45 mm APCR Penetration

 "To the Chair of the State Committee of Defense, comrade I.V. Stalin

We present the main results of proving grounds trials of 45 mm subcaliber armour piercing shot designed by Military Engineer 1st Class comrade Burmistrov.

The shot with heavy and hard tungsten alloy shows the best results. This shot satisfies the requirement of penetrating at least 60 mm of armour with the resistance coefficient of at least 2400 at an angle of 30 degrees at a range of 300-500 meters. They considerably increase the power of the 45 mm model 1932/37 anti-tank gun.

Artillery vs Fortifications

 "To the Military Council of the 16th Army

1. Experimental trials using an anti-tank rifle, 45 mm gun, and 76 mm gun were performed against an earth and timber bunker on July 31st, 1942.

The size of the bunker was 5.5 by 5.5, the thickness of the walls was 1.4 meters, formed by two log frames. The space in between was filled with earth and logs. 

Results of firing from 300 meters:

1. 76 mm regimental gun:
1. HE grenade fused for explosive effect: the outer log frame is destroyed with one grenade. 5-7 direct hits are needed for complete destruction.
2. Shrapnel with impact fuse: wall of the bunker is penetrated fully, shell explodes inside the bunker.
2. 45 mm gun AP shell: penetrates both the front and rear walls of the bunker.
3. Anti-tank rifle: at 100-200 meters the bullet penetrates one wall of the bunker. The bullet maintains enough energy to kill.

Conclusions: to improve the effectiveness of earth and timber bunkers, the thickness of the walls must be increased. Conduct additional trials.

...

Division commander, Colonel Terentyev

Military Commissar, Brigade Commissar Sedenkov

Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Sokolov

August 1st, 1942"

Via Yuri Pasholok

45 mm gun vs Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E

Photo #64: Penetration of the front hull, 50 mm thick, from a range of 50 meters (I).

King Tiger Field Penetration Trials

"Report on the results of testing the T-6-B King Tiger superheavy tank in order to determine its weak points held on September 2nd, 1944, near Staszów by a commission composed of the following: [names]

The results of the trials are summarized in the following table:

Component of the tank	Gun caliber	Type of ammunition	Range	Angle	Result
Hull front	152	HEAT*	250 m	90	First hit: 350 mm wide breach in the machine gun ball.
				46	Second hit: 70 mm deep dent 230 mm in diameter.
	85	AP	200 m	46	60 mm deep dent 170 mm in diameter.
Turret front	57	Subcaliber	200 m	75	165 mm deep dent 70 mm in diameter.
Turret side	152	HEAT*	1200 m	70	Penetration, 200 mm breach.
			250	86	Penetration of both sides, entrance breach is 190 mm in diameter, exit breach is 840 mm in diameter.
	85	AP	200	86	Penetration 170 mm in diameter.
Superstructure side	152	HEAT*	465	85	Penetration of both sides, entrance breach is 170 mm in diameter, exit breach is 750 mm in diameter.
	85	AP	400	85	Penetration 150 mm in diameter.
	76	Subcaliber	300	88	Penetration 40 mm in diameter.
		AP			Dent 75 mm deep 84 mm in diameter.
	57	Subcaliber	200	88	Penetration 70 mm in diameter.
		AP	200	88	Penetration 60 mm in diameter.
	45	Subcaliber	150	80	Penetration 30 mm in diameter.

Elephant Hunters

 "Characteristics of penetrative ability of guns and mines against enemy tanks
Based on combat experience and trials

1. Experimental firing against the 88 mm "Ferdinand" self propelled gun gave the following results:

A) Armour:

• Roof: 45 mm
• Rear: 80 mm
• Sides: 80 mm
• Front vertical plate: 200 mm
• Ball mount armour: 110 mm
• Driver and radio operator visor plate: 200 mm

Armoured Confusion

Works on Soviet tank building are published with striking regularity. Some are the results of many years of archival research, but many are based on prior works. There is nothing shameful about this, as skillful compilation is an art of no lesser value than writing from scratch. However, an issue with credibility may arise when picking secondary sources, and even primary documents can contain mistakes often caused by a lack of information. As a result, dozens of myths were built around Soviet tank building over the course of decades that live on today. This article will discuss such myths connected to pre-war tank building in the Soviet Union.

Panther Penetration

"Maximum penetration at which the armour of the German Panther tank is destroyed

Composed according to experimental firing data.

System	Ammunition type	Maximum distance in meters at which penetration was achieved  during experimental firing						Effect
		Front armour			Side armour
		Upper sloped plate (90 mm)	Lower sloped plate (50-65 mm)	Gun mantlet (100 mm cast)	Turret side (45-50 mm)	Upper side (45-50 mm)	Lower side (45 mm)
45 mm gun mod. 1942	APT BR-240	-	-	-	400	300	400	Complete penetration of the turret and hull side armour.
	APIT BZR-240	-	-	-	400	300	400
	APCR BR-240P	-	-	-	400	300	400
57 mm gun mod. 1941	APT BR-271	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
	APIT BZR-271	-	-	-	1000	1000	1000
	APT BR-271 SP	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
	APCR BR-271P	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
76 mm regimental gun mod. 1927	HEAT BP-354A	-	-	-	600	600	600	Complete penetration of the sloped turret armour.
76 mm regimental gun mod. 1943	HEAT BP-344A	-	-	-	600	600	600
76 mm ZIS-3 mod. 1942	APT BR-350	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200	Penetrates the turret and the side of the hull.
	APCR BR-350P	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
	HEAT BP-350	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
SU-76	APIT BZR-354	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
	APCR BR-354P	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
SU-85	APT BR-365	1000	1000	1000	1500	1500	1500	Complete penetration of various parts of the hull.
	APT BR-365 SP	1000	1000	1000	1500	1500	1500
122 mm gun mod. 1938	HEAT BP-463	800	800	800	1000	1000	1000	Penetrates armour and detonate the ammunition.
KV-122	APT	1200	1200	1200	1500	1500	1500	A shot to the front destroys the tank.
152 mm gun mod. 1937	AP BP-545	800 m and closer						The front armour is penetrated.

Confirmed: Authorized representative of the Operational Department of Artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front, Colonel Levit

Confirmed: Colonel Utin"