WW2 German SQUEEZE-BORE Hi-Velocity Anti-Tank AMMO in Artillery Guns #military #history #engineering

Published on August 5, 2024
Duration: 1:00

This video details rare WWII German and British squeeze-bore artillery ammunition based on the Gerlich principle. It explains how a tapered barrel forces a sub-caliber projectile with soft flanges to reduce its caliber, significantly increasing velocity for enhanced anti-tank effectiveness. Production ceased due to tungsten shortages and manufacturing complexity.

Quick Summary

The Gerlich principle uses a tapered barrel that decreases in diameter toward the muzzle. Sub-caliber projectiles with soft flanges are forced through, reducing their caliber and dramatically increasing velocity for superior anti-tank performance, though production ceased due to tungsten shortages.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Rare WW2 Squeeze-Bore Ammo
  2. 00:10The Gerlich Principle Explained
  3. 00:21Projectile Mechanics & Velocity
  4. 00:38Effectiveness & Discontinuation Reasons

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gerlich principle in firearms?

The Gerlich principle, developed by Hermann Gerlich in the 1920s-30s, involves a tapered barrel that progressively decreases in diameter towards the muzzle. This design allows sub-caliber projectiles with soft flanges to be forced through, reducing their caliber and significantly increasing their velocity.

How did squeeze-bore ammunition work?

Squeeze-bore ammunition used sub-caliber projectiles fitted with soft metal flanges. As these projectiles traveled through a tapered barrel (following the Gerlich principle), the flanges folded inward. This action reduced the projectile's effective caliber, enabling much higher muzzle velocities.

Why was squeeze-bore ammunition effective against tanks in WW2?

The extreme muzzle velocity achieved by squeeze-bore rounds, coupled with their hard tungsten cores, provided exceptional armor-penetrating capabilities. This made them highly effective against the tanks of World War II, despite their specialized nature.

Why did Nazi Germany stop producing squeeze-bore ammunition?

Production of squeeze-bore ammunition was discontinued by Nazi Germany due to critical shortages of tungsten, a key component for the projectile cores. Additionally, the manufacturing process for these specialized rounds was complex and resource-intensive.

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