How does a mortar shell explode?

How does a mortar shell explode?

At the bottom of the barrel there is a fixed firing pin. If a mortar shell is dropped into the barrel and hits the pin, the propelling charge is ignited. Then the explosion of the propelling charge creates gas that pushes the mortar shell (or bomb) out of the tube.

What is the kill radius of a 120mm mortar?

76 meters

Can you throw mortar shells?

This method of triggering, combined with the greater explosive force of a mortar, made them way more deadly than grenades. But a hand-thrown mortar round will usually explode as soon as it hits the ground or a solid object, making it nearly impossible to throw back.

Could a mortar take out a Panzer?

Certainly mortar fire will cause a crew to button up (and possibly kill the commander before he closes the hatch), but I have read reports here that 81s can knock out a tank. Top armour was notoriously thin (they had to save weight somewhere), but a direct hit would be required to do the trick.

How accurate is a mortar?

A well trained mortar team can drop a 40 mm round precisely on the top of your head from a couple of miles away . The newer 80mm rounds have a longer range and they too can be fired with incredible accuracy by a well trained crew.

How much force does it take to destroy a tank?

This means you’d need 110 billion newtons per square meter of area to break through the wall. I’m assuming you’d want a 1 meter by 2 meter hole to be able to fit through, so that works out to 220 billion newtons of total force.

Do tank shells explode?

So the shell hits the armor, the penetration probably creates high velocity shrapnel from the plate armor being torn open and then the shells explodes inside, creating a blast wave in a small, enclosed enviroment and more fragments.

Why do tank shells explode?

HEAT has a conical cavity with a copper lining and a high explosive charge behind that. When this shell hits, its explosive charge goes off and the cone directs the molten copper into a stream that then penetrates the tank and causes damage.

How much does a 120mm tank shell cost?

Your average 120mm tank round weighs 22 kg (48-49 pounds) and contains about 8 kg (17-18 pounds) of propellant. These 120mm rounds tend to cost more than $5,000 each, brand new.

What are the two types of tank shells?

Types of Ammunition

  • Armoured piecing round.
  • High explosive round.
  • HESH Round (High Explosive Squash Head)
  • APDS (Armoured Piecing Discarding Sabot)
  • APDSFS (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot Fin Stabilized)
  • Canister rounds.
  • The Shaped Charge round.

Can you see an artillery shells in flight?

You can also watch artillery shells in flight if you know about where they are coming from and where they are going. Turn your gaze towards the impact area and you will see them flying to the target. They are supersonic. If you look at the firing points as you hear the shots the rounds are long gone.

How does an explosive shell work?

Modern high-explosive artillery shells consist of a shell casing, a propelling charge, and a bursting charge; the propelling charge is ignited by a primer at the base of the shell, and the bursting charge by a fuse in the nose. Steel has generally supplanted brass for cartridge cases.

How heavy is an artillery shell?

The weight of shells increases by and large with caliber. A typical 155 mm (6.1 in) shell weighs about 50 kg, a common 203 mm (8 in) shell about 100 kg, a concrete demolition 203 mm (8 in) shell 146 kg, a 280 mm (11 in) battleship shell about 300 kg, and a 460 mm (18 in) battleship shell over 1,500 kg.

Can you legally own a howitzer?

In general, yes! While state laws vary, it’s generally legal to own a anything that does not use “fixed ammunition”. (Note: This is a bit complex, do your own research), including old style cannons without anything special. They are legally nothing more than toasters.