Hollow-charge

The hollow-charge , called in English shaped load or by the soldiers HEAT ( High Anti-tank Explosive : ammunition anti-tank device with Explosif breaking ) is a type of Munition intended to bore a Blindage. One of these uses of today is in oil industry to bore holes with regular interval in the shielding of a well to be put in production or, in the demolition of industrial buildings.

Principle of operation

Its operation is based on the effect Munroe. In short, the control of the dispersion of the flow of energy and Particle S in fusion resulting from a Explosion. Indeed, during an explosion, this flow tends to follow the Onde of explosion.

In the military applications of ammunition, one employs a Cylindre equipped with a load in the shape of reversed cone (3) covered with a metal cap (1) improving the Aérodynamisme and determining the optimal distance from release, this cap carries at its end a piezoelectric sensor (6) which, with the impact starts the detonator (4) allowing the firing of the load (5). All the power of the explosion concentrates on a very reduced surface of the target, this one being generally a armored vehicle. The term of hollow-charge thus comes from this important portion of empty volume (2) in the structure of the ammunition.

Uses

The release of a hollow-charge makes undergo large damage with a shielding, which is generally transpierced in the case of an impact according to a trajectory perpendicular to its plan. The concentrated power of the explosion, if this one manages to bore the shielding, projects a sheaf of fused metal and extreme gases inside the vehicle, which, according to the impact leads to a “K-kill” (destruction of the crew) and very often puts to fire at the Munition S stored aboard vehicle with a result even more devastator.

History and Evolutions

One uses the hollow-charges since the Second world war, in the German Panzerfaust, the American Bazooka or British P.I.A.T. Since one finds hollow-charges in many shells of tank, or in the rockets anti-tank device, under designation HEAT, in competition with shells AP (Armor Piercing).

The hollow-charges lost of their attraction during the Années 1980 with the appearance of the reactive shieldings. They are tiles of explosive fixed on the shielding of the tank, they explode individually with an impact of explosive load, effectively dispersing the perforating jet of the hollow-charges. Contrary to the perforating shells, the hollow-charge draws its effectiveness from the power of the explosive. It has an effectiveness independent the speed of the projectile which carries it, which always makes it very useful on the missiles, the air rockets or submunitions anti-tank device.

In order to counter the reactive shieldings, certain ammunition from now on are equipped with hollow-charges out of tandem, such as for example on the missile HOT. A small hollow-charge is placed at front, it causes the explosion of the tile, making it possible the second load of normal size to act on a more conventional shielding.

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