Description
This cartridge is a high explosive multipurpose cartridge which has antiarmor and antipersonnel capabilities. The cartridge is fired from the 120mm smooth bore M256 cannon.
The M830 HEAT-MP-T, 120mm cartridge is a direct translation of the German DM12A1 round with the exception that a United States design fuze system and explosive (Composition A3, Type 11) is used.
The 120mm HEAT-MP-T M830 is a high explosive round having both antiarmor and antipersonnel capabilities. The round consists of a steel body loaded with explosives surrounding a copper shaped charge liner and wave shaper. The projectile embodies a steel spike with a shoulder and nose switching mechanism for full frontal area functioning and graze impact which initiates a base detonating fuze. The fuze is located at the rear of the projectile body. The projectile body has a copper obturator, boom and fin assembly for flight stabilization. The fin contains a tracer for projectile to target visual tracking.
The propellant system utilizes a metal cartridge case base with a rubber obturator at the stub case mouth, M123A1 Primer, and a combustible wall which encapsulates stick propellant within six containment devices to prevent spillage should breakage or separation occur.
The projectile is black with yellow markings.
Functioning
The M830 is loaded and fired in the normal manner from the 120mm M256 smooth bore tank gun. When the electric primer in the breech of the weapon is initiated, the resulting flash ignites the propelling charge and combustible case. This generates gases which drive the projectile from the gun and ignite the tracer element. Upon impact, one of the fuze sensors is initiated. The fuze then detonates the high explosive-shaped charge which collapses the cone assembly creating a high velocity focused shock wave and a jet of metal particles that penetrate the target. Antipersonnel capability results from fragmentation of the projectile body sidewall.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Composition A
Primer - M123A1
Tracer
Physical Data
Length, overall - 38.6 in, 980.4 mm
Length, projectile - 33.3 in, 845.8 mm
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide (2004)
