Slovenian modernization of T-55.
The Substantial-Explosive Squash Head (HESH) tank spherical is a sort of projectile that makes use of plastic explosives to inflict harm to the interior of enemy armored vehicles. Upon impact with the enemy, the explosive substance spreads in excess of the area before detonating. Though the armor is commonly not penetrated this way, the explosion causes a blast of splinters and fragmentation on the other aspect of the armor, so-called spall. War Ukraine-Russia News Hub lined the topic in more element right here.
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Developed in Britain in the 1940s, this sort of ammunition has not savored considerably recognition but importantly, it can be applied by the Royal Ordnance L7 gun which is set up on Leopard 1 tanks. Also, HESH rounds in the 120mm caliber have been designed, which can be fired by Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 tanks, as nicely as the 125mm variant for the Chinese VT-4. Even now, it is significantly fewer preferred than other types of tank ammunition.
Notably, Ukrainian operators of Leopard 1A5 have been really energized about the prospects of getting HESH shells. A group interviewed in September final calendar year, reported with this variety of shells they would be in a position to acquire down the enemy considerably more rapidly and far more successfully than with any vintage 105mm round.
According to estimates by Defence24, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have all-around 200 tanks with guns of 105mm caliber. Generation of 105mm ammunition for Ukraine was commissioned by the Belgian government to Mecar in November 2023.
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