Brief technical report about shaped charge rounds.

Approve Head of BTU GABTU RA Engineer-Colonel Afonin 15 November 1942

Approve Deputy Peoples Commissaar of the Tank industry of the USSR Popov 15 November 1942

Brief Technical Report.
About the development of means for tank protection against sub-caliber and cumulativeHere and further 'cumulative' is same as 'shaped charge' rounds.

During the war, new ammunition types have entered the service of the German army - sub-caliber and cumulative shells. The test firing of the hull of T-34 tank from the German 75mm gun and 76mm domestic gun with cumulative shells have shown the following:
I. The strength of the hull of T-34 tank against the cumulative shells.

Hull part	Tank bearing angle	Strength of part
		75mm German cumulative shells	76mm domestic cumulative shells
Frontal hull plates	0	No penetration	No penetration
Hull sides	90	Penetrated	penetration
Hull sides	60	No Penetration	Penetrated
Sloped sideThe upper sides (sloped) of the hull. "Подкрылки" in original.	90	No penetration	Penetrated
Hull rear	180	No penetration	No penetration
Turret	90	No penetration	Penetrated

From the above table it is evident that domestic shells have better penetration ability than the German ones as the former ones penetrate only the sides of the hull of a T-34 tank and only from angles that are close to normal.
The pecularity of these shells is that due to their HE capability they do not loose their penetrative capabilities with distance. Because of that the hull sides of a T-34 tank can be penetrated from a large distance.
Regarding the HE capability of these shells, it is quite significant and is even slightly bigger than that of ordinary HE shells.
Moreover, when impacting to the hull sides near the bottom, Подкрылки? Or transmission parts, cumulative rounds destroy them and make the tank inoperable. On impact to the lower part of the turret the roof is bent inwards or even breaks. When hitting the rear side, the hatches are torn off, exhaust pipe protection is torn off, bolt joints are destroyed.

РГАСПИ. Ф. 644. Оп. 2. Д. 115. Л. 80

Tiger tank test firing (AT rifle and AT grenade)

To brigade commanders.

Below I report the results of test firing the AT rifles and AT grenades against the "Tiger" tanks.

Test firing conducted on 13-14 November this year under the supervision of invention inspector of the military preparation detachment of the 3rd Bielorussian front. From a distance of 200-300 meters and at impact angles of 90 and 45 degrees the following results were achieved:

= Anti-Tank Rifles =

AT rifles from a distance of 200 - 300m can penetrate the caterpillar at 90 and 45 degrees angles. The links and rod joint places are also penetrated. Both for 90 degrees and for 45 degrees the effectiveness of the AT rifle is much lower that of 45mm cannon. The holes made by bullets are very small, the diameter is equal to the AT rifle bullet diameter. To break the caterpillar, around 4-5 hits must be placed next to each other in the same link.

Conclusion: it is feasable to use AT rifles to fire at caterpillars.

= Anti Tank Grenades =

AT grenades were thrown at a caterpillar one by one and also tied together by two. A single grenade, when thrown accurately can tear half of the caterpillar [link], the tank cannot move in this case. Two grenades tied together can rip the caterpillar entirely. Also AT grenades were thrown on the engine cover and turret roof it says in the original "...on the top tank floor and on the top turret floor..." which seem to mean engine cover and turret roof, since there is no "upper turret floor". When a single grenade explodes it bends the plate. The explosion of two grenades have broken the plate. Two grenades tied together were thrown from a dugout from a distance of 10m.

The division commander has ordered: Get the officer staff acquanted with the reusults of tests.

Deputy Chief of staff of the 10th breakthrough artillery division of the Supreme Command Reserve Major Ilyin.

Printed 8 copies.
copy 1 to case.
copy 2 to the rear.
copy 3-8 to the brigades.

5.12.1944

Original scan

ЦАМО, Фонд: 9977, Опись: 0000001, Дело: 0001, Лист начала документа в деле: 354

Description of battle between the 53rd grds tank brigade and “Tiger B” type tanks.

19.08.1944

To head of staff of the 3rd Tank Army.

With order Nr. … From 11th August 1944 the Commander of the 16 tank division has set up a task to take the small Schidlow with two columns to slice our combat order, with the right column through Otamuw and the left column through Rakuw.

The corps intel has timely discovered a tank gathering place near small Schidlow, with either Tiger or Panther type tanks assembling and moving to the East. The left enemy formation managed to push back units of the 112 rifle division and take Rakuw. Fierce battles were raging in the direction to Stashuw where separate enemy tanks managed to rip through the defenses to the Eastern border of Stashuw.

53rd tank brigade with separate tanks from 71st grds heavy tank regiment after organizing several tank ambushes in the region: Zelebitza, hill 247.9, Ponik, along the reverse sides of hills, has engaged in battles to the North West and West of the Eastern border of Stashuw.

52nd tank brigade was sent to strike the enemy from the rear and to capture the hill 272.1 and to advance in the direction towards Oseletz, Kshiv[unclear], kol. Zhendruw, Pechenogi Gatzki, Mokre, has reached the region of Mokre and organized tank ambushes at Mokre and on the Northern edge of the grove which is East of the Mokre.

This way enemies' routes to the South and retreat to the West were cut off. When moving further enemy tanks have exposed their sides to the fire of tanks of the 53rd grds tank brigade and 71st grds heavy tank regiment which were in the ambush. The distance of fire was 200-250m.

As a result 3 tanks burned down and 3 were knocked out (caterpillars were broken). Trying to help these tanks the enemy has attempted several attacks from Schidluw, but tanks of 52nd and 53rd grds tank brigades have repelled all of them, firing from the ambushes, destroying 9 enemy tanks as well as the enemy's towing vehicle.

Without the possibility to evacuate the knocked out tanks, their crews abandoned them and ran away. Groups of sub machine gunners who supported the tanks were hit by RS [Katyushas] several times which resulted in most of them being killed, while the rest fled to the North and North West directions.

Enemy attempt to break through to Yaseny direction was not successful and was stopped by the fire of the 1893 self-propelled artillery regiment [unclear] which was dropped near hill 284.2 and destroyed 5 enemy tanks.

As a result of three day battles the 501st separate heavy tank battalion which was armed with “Tiger B” tanks, lost 20 tanks and was forced to retreat and go defensive near Eastern part of small Schidluw.

The first evacuated tank was sent to the commander of the forces of the 1st Ukrainian front Marshal of the Soviet Union, comrade Konev. This tank didn’t make a single shot.

Chief of staff of the 6th grds tank corps. Guards Colonel Lebedev.

ЦАМО, Фонд: 315, Опись: 4440, Дело: 172
ЦАМО, Фонд: 315, Опись: 4440, Дело: 172