Merkava I vs T-72A | Armor Penetration Simulation

Simulation of Merkava I tank projectile hitting the frontal armor of T-72A tank

105 mm M111 APFSDS (Tungsten Alloy penetrator + 3 tungsten alloy cylinders, ~3.6kg) at 1390 m/s

vs

T-72A hull front armor (60mm RHA + 2x 52.5mm glass textolite + 50mm RHA at 68 degrees)

Merkava I tank 105mm L7 gun muzzle velocity - 1455 m/s (M111). 1390 m/s refers to a distance of approximately 1.5 km.

[Pokri-egud]

This was discovered during Lebanon in 1982 and the short term solution the soviets used was a 16 mm plate welded to the UFP. It's interesting to see it this way, M111 barely goes through, it would be interesting to see how a Merkava would fare against a 3BM15 at the same range. Nice job, keep up the good work.

[moosiemoose]

Awesome simulation. I'm glad you've added the sheet of metal at the end to show fragmentation.

[smortstonk]

It's really impressive how about half of the penetrator got sheared off by the first layer of steel but it still managed to punch through.

[razorcola]

Nicely done !
It would be nice to see the M413 (M111 successor) against the T-72A with the 16 mm glacis add-on armor plate at the same range
or against the 60-15-15-15-50 glacis layout of the improved T-72A.

[theultimatekiwi]

Could we see a simulation of the ap shot from the crusader hitting the front of a Pz 4/3 (early models)?

[tommeakin]

How much energy do those tiny fragments that hit the witness plate have do you think? What material is the witness plate supposed to be?

[petrkdn]

So as others have suggested months before, with your knowledge of these simulations, could you design your own round to defeat Armour?

[ginod]

could you by any chance do something completely stupid, like a 357mm hitting a T-90 or something like that?

[szaszs]

After the argument about spalling under the KV-2 video I appreciate the plate there showing the force of the projectiles after penetration. I was thinking people need something like that in a human shape as a reminder to see what kind of damage these things cause in the crew

[matthayward]

The Witness plate at the end is a great idea!

[meomlett]

This plate that shows lethality of spall is something I wish to see more in future uploads!

[jimtrela]

Notice how at 24 to 29 seconds, a small piece of the projectile reflects off the front surface of the 2nd RHA plate, and flies through the glass textolite. This looks a good means to reduce the mass of the remainder of the projectile that will go through the second plate at its original flat angle. Also, at 42 seconds, notice the spray of projectile material that flies up between the back of the first RHA plate and the front of the glass textoliie.. Perhaps this 2nd effect should be further exploited by dividing up the first and 2nd RHA plates in more plates, with glass textolite in-between. It looks like the mass of the first, reflected projectile fragment is much larger than the second jet I described.

It's also significant that the metal armor used is (just) RHA. not maranging steel.

[gamecubekingdevon]

hence why the 1983 add on was so thin. the projectile barely penetrated it, so, even a thin upgrade of HSS before would indeed cause it to stop the pen.

[jintsuubest]

What I observed is, it didn't do much?
It is there simply because they want the penetrator to have certain weight but they cannot make the penetrator any longer?

Also, I observed the textolite didn't do much to the sabot (eroding the rod). Does it even manage to reduce the velocity? Cut away velocity view would be interesting.

[thomasmacdonough]

I remember reading somewhere that after the border war the SADF ran tests and determined their M111 could pen the hull of a T72, but not the turret. Interesting to see how little it does pen even the hull, where I imagine the newer M426 would make short work of it.

[Belegur]

Is it possible to make simulation of 30mm PMC287 apfsds vs 100mm flat RHA and 50mm 60deg RHA?

[JuanC]

Csn you do a 120mm apfsds hitting multiple spaced armours angled like the strv105?

[paullakowski]

PENETRATOR EFFICIENCY is determined by several impact variables like velocity, the L/D of the impacting rod and the rod mass/length , its material capability. The armor resistance is determined by the thickness effectiveness of the armor layers + how much slope is involved. As well as ratio of projectile diameter vs target thickness and the distance to the next weak spot .

[williammalmsten]

It is said that a 40mm APSFDS from a CV90 can penetrate the front of a T72A at short distance. Would be interesting if you made a video testing that!

[mmmyes]

Can you do a little tutorial to show how to account for the adiabatic shear band?


If you can’t, then does the mesh size determine whether it is accounted for in the simulation? Im just assuming this because your mesh seems to be very fine.