WW II Ballistics Tank Gun Penetration


	WW II Ballistics Tank Gun Penetration - Russia


	The following is my choice of good Soviet era gun penetration data. This is known as Certified Penetration criteria (CP). Which means that it is based on a 80% probability of a successful penetration. A successful penetration is one where at least 75% of the shell mass (excluding windscreen) will pass through the armor. This actually is calculated from a few test cases so some latitude has to be given. In some cases there are multiple values for official data. It looks like all Soviet block countries used this criteria but some did their own tests and calculations.

Tank Guns Penetration figures use Soviet Union 80% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	100 m	300 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m	2500 m	3000 m
20mm/L82.4 TNSh	AP ¹	0°	857 m/s (2812 ft/s)	29	22	15
20mm/L82.4 TNSh	AP ¹	30°	857 m/s (2812 ft/s)	18	15	10
45mm/L46 Model 37	BR-240 ¹	0°	780 m/s (2559 ft/s)	52		43	35	28	23
45mm/L46 Model 37	APCR ¹	0°	970 m/s (3182 ft/s)	96	72	51
76.2mm/L30.5 (L-11)	BR-350A ¹	0°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)	68		60	50	48	44
76.2mm/L30.5 (L-11)	BR-350A ¹	30°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)		50	47	39
76.2mm/L31.5 (F-32)	BR-350A ¹	0°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)	69		61	52	50	44
76.2mm/L31.5 (F-32)	BR-350A ¹	30°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)		50	47	40
76.2mm/L41.5 (ZiS-5)	BR-350 ²	0°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	75	73	69	61	54	48	43	38
76.2mm/L41.5 (ZiS-5)	BR-350 ²	30°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	61	59	56	49	44	39
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350A ¹	0°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	80	75	70	60	50	45
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350A ¹	30°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	65	60	55	50	45	35
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350B1	0°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	86	81	75	68	62
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350B1	30°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	74	69	62	55	48
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350B2	0°	655 m/s (2149 ft/s)	77	73	69	61	52	46		35
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350B2	30°	655 m/s (2149 ft/s)	63	60	57	49	43	37		29
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	APCR¹	0°	970 m/s (3182 ft/s)	117	107	95	64	43	27	20
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	APCR ¹	0°	950 m/s (3117 ft/s)	120	105	90	60	50
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	APCR ¹	30°	950 m/s (3117 ft/s)	95	85	75
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365 ^1,2	0°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	119	115	111	102	93	85	76	70
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365 ³	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	119	115	110	101	92	83		68
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365 ¹	30°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	97		91	83	76	69
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365 ³	30°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	97	93	90	82	75	68		56
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365K ^1,2	0°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	117	109	101	84	69	57	47	40
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365K ³	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	126	118	111	94	78	66	56	45
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365P ³	0°	1020 m/s (3346 ft/s)	167	152	139	108	83	42

Tank Guns Penetration figures use Soviet Union 80% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	100 m	300 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m	2500 m	3000 m
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412 ¹	0°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)			155	135	115	100		75
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412 ¹	30°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)			125	110	95	80		60
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412 ²	0°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)	172	162	155	135	116	99	86	74
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412 ²	30°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)	140	133	126	110	95	81	70	60
100mm/L56 (D-10S)	BR-412 ³	0°	900 m/s (2953 ft/s)	171	161	152	131	113	96
100mm/L56 (D-10S)	BR-412 ³	30°	900 m/s (2953 ft/s)	139	131	124	107	92	78
100mm/L53.5 (D-10S)	BR-412B ³	0°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)			160	150	135	125		105
100mm/L53.5 (D-10S)	BR-412B ³	30°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)			130	120	110	100		85
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412D ²	0°	887 m/s (2910 ft/s)			200	185	170	155		125
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412D ²	30°	887 m/s (2910 ft/s)			150	140	130	120		100
100mm/L53.5 (D-10S)	BR-412D ³	0°	887 m/s (2910 ft/s)			200	185	170	155		125
100mm/L53.5 (D-10S)	BR-412D ³	30°	887 m/s (2910 ft/s)			150	140	130	120		100
122mm/L43 (D-25T)	BR-471 ³	0°	781 m/s (2562 ft/s)	158	150	143	126	111	97	89	84
122mm/L43 (D-25T)	BR-471B ³	0°	781 m/s (2562 ft/s)	160	156	150	138	128	118	113	109
152mm/L28 (ML-20)	BR-540B ¹	0°	600 m/s (1969 ft/s)	140	136	132	124	117	109


	Russians have 100mm D-10 (T= tank or S= self-propelled artillery) gun bore as 53.5 calibers while DDR had it as 56 calibers in length.

