Range and Penetration Table for the 38 cm SK C/34

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Dave Saxton
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Re: Range and Penetration Table for the 38 cm SK C/34

Post by Dave Saxton »

This illustrates two important factors in the penetration of vertical face hardened armour. One is that it is mostly velocity dependent in the case of FH armour striking at or near the normal, and less mass and size dependent. Secondly during impact that is at or near the normal the British practice of using relatively sharply pointed tips (the tip of the main body that the cap is fitted over) requires slightly less Vz. The Germans used rounder tips to improve penetration during oblique impact, and the Americans used especially blunt tips for the same reason. However, rounder, blunter, tips require more V to penetrate.

An example of a practical application of these factors is the penetration of a curved face hardened plate used as the front plate of a turret, or in the case of a round barbet also of FH materials, which require slightly higher Vz than a comparable flat plate. In the case of the Bismarck's face plate and barbet it means that intact penetration probably doesn't occur until the striking velocity exceeds ~505 m/s, and the angle of fall is less than ~16* for large caliber projectiles.
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Thorsten Wahl
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Re: Range and Penetration Table for the 38 cm SK C/34

Post by Thorsten Wahl »

Dave Saxton wrote: The Germans used rounder tips to improve penetration during oblique impact, and the Americans used especially blunt tips for the same reason.
I tought tin the same direction but the truth in facehard is as follows
SK 38 RN 14/45
0 yard
32,2' vs 29,5' SK 38 is about 9% better in penetration
10k yard
23,5' vs 21,5' yard SK 38 is about 9 % better
20 k yard
16,8' vs 15,7' SK 38 is about 7% better
30 k yard
12,0' vs 12,1' the RN 14/45 is slightly better :shock:

even the less oblique impact angle and a higher impact speed of the SK 38 projectile doesnt prevent a steeper fall of penetration abilities in the calculation
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Dave Saxton
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Re: Range and Penetration Table for the 38 cm SK C/34

Post by Dave Saxton »

Well that's from a computor model. I find that FH fairly matches the Krupp curves, which was based mostly on emperical firing range data. However, at high obliquities their is some mismatch. The German 15" was able to penetrate 289mm of KC sloped 20* at 30,000 meters in fire range results.
Entering a night sea battle is an awesome business.The enveloping darkness, hiding the enemy's.. seems a living thing, malignant and oppressive.Swishing water at the bow and stern mark an inexorable advance toward an unknown destiny.
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