FAPDS

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The FAPDS -ammo ( F rangible A rmour P iercing D iscarding S abot , fragile armor-piercing sabot ammunition ) was developed to fight hard and soft air and ground targets. During development, the use of explosives and detonators in the projectile was deliberately avoided . So it is a bullet whose effect on the target is initially based solely on the bullet's kinetic energy. The ammunition was developed by RWM Switzerland (Rheinmetall weapon ammunition, previously Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG ) - a company of the German Rheinmetall Defense.

Structure and effect

The ammunition uses the principle of the sub-caliber , that is, the diameter of the projectile is smaller than that of the barrel. Sealing and guiding in the gun barrel is done by the sabot. In the FAPDS, a hard metal core is encased in plastic by injection molding ; the guide band is also integrated. The FAPDS ammunition reaches a very high muzzle velocity (greater than 1400 meters per second for the 35 mm caliber), which enables it to have a relatively elongated flight path. This leads to a simplification of the fire control calculation and, in connection with the short flight time, to an increase in the hit probability.

The hard metal core, which is usually made of a tungsten alloy , breaks down (breaks) into several individual parts after penetrating the surface of the target, see Frangible . As they penetrate further into the target, these parts continue to break down and spread out in a cone shape ( cascade effect ). The target is thus destroyed by the fragments, which have a very high kinetic energy , without the use of explosives, with secondary explosions due to fuel or ammunition in the target not being excluded. Due to the cascading wave of destruction in the target, fewer hits are often required than with normal exploding ammunition to destroy the target or to abort its use.

The propellant charge of the projectile consists of single-base nitrocellulose .

use

The FAPDS ammunition was developed primarily for use against air targets, especially attack helicopters . It can against low-flying aircraft, drones and cruise missiles ( cruise missile ), but also against soft to lightly armored ground targets such as wheeled vehicles, armored personnel carriers and anti-aircraft vehicles are used. Therefore, it is mainly used on anti-aircraft tanks and armored personnel carriers. Today it is available in different calibers from 23 to 35 millimeters (mm) and as FAPDS-T (Frangible Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot - Tracer) as tracer ammunition .

It can also be used against smaller sea targets in light marine guns. The German Navy has been using the 27 × 145 mm version in the MLG 27 since 2003 .

On the Gepard anti-aircraft cannon tank in the Bundeswehr , the FAPDS was the main ammunition that was used against all air targets and soft to lightly armored ground targets. The caliber 35 × 228 mm was used. When the cheetah was decommissioned by the Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall ceased production of this caliber.

A modification of the FAPDS, the FAP ( F rangible A rmour P iercing). Due to their 20's and 23-mm-caliber guns, it may also in board of airplanes (such as the M61 Vulcan ) may be used. For use in the infantry fighting vehicle, which was FAPIDS-T ( F rangible A rmour- P iercing I ncendiary D iscarding S abot - T racer, German about fragile armor-piercing inflammatory sabot ammunition with tracer ) in the caliber of 30 × 173 developed mm.

advantages

  • high muzzle velocity and thus short flight times
  • flat trajectory and thus simplified fire control calculation
  • Use against ground and air targets, hard and soft targets
  • More environmentally friendly as there are no toxins in the projectile
  • very safe because the projectile does not contain explosives (no danger from duds )

disadvantage

  • higher wear of the weapon due to higher gas pressure
  • Ammunition consumption higher, as the effect is only achieved by direct hits (no time or proximity fuses)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information on the RWM Switzerland website on the use of 27 mm ammunition ( Memento from December 11, 2007 in the Internet Archive ).
  2. ↑ Information on the website of RWM Switzerland on 20 mm ammunition ( Memento from November 28, 2010 in the Internet Archive ).
  3. ↑ Puma infantry fighting vehicle on the Army Technology website , accessed on November 28, 2009.