In the Tiger II
picture on the bottom, you can clearly see
shells that are used in the 88mm KwK 43 cannon.
The model 43 cannon uses the same type of shells
as the model 36, but with higher velocities.
This is due to the longer barrel and more
gunpowder pushing the projectile. The longer
barrel helps with muzzle velocity because the
gases pushing the projectile are pushing for a
longer period rather than them immediately
dispersing into the air at the end of the
muzzle.
Let's get into the physics of this cannon.
I will not mention the HEAT round in this cannon
because it is the same one used on the KwK 36
cannon.
APBC:
This round
is vastly different than the model 36 cannons
APBC round. This round has a slightly increased
mass of 10.4 kg and travels at about 200m/s
faster than the model 36 round. It clocks in at
1000 m/s. Using the kinetic energy equation we
can find that this round has 5,200,000 joules of
energy. With this amount of energy, it can
penetrate up to 202mm of armor, defeating
anything that the Allies can throw at it.
APCR:
The APCR
round in the model 43 cannon is something of
magnificent. Having a mass of 7.3 kg and
traveling at a blistering 1,130 m/s, this round
can penetrate up to 238mm of armor. with the
kinetic energy equation, we can determine that
this round has 4,660,685 joules of energy. This
is very interesting. The armor-piercing shell
has less energy but can penetrate more? This is
because the round is traveling only 130 m/s
faster than the APBC shell but has 3 kg less
mass.