Anti-Tank Guns Penetration figures use Soviet Union 80% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	100 m	300 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m	2500 m	3000 m
45mm/L66 Model 42	BR-240 ¹	0°	870 m/s (2854 ft/s)	72	65	61	51	42	34
45mm/L66 Model 42	APCR ¹	0°	1070 m/s (3510 ft/s)	112	96	81	58
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	APBC ¹	0°	990 m/s (3248 ft/s)	114	109	103	91	79	69
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	BP-271 ⁴	0°	990 m/s (3248 ft/s)	115	110	106	96	86	77
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	APCR ¹	0°	1200 m/s (3937 ft/s)	175	160	140	105
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	BP-271P ⁴	0°	1200 m/s (3937 ft/s)	190	168	147	101
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3	BR-350B2 ¹	0°	655 m/s (2149 ft/s)	77	73	69	61	52	46	35	29
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3	BR-350B2 ¹	0°	655 m/s (2149 ft/s)	63	60	57	49	43	37	29	23
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3	APCR ¹	0°	950 m/s (3117 ft/s)	119	104	89	60	50
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3	APCR ¹	30°	950 m/s (3117 ft/s)	97	84	73	49
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3 BR-354C	BR-350A¹	0°	745 m/s (2444 ft/s)	90		82	74	66	59
76.2mm/L42 ZiS-3 BR-354C	BR-350A¹	30°	745 m/s (2444 ft/s)	73		67	60	54	48
76.2mm/L51.5 (F-22)	BR-350 ¹	0°	690 m/s (2264 ft/s)	82		75	67	60
76.2mm/L51.5 (F-22)	BR-350 ¹	30°	690 m/s (2264 ft/s)	67		61	55	49
76.2mm/L51.5 (F-22)	APCR ¹	0°	1012 m/s (3320 ft/s)	128	110	92
76.2mm/L51.5 (F-22)	APCR ¹	30°	1012 m/s (3320 ft/s)	105	89	75
76.2mm/L54.5 (ZiS-5) 3K	BR-350A ¹	0°	813 m/s (2667 ft/s)				90
76.2mm/L54.5 (S-54) 3K	BR-350A ¹	30°	813 m/s (2667 ft/s)			83	70
122mm/L46 (A-19)	BR-471 ¹	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	164	157	150	130	115	100	90	75
122mm/L46 (A-19)	BR-471B ¹	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	165	161	157	147	138	129
122mm/L46 (A-19)	BR-471B ¹	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	165	160	155	145	138	125	115	105


	Citations 1. Russian official data - Often ARTKOM calculated DeMarre formula that matched data tests. 2. Captured Russian document data where originals were #1. 3. DDR (East German) official data (Though could be post WW2 Soviet data i.e #1). 4. Hungarian data from Soviet table 0316 issued in 1945 i.e. #1. The 76.2mm BR-350B has two types. The early type had a large cavity, the late type had a small charge cavity. Online sources: Russian Battlefield ¹ link Axis History forum link Russian Firing Tables link Soviet data as calculated and was a function of the ballistics of the projectiles. It was found late war and post war this was in error. Normalized data is only as good as the data it normalizes so take that into account.

