Segmented Penetrators

This paper analyses the terminal ballistic performance of segmented rod penetrators in semi‐infinite, spaced as well as reactive targets. The model scaled projectiles with a mass of about 10 g are launched by a light gas gun of caliber 30 mm at velocities up to 4 km/s. To keep the initial acceleration low enough, the junction between the first and the second stage of the gun was appropriately modified. The projectiles are composed of a series of tungsten alloy segments guided by a thin light metal tube. Between the segments with a L/D‐ratio of one there are cylinders made of plastics or aluminium. Usually the space is in the order of one or two projectile diameters. The perforation power of such segmented rods is compared with two types of homogeneous projectiles of equal mass and velocity. One reference projectile has equal length but lower diameter, the other one has the same diameter but a lower length. Experiments against semi‐inifite targets show an increase in penetration depth of about 20 %, compared with homogeneous projectiles of the same diameter. This advantage vanishes if the reference projectile has equal length. In the four‐plate target as well as in the reactive armour, segmented rods are significantly less efficient due to their low stiffness and greater length.