Soviet Explosive Ordnance - 122mm Projectiles (Part 1)

 

 

 

Soviet Explosive Ordnance

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, HE, VF-462

   

 

This high-explosive round is fired from the 122mm howitzers M1910/30 and M1909/37.  This projectile has a relatively thin-walled casing and large bursting charge.  The F-460 projectile shown above has a more powerful blast effect, but gives less fragmentation, than does the Frag-HE projectile of the VOF-462 complete round.

 

The RG-6 and RGM fuzes are used with the F-460 projectile of this round.

 

The following complete rounds are variants of the illustrated round: VF-462U, with the F-460U projectile using a UGT-2 (or, with a supplementary booster, the RG-6 or RGM) fuze; VF-462K, with the F-460K projectile using the UGT-2 (or, with a supplementary booster, the RG-6 or RGM) fuze;  VF-462N, with an F-460N projectile using the UGT-2 (or, with a supplementary booster, the RG-6 or RGM) fuze;  and VF-452A, with an F-460A projectile using the RG-6 fuze.  These variants are basically the same as the VF-462 and are fired from the same weapons.

 

    

Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 25.58kg (56.3 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 22.5kg (49.5 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 1.17kg (2.58 lbs)

Type of projectile filler: TNT

Weight of projectile filler: 4.812kg (10.6 lbs)

 

 

Packaging

 

This ammunition is packed in a two-round wooden box, as illustrated.  Projectiles and cartridge cases are also packed separately, 3 projectiles or 20 cartridge cases to a wooden packing box.

 

Note.  The second propellant data line "7/7 CB 14/44 K" shown on the cartridge case of this round normally would appear just below the first propellant data line on the packing box.  It has been omitted from the above drawing because of insufficient space.

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, Frag-HE, VOF-462

 

  

This fragmentation high-explosive round is fired from the 122mm howitzers M1910/30 and M1909/37.  These weapons are obsolete in the Soviet Army, but are still used in Finland.  The setting of the fuze determines whether the projectile will give maximum blast or maximum fragmentation effect.
 

The RG-6 and RGM fuzes are used with the OF-460 projectile of this round.  As a component of other complete rounds, however, the OF-462 projectile has also been found with the RGM-2, RGM-3, and D-1 fuzes.
 

The VOF-462A complete round, with the OF-462A projectile using the RGM or RG-6 fuze, is a variant of the illustrated round.  It is basically the same as the VOF-462 and is fired from the same weapons.

 

The following projectiles are basically the same, and are fired from the same weapons, as the OF-462: OF-462AG with the RGM-3 fuze; OF-462L, with the RG-6 or RGM fuze; and OF-462M, with the RGM fuze.  The specific differences between them and the OF-462 are not known.

 
 
  Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 23.7kg (52.1 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 21.76kg (47.9 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 1.17kg (2.58 lbs)

Type of projectile filler: Amatol 80/20

Weight of projectile filler: 3.68kg (8.10 lbs)

 
 
Packaging
 

 

This ammunition is packed in a two-round wooden box, as illustrated. Projectiles and cartridge cases are also packed separately, 3 projectiles or 20 cartridge cases to a wooden packing box.
 

Note. The second propellant data line "7/7 CB 14/44 K" shown on the cartridge case of this round normally would appear just below the first propellant data line on the packing box. It has been omitted from the above drawing because of insufficient space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, Frag-HE, VOF-463
 

 

This fragmentation high-explosive round is fired from the 122mm howtizer M1938 (M-30), which is standard in the Soviet and Satellite Armies.
 

The D-1, RG-6, RGM, RGM-2, and RGM-3 fuzes are used with the OF-462 projectile in this round.

The following projectiles are bascially the same and are fired from the same weapons, as the OF-462A: OF-462, using the RGM or GVMZ fuze; OF-462AG, using the GVMZ fuze; and OF-462G with the GVMZ fuze.  The specific differences between them and the OF-462 are not known.