Armor Basis is Averaged and Normalized to RHA BHN 270 Penetration figures use 50% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	100 m	300 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m	2500 m	3000 m
14.5mm/L93 PTRD 41	BS-32 APCR	0°	1114 m/s (3655 ft/s)	37	32	24	14	9	5
14.5mm/L93 PTRD 41	BS-41 APCR	0°	1114 m/s (3655 ft/s)	41	36	31	20	15	7
20mm/L82.4 TNSh	B-Z AP	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	23	18	10	4
20mm/L82.4 TNSh	NB-200 AP	0°	892 m/s (2927 ft/s)	25	20	15	6
20mm/L82.4 TNSh	B-17 APCR	0°	750 m/s (2461 ft/s)	27	21	16	6
45mm/L46 Model 37	APBC	0°	780 m/s (2559 ft/s)	57	51	47	39	32	25	18
45mm/L46 Model 37	APCR	0°	970 m/s (3182 ft/s)	94	77	62	36	24	13
45mm/L68 Model 42	APBC	0°	870 m/s (2854 ft/s)	71	66	62	51	42	34	24	16
45mm/L68 Model 42	APCR	0°	1070 m/s (3510 ft/s)	107	92	77	51	40	19
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	APBC BP-271	0°	990 m/s (3248 ft/s)	118	113	106	94	81	72	61	51
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	APHE BP-271K	0°	990 m/s (3248 ft/s)	115	106	97	76	59	45	28
57mm/L73 ZiS-2	APCR	0°	1200 m/s (3937 ft/s)	178	158	137	98	62
76.2mm/L16.5 (M27, M27/43)	HEAT BP-353A	0°	311 m/s (1020 ft/s)	75	75	75	75
76.2mm/L30.5 (L-11)	BR-350A	0°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)	72	67	63	56	50	45	40	35
76.2mm/L31.5 (F-32)	BR-350A	0°	612 m/s (2008 ft/s)	73	68	64	57	51	46	40	35
76.2mm/L41.5 (ZiS-5)	BR-350	0°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	78	76	72	63	57	50	44	39
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	BR-350A	0°	662 m/s (2172 ft/s)	84	78	72	64	55	46	37	29
76.2mm/L42 (ZiS-3)	BR-350B	0°	655 m/s (2149 ft/s)	81	77	73	63	55	48	42	37
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	APCR	0°	950 m/s (3117 ft/s)	114	105	93	63	42	27	19	15
76.2mm/L41.5 (F-34)	HEAT BP-353A	0°	335 m/s (1099 ft/s)	75	75	75	75
76.2mm/L51.6 (F-22)	BR-350A	0°	690 m/s (2264 ft/s)	86	82	78	69	62	54	48	41
85mm/L52 (S-53)	BR-365	0°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	121	117	113	103	94	85	76	68
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365	0°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	121	117	113	104	95	86	78	70
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365K	0°	792 m/s (2598 ft/s)	127	120	113	100	88	76	65	53
85mm/L52 (D-5T)	BR-365P	0°	1020 m/s (3346 ft/s)	169	156	143	113	88	66	44	22
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412	0°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)	177	168	160	140	122	105	90	76
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412B	0°	895 m/s (2936 ft/s)	178	173	168	156	142	130	119	108
100mm/L53.5 (D-10T)	BR-412D	0°	887 m/s (2910 ft/s)	204	199	194	182	169	156	144	131
122mm/L22.7 M1938	HEAT BR-460A	0°	335 m/s (1099 ft/s)	120	120	120	120
122mm/L43 (D-25T)	BR-471	0°	781 m/s (2562 ft/s)	167	159	151	133	117	102	91	81
122mm/L43 (D-25T)	BR-471B	0°	781 m/s (2562 ft/s)	169	164	158	147	136	126	119	112
122mm/L46 (A-19)	BR-471	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	171	163	156	136	120	105	92	83
122mm/L46 (A-19)	BR-471B	0°	800 m/s (2625 ft/s)	172	168	164	152	142	132	122	114
122mm/L46 (A-19)	HEAT BR-460A	0°	550 m/s (1804 ft/s)	120	120	120	120
152mm calc.	anti-concrete	0°	457 m/s (1499 ft/s)	78	76	74	68	60	55	51	49
152mm/L22.7 ML-10 calc.	SAP	0°	457 m/s (1499 ft/s)	96	93	90	83	72	65	61	56
152mm/L24.3 ML-10 calc.	BR-540	0°	560 m/s (1837 ft/s)	126	121	117	104	93	79	69	63
152mm ML-20 calc.	anti-concrete	0°	573 m/s (1880 ft/s)	105	101	98	90	80	70	61	56
152mm/L28.2 ML-20 calc.	BR-540	0°	600 m/s (1969 ft/s)	138	133	128	115	102	90	76	67
152mm/L28.2 ML-20 calc.	BR-540B	0°	600 m/s (1969 ft/s)	138	135	132	123	115	106	98	90


	Entire data collection each individually normalized to RHA hardness of BHN 270 and US NBL criteria. 152mm penetration had to be calculated as the Russian Firing table of ML-20 had incorrect ballistics.