105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

NDIA - 40th Annual Armament Systems:

Guns-Ammunition-Rocket-Missiles Conference & Exhibition
New Orleans, LA; April 25 - 28, 2005

Dr. Lutz Börngen, Wolfgang Stein

Bö-27.04.05 Copyright by Rheinmetall 1

 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Penetrator with
Enhanced
Lateral
Effect
Cooperation: GEKE, ISL
Teaming Agreement with General Dynamics - OTS
Support: BWB-Germany, Royal Netherlands Army
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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

PELE - Principle of function

• Tungsten casing penetrates a target similar to a KE penetrator

• The internal medium, with a lower density, cannot penetrate the target
• Due to generated high internal pressure, the Tungsten casing
expands and disintegrates into fragments

Source: ISL

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Characteristics

PELE rounds
KE rounds HE rounds

Point targets in urban areas, e.g. snipers 1st Priority: Guided missile
and rocket launcher operators positions behind / under cover
MBT

Walls and earthen targets, e.g.

dugouts, sandbag barriers
2nd Priority: dismounted
infantry and light armored
vehicles

Light armored or unarmored fast-

moving vehicles
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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Rheinmetall’s idea

Use of in-service or older generation ammunition

Modify the ammunition with a goal of reducing

collateral damage

If possible, increase performance in certain targets

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Ammunition tested in 2002 - 2004

105 mm

 KE – PELE modified DM33

 MP – PELE modified DM68

120 mm

 KE – PELE modified DM33 A1/A2

 MP – PELE modified DM12 A1 (M830)

125 mm

 KE – PELE modified BM 15

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Targets

Buildings
Double Reinforced Concrete - 200 mm (8”) - STANAG 4536
Clay Brick Wall - 450 mm (18”)
Double Reinforced Concrete - 200 mm with Container

Light armored vehicles

Spaced RHA Target - 10mm at 60° NATO
RHA Target - 100 mm at 60° NATO
Armored Observation Vehicle (former Jagdpanzer Cannone 90 AT)
Other NATO targets

Firing positions - snipers

Sand Bag Wall - 500 mm (20”)
Trunk - 400 mm (16”)

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

Sectional view of the PELE-Penetrator

Tungsten Core Windshield Tip

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete

PELE: distinct dismantling into many fragments

KE: fractures at predetermined points at tip and
PELE screwed joint of stabilizing fins, penetrator
remains unbroken, few fragments from the tip of
the penetrator and concrete fragments

X-ray 500 mm behind target 120mm DM33

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete with Container

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete with Container

Rear side of concrete

inside the container

Performance of fragments and

overpressure inside the container:

Large destruction inside container

with Minimum Collateral Damage

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

Spaced RHA Target at 60° NATO ( 4 x 10mm )

X-ray: Penetrator & fragments

behind target

Target arrangement

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

100 mm RHA Target at 60° NATO

Due to fragmentation of the
PELE, the hole diameter is
increased compared to a
KE-penetrator and the
energy of the PELE is totally
absorbed by the target and
contributes to its destructive
power.

Only little of the energy of

the KE penetrator is
absorbed by the target.

After penetration, the KE

penetrator still has a large
residual amount of kinetic
energy
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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

450 mm (18”) Clay Brick Wall

Front

Rear X-ray: 500 mm behind target

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

MP - PELE

120 mm 105mm

Modified HEAT – Modified Training

DM12 A1 Round DM68

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm MP - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete

Impact of the 120 mm

MP-PELE at the
concrete wall

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm MP - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete - US Specifications

Three rounds
provide an opening
in the wall for the
infantry

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

105 mm MP - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete – US Specifications

extracted from Mobile Gun System ORD

Front

X-ray: 500 mm behind target

Rear Diameter of the hole ~ 500 mm (20”)

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

105 mm MP - PELE

Armored
Observation
Vehicle

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Summary

• Test of PELE-ammunition in the calibers 105/120/125 mm - full- and

subcaliber Projectile
• PELE-function shown at a variety of targets from a clay brick wall to heavy
armor plate
• PELE ammunition offers a possibility of precise and effective engagement
of several targets in MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) with a
Minimum of collateral damage
• The new ammunition combines penetration capability with improved
fragmentation effect - without any detonator and explosives
• The new ammunition can be used with all existing weapon systems
(smoothbore and rifled cannons)
• Upgrade or recycling of existing large caliber ammunition (full- or
subcaliber)
• Rapid fielding availability
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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

Questions

Discussions

are appreciated
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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

Spaced RHA Target at 60° NATO ( 4 x 10mm )

1. Plate (10mm) 2. Plate (10mm)
The disintegration of
the penetrator at the
first plate leads to a
wide-spread impact
(approx. 0.8 m x 0.8 m;
31” diameter) on the
second plate

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

200 mm (8”) Double Reinforced Concrete

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm DM 33 KE - PELE

Target TGL 15 B1 - Armored Infantry Vehicle

Plate 1 Plate 2 Witness Plate

Ti

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

120 mm MP - PELE

200 mm Double Reinforced Concrete

Diameter of the
hole ~ 600 mm
(24”)

Front

X-ray: 500 mm behind target

Rear

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

125 mm BM 15 KE - PELE

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

125 mm KE - BM 15 - PELE

Complete 125mm BM15-PELE round

• main propellent charge on the right
• incremental propelling charge with the
PELE-projectile assembly on the left

PELE-projectile
in flight,
9m after leaving
the muzzle

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 105/120/125 mm PELE Firing Results

125 mm KE - BM 15 - PELE

Effect on closed rooms (i.e.

20 ft. Steelcontainer) after
penetrating a 10mm RHA-
Plate 60° NATO

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