Knock Out: The Evolution of Tank Ammunition

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Just to be clear, DU is not waste from nuclear power stations. It is 'waste' from the process of extracting the radioactive U235 that goes on to form the fuel for nuclear reactors. Military DU comprises more than 99% U238; that's why it's only weakly radioactive and it will certainly never have been near the inside of a power station. It is though still a heavy metal and still chemically toxic, but you wouldn't want to be ingesting too much lead either.

I must say, I really enjoyed this video. Chris Copson has tremendously improved as a presentator. In the past I found his style good enough, but now i like it. the cadence has improved, as well as where, when and how he chooses to pause. Well done! Looking forward to more

The word "sabot" (the 't' is silent) originally meant a type of French wooden shoe. In the 18th century, it was used to refer to a wooden disc which was attached to a cannon ball to give a tighter fit in the barrel.

A mistake about annealing (5:10): Hardening the round (via quenching) gives it strength but also brittleness. Annealing improves the toughness of the round so that it doesn’t shatter on impact.

Please do not feel as if you have to apologize for explaining all of these concepts so clearly and simply that a novice like myself can understand. I believe that your pacing, and the accompanying illustrations and film, will keep the video interesting even for those who are more knowledgeable on the subject.

Just a correction on the solid rounds. "Annealing" is a heat treating process which SOFTENS metals, it doesn't harden them. It is used to control the crystal grain growth in the metal.

Even as someone who's a bit of a "casual enthusiast" on arms and ordnance topics (and who once-upon-a-time did volunteer work at a very different armor museum), I did appreciate the relatively comprehensive yet approachable coverage in this video.

Super awesome to see a comprehensive basic talk about tank shells! I hope you guys expand the series and talk about stuff like HE filler vs solid shot in WW2, canister, and artillery shells

Great stuff! Excellent presentation.

Left out APCR / HVAP - Armor Piercing Composite Rigid / Hyper Velocity Armor Piercing (Known to the Russians and Germans as Arrowhead from its shape) - A half way house to Discarding Sabot Armour-piercing, composite rigid (APCR) in British nomenclature, high-velocity armour-piercing (HVAP) in US nomenclature, alternatively called "hard core projectile" (German: Hartkernprojektil) or simply "core projectile" (Swedish: kärnprojektil), is a projectile which has a core of high-density hard material, such as tungsten carbide, surrounded by a full-bore shell of a lighter material (e.g., an aluminium alloy). However, the low sectional density of the APCR resulted in high aerodynamic drag. Tungsten compounds such as tungsten carbide were used in small quantities of inhomogeneous and discarded sabot round, but that element was in short supply in most places. Most APCR projectiles are shaped like the standard APCBC round (although some of the German Pzgr. 40 and some Soviet designs resemble a stubby arrow), but the projectile is lighter: up to half the weight of a standard AP round of the same calibre. The lighter weight allows a higher muzzle velocity. The kinetic energy of the round is concentrated in the core and hence on a smaller impact area, improving the penetration of the target armour. To prevent shattering on impact, a shock-buffering cap is placed between the core and the outer ballistic shell as with APC rounds. However, because the round is lighter but still the same overall size it has poorer ballistic qualities, and loses velocity and accuracy at longer ranges. The APCR was superseded by the APDS, which dispensed with the outer light alloy shell once the round had left the barrel. The concept of a heavy, small-diameter penetrator encased in light metal was later employed in small-arms armour-piercing incen

Superb video, i can not fault it. The information was given in an understandable way. Chris gives great explanation for all subjects. Personal memories...RCT supporting RSDG in 1985, found out they called the HESH practise rounds SHSPRAC. When said it sounds good. No idea what they called SABOT rounds. Edit. @19.28 Let that sink in, then remember Challenger had the longest Tank on Tank kill ever, with a "dart" with a "Rifled" gun.

this guy has one of my fave new youtubers, he is very thorough.... what i like from youtube is enthusasts, not some presenter that is just presenting and i think this channel understands what youtube is about in that regard a great many museams now put on top quality docs of their own, the imperial war museam also does great ones to

Sighting in the enemy first, and getting an effective first hit quickly is the key.

Excellent as ever. A video on the development of fire control systems would be good - basic telescope, stadiametric range finding, ballistic computers and digital fir control. Plus gun stabilisation to allow firing on the move. Then there are night vision devices

Well that gave me a shock. The knocked out Sherman at 4.27 was commanded by Robert Hiseman at El Alamein. He happened to be my mothers boyfriend in Egypt. She commanded the Army telephone exchange in Cairo. I have a print of this and Bob has written on the back of the print. That’s not Bob in the picture but one of his crew How we caught it at El Alamein ‘Blighty’ T74285 5 troop B squadron 47 RTR

Now I know we all want Smoothbore v. Rifled - A closer look!

I was at tankfest 2023 last weekend, my 3rd tankfest & an amazing weekend. These videos, along with the tank chats series are all presented by people with an incredible depth of knowledge of the subjects discussed, & are great insights in to the complex & fascinating subject of armoured warfare past & present. I am a full gold membership holder & supporter of the museum & I cannot encourage a visit to the museum in beautiful Dorset , highly enough. Keep up the great work guys, & hope to see you next year at tankfest 2024. 👍👍😎

Excellent video ! 18:58 sounds like an excellent follow up video idea

Well done, sir! A complex subject briefly explained, but not over simplified. I look forward to future videos on the subject.