The full document for 120 mm DM53 and DM63 LKE II APFSDS-T round (Germany) is offered by Jane’s Information Group as part of itsJane's Ammunition Handbook subscription service, available in both hardcopy and electronic formats.
You may purchase a full subscription to this service through theJane’s Online Catalogue.
Title
120 mm DM53 and DM63 LKE II APFSDS-T round (Germany)
Section
Tank and anti-tank guns
Appearing in
Jane's Ammunition Handbook
Publication date
Jul 15, 2008
Development
The Rheinmetall DeTec 120 mm DM53 LKE II Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding-Sabot Tracer (APFSDS-T) round was developed within the framework of the Leopard 2 CEU programme (KWS 1), which resulted in the Leopard 2A5. The programme entails the installation of a new 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun barrel some 1.3 m longer than the original but retaining the original chamber volume. Initial trials demonstrated that the effective range of this gun is extended by some 1,500 m, as the muzzle energy is higher. The round can be fired from existing L/44 tank guns.In January 1998, it was announced that the Swiss Army was to use the 120 mm DM53 LKE II APFSDS-T for its P87 (Leopard 2) tanks. An order for the delivery of 20,000 DM53 rounds was placed at the beginning of 1999, with production commencing soon afterwards. In 1996, Rheinmetall DeTec concluded an industrial co-operation agreement with Schweizerische Munitionsunternehmung (SM) of Thun (now RUAG Ammotec). This agreement included an exchange of technical data, officially extended to include the Netherlands. Series production began in mid-2000 with an order for 20,000 rounds, of which 75 per cent were to be built by SM at Altdorf. This was completed in mid-2002. Swiss service approval was granted in late 1999; in Switzerland, the round is to be designated the 12 cm Pz Kann Pfeil Pat 98 Lsp. The German contract for the DM53 was placed in February 2001 and called for the production of 27,000 rounds for DM172.2 million. Development in Germany
Description
The 120 mm DM53 APFSDS-T round is fixed, with the projectile assembly secured to the Combustible Cartridge Case (CCC) by a case adaptor ring. The CCC has a steel stub cartridge-case base with a silicone rubber sealing ring around the top. A DM142 electrical primer is secured to the cartridge-case base and extends some two-thirds of the way up the centre of the CCC. The CCC was developed in collaboration with WNC Nitrochemie GmbH, a Rheinmetall DeTec company (now part of Nitrochemie AG). The propellant is packed in two configurations. In the rear portion of the case is a stack of 13 compacted discs, while the forward part is filled with poured loose granules.The projectile assembly consists of a three-part aluminium sabot and a tungsten (WSMIV - known as Rheinmetall Tungsten IV) penetrator with a tracer element in the steel fin assembly. Sabot obturation is achieved by using a nylon band. The CCC contains granular multiperforated (seven-hole) double base DM 142 propellant in a containment bag, which prevents spillage in the event of a rupture of the combustible case walls. This propellant is probably Nitrochemie Surface-Coated Double-Base (SCDB). Although this is described as combustible, case ignition does leave the steel base stub intact for ejection from the gun after firing.When fired from either an L/44 or L/55 gun barrel, accuracy is stated to be 0.2 mil. Compared to earlier rounds, the DM 53 generates significantly higher muzzle energy. Figures provided by Rheinmetall show a muzzle energy of about 9,800
Ammunition Handbook
Jane's Ammunition Handbook is the authoritative reference guide for ammunition in service, in stock and under development. This comprehensive resource provides informed analysis of product developments and commercial history, as well as technical descriptions, specifications and illustrations for ease of recognition. With Jane's Ammunition Handbook, your procurement and research needs are also supported through the original manufacturers' details and expert reference tables to confidently confirm small arms identification.
Key contents include:
Different sections provide in depth detail covering:
About Jane’s
With more than 100 years of experience, Jane’s, an IHS company, holds an unrivalled reputation for the reliability,
accuracy and impartiality of our information and advice, trusted and relied upon by business, government and military
decision-makers worldwide.
In the specialist fields ofdefence,security,public safety,transport andlaw enforcement, Jane’s intelligence is a ‘must
have’ resource for our clients, who can trust our intelligence over that from any other open source.
© 2008 Jane's Information Group.All rights reserved |Terms of use |Jane's Privacy Policy