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 25.6kg (56.33 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 21.76kg (47.9 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 2.08kg (4.58 lbs)

Type of projectile filler: Amatol 80/20

Weight of projectile filler: 3.68kg (8.10 lbs)

 
 
Packaging
 

 

This ammunition is packed in a two-round wooden box. Projectiles and cartridge cases are also packed separately, 3 projectiles or 20 cartridge cases to a wooden packing box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, Frag-HE, VOF-471N
   

  

This fragmentation high-explosive round is fired from the 122mm corps guns M1931 and M1931/37 (A-19); from the tank gun M1943 (D-25); and from self-propelled guns M1944 (D-25S) and M1931/44 (A-19S).  The tank gun M1943 (D-25) is mounted on the JS-1*, JS-2, and JS-3 heavy tanks.  The self-propelled guns M1944 (D-25S) and M1931/44 (A-19S) are mounted in the JSU-122.

 

The RGM, RGM-2, and D-1 fuzes are used with the OF-471N projecitle in this round.  There are two types of OF-471N projectile, which apparently are not distinguished from one another by any code marking.  One (shown in the above drawing) is a one-piece projectile; the other is a "two-piece" projectile having a threaded adapter.  The latter type, according to documentary evidence, is about 0.5 inch longer than the former and has a bursting charge which is about 1.2 lbs heavier, although the total weight of each projectile is the same.
 

The complete round VOF-471, using the OF-471 projectile with the RGM or D-1 fuze, is a variant of the illustrated round.  The OF-471 projectile has a bursting charge weighing 3.605kg (7.93 lbs), and its unfuzed length is somewhat greater than that of either type of OF-471N projectile.  The round, however, is basically the same as the VOF-471N and is fired from the same weapons.

*: Not actually used on the JS-1

 
 

Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 40.78kg (89.73 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 25.53kg (56.17 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 6.58kg (14.53 lbs)

Type of projectile filler: Cast TNT

Weight of projectile filler: 4.85kg (10.7 lbs)

 
 
Packaging
  

 

This ammunition is packed in a one-round box, with a gross weight of about 56kg (123 lbs).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, AP-T, VBR-471B

 

 

This armor-piercing tracer round is fired from the 122mm corps guns M1931 and M1931/37 (A-19); from the tank gun M1943 (D-25); and from self-propelled guns M1944 (D-25S) and M1931/44 (A-19S). The tank gun M1943 (D-25) is mounted on the JS-1*, JS-2, and JS-3 heavy tanks. The self-propelled guns M1944 (D-25S) and M1931/44 (A-19S) are mounted in the JSU-122. 

 

This type of ammunition is used against tanks and other armored targets.  The BR-471B projectile shown above has a small cavity filled with high-explosive, and uses the MD-8, DR-1, and DR-5 fuzes.
 

The VBR-471 complete round, using the BR-471 projectile with the MD-8 fuze, is a variant of the illustrated round.  The BR-471 projectile has a pointed nose and no windshield, whereas the BR-471B has a blunt nose with a windshield.

*: Not actually used on the JS-1

 
 
Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 39.32kg (86.5 lbs)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 25kg (55.12 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 6.3kg (13.89 lbs)

Type of projectile filler: RDX and aluminum (74/22)

Weight of projectile filler: 0.156kg (0.34 lbs)

 
 
Packaging

 

This ammunition is packed in a one-round box.  The gross weight of the box is about 56kg (123 lbs).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122mm Complete Round, Separate (Cartridge Case) Loading, HEAT, VBP-463A
 

 

This HEAT round is fired from the 122mm howitzer M1938 (M-30), which is standard in the Soviet and the Satellite Armies.  HEAT ammunition is used chiefly against tanks and other armoured targets.

 
The V-229 fuze is used with the BP-460A projectile in this round.

 
 
Characteristics

Caliber: 121.9mm (4.8 inches)

Weight of complete round: 26kg (57 lbs) (approx.)

Weight of projectile, as fired: 13.2kg (29.14 lbs)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: 0.45kg (1 lb)

Type of projectile filler: RDX/TNT (50/50)

Weight of projectile filler: 1.45kg (3.19 lbs)

 
 
Packaging
   

 

This ammunition is packed in a two-round wooden box, with a gross weight of 66kg (145 lbs).  The gross weight may be stenciled on the packing box in the form БРУТТО 66 КГ.  Projectiles and cartridge cases are also packed separately, 3 projectiles or 20 cartridge cases to a wooden box.

 

Note. The first propellant data line "9/7 CB 11/44 ТСФ B/B" shown on the cartridge case of this round normally would appear just above the second propellant data line on the packing box. It has been omitted from the above drawing because of insufficient space.

Next Time: 122mm Projectiles (Part 2)