they’re trying to detonate incoming shaped charges early to prevent the formation of the jet of hot metal that sprays into the tank. these kinds of munitions work best on contact with the turret or hull - their explosive creates spalling, which is pretty much liquid metal fragments that bounce around the crew cabin, perforating mobliks and cooking off the ammunition.
I think maybe you’re confusing two different things?
HEAT is a shaped charge that explodes and compresses a thin layer of metal (usually copper I think) into a tiny superheated lance that is extremely good at piercing armor. There’s no spalling involved afaik.
HESH creates spalling by basically being a big explosive that moulds to the armor before exploding, and uses a quirk of how the force moves through the armor to make the armor on the inside break off and bounce around the tank- that’s spall.
I’m pretty sure just using bricks like this would be effective against both types of ammo, though.
Maybe I’m entirely wrong idk I’m just a nerd on the internet.
the metal a heat round jets into the cabin is made of the turret/hull it was in contact with. the liquid metal that bounces around inside is called spalling. Spall are fragments of a material that are broken off a larger solid body. It can be produced by a variety of mechanisms.
two different types of spalling effect, but the same thing overall.
I’m pretty sure neither type of attack would fail because of a few cm of brick - this is russian magic thinking. Am also nerd on internet, but prior service from an armor division. Tanks are some of the tastiest targets on a battlefield and advancements in RPG warhead designs were a constant source of discussion.
I kinda wish I could go back (the 49th AD doesn’t exist anymore but 1st Cav does) and hear what they’re thinking watching the battle damage analysis come through. Drones have changed the game so much.
they’re trying to detonate incoming shaped charges early to prevent the formation of the jet of hot metal that sprays into the tank. these kinds of munitions work best on contact with the turret or hull - their explosive creates spalling, which is pretty much liquid metal fragments that bounce around the crew cabin, perforating mobliks and cooking off the ammunition.
I think maybe you’re confusing two different things?
HEAT is a shaped charge that explodes and compresses a thin layer of metal (usually copper I think) into a tiny superheated lance that is extremely good at piercing armor. There’s no spalling involved afaik.
HESH creates spalling by basically being a big explosive that moulds to the armor before exploding, and uses a quirk of how the force moves through the armor to make the armor on the inside break off and bounce around the tank- that’s spall.
I’m pretty sure just using bricks like this would be effective against both types of ammo, though.
Maybe I’m entirely wrong idk I’m just a nerd on the internet.
the metal a heat round jets into the cabin is made of the turret/hull it was in contact with. the liquid metal that bounces around inside is called spalling. Spall are fragments of a material that are broken off a larger solid body. It can be produced by a variety of mechanisms.
two different types of spalling effect, but the same thing overall.
I’m pretty sure neither type of attack would fail because of a few cm of brick - this is russian magic thinking. Am also nerd on internet, but prior service from an armor division. Tanks are some of the tastiest targets on a battlefield and advancements in RPG warhead designs were a constant source of discussion.
I kinda wish I could go back (the 49th AD doesn’t exist anymore but 1st Cav does) and hear what they’re thinking watching the battle damage analysis come through. Drones have changed the game so much.