U.S. Army Firing Tests conducted August 1944 by 12th U.S. Army Group at Isigny, France.

Board of Officers
APO 655

30 August 1944

SUBJECT: Final report of board of officers appointed to determine comparative

effectiveness of ammunition of 76mm gun and 17pdr gun.

TO: Commanding General, Twelfth Army Group.

1. The board convened pursuant to the attached order at the firing range established
by First U.S. Army near Isigny, France at 1030 hours, 19 August 1944 and conducted
firing tests against the front plate of German Panther Tanks. The firing was continued,
as the weather and the availability of target tanks permitted, on 20 and 21 August
1944. Because of the urgency of the test, a preliminary report, dated 21 August 1944,
was submitted on 22 August 1944.

2. Ammunition
a. The characteristics of the standard ammunitions tested are shown below:

Complete Projectile
Ammunition M/V Rd. Wt. Weight   Description
76mm APC M62 2600 24.80 15.44 Armor piercing cap, windshield,
(Lot# ODCM-104)   base fuze, and tracer.
76mm HVAP T4 3400 18.90 9.50 Light weight projectile with 3.9
(Lot# PA 9-1) lb tungsten carbide core 1½" in
  diamter in steel sheath.
Aluminium body, steel base,
windshield, and tracer.
17pdr APCBC 2900 35.50 17.00 Armor piercing cap, windshield,
(Lot# JIB 3/44-2301)   and tracer.
17pdr SABOT 3950 26.30 08.15 Discarding SABOT with 3.9 lb
(Lot# KBY 7/44-Lot 2)   tungsten carbide core 1½" in
diameter, steel base, and tracer.

b. In addition to the above ammunitions, the board fired 76mm HVAP projectile from a
17pdr anti-tank gun, with 17pdr APCBC and 17pdr SABOT propelling charges in a 17pdr
APCBC cartridge case.

3. Nature of Test
a. The above ammunitions were fired at the front plate of three Panther tanks. The general
characteristics of the frontal armour are: Glacis Plate 85mm (3.35") at 55º and Nose Plate
65mm (2.56") at 55º. using U.S. armor basis curve, the verticle equivalent of the glacis
plate is 187mm (7.36") and of the nose plate 139mm (5.47"). Due to the inclination of the
ground, the angle with the verticle of the glacis plates on the tanks used in this test were:
57º 34', 57º 05', and 56º 53'. The nose plate on one of the tanks tested measured 66.67mm
(25/8").

b. Wide variation was found in the quality of glacis plate on the three tanks. Tank No.2
(hereafter referred to as the "best plate") sustained 30 hits as ranges from 600 to 200 yards
without cracking. Tanks Nos.1 and 3 (hereafter referred to as "average plate") cracked after
relatively few hits. All conclusions are, therefore, based solely on the relative performance of
rounds fired at a single plate. Comparisons are not made between rounds fired at different
plates. Also, the performance of any ammunition in this test cannot be considered a criterion
as to the range at which it will penetrate the front plate of a Panther tank... [last few words
of sentence are illegible].

c. Effectiveness was determined by balancing penetrations against the number of rounds

fired and the number of hits obtained on the specific plate.

d. A penetration was defined as occuring only when the projectile passed completely through
the plate. Only fair hits were considered in determining penetrations. Rounds striking edges
of the plate, welds and junctions of the plate, and cracks in the plate were not fair hits.

e. The line of fire was approximately perpendicular to the lateral axis of the target tanks.

f. The 17pdr guns were fired by two superior British enlisted gunners. The 76mm gun was
fired by two officers with considerable test firing experience.

4. Results of Test
a. A tabulation of the detailed results, with photographs, is attached as Appendix A1.

b. Accuracy

(1)  A tabulation does not present a true picture of the comparative accuracy of the various
ammunitions. With all the standard rounds, except 17pdr SABOT, the accuracy was such as
to warrant attempting to hit specific parts of the front plates. In general this was successful,
but some rounds fired at the lower glacis struck the upper nose, and vice versa. In addition,
it was not possible to position all the tanks so that the nose was not, at least partially,
hidden by the ground line. Therefore, it is felt that a better measure of accuracy can be
obtained by considering the nose and glacis as one target.

(2) On this basis all twenty-two (22) rounds of 76mm HVAP, T4, and all twenty-three (23)
rounds of 17pdr APCBC hit the target. Only one (1) of eight (8) rounds of 76mm APC, M62,
which fell short attempting to hit the nose, failed to hit the target. Forty-two (42) rounds of
17pdr SABOT were fired and only 57% [24 rounds] were hits. More rounds of 76mm APC,
M62 were not fired since its accuracy had been well established in previous firing in the U.S.
by two members of the board.

(3) Insufficient firing was conducted with 76mm HVAP projectile with 17pdr APCBC and
17pdr SABOT propellant to determine definite sight settings for a conclusive accuracy test.
The results of the limited firing indicated that these rounds are of an accuracy comparable
with 76mm HVAP and 17pdr APCBC.

c. Penetration

(1) At 600 yards, 17pdr APCBC penetrated the lower nose of tank No.1 (average plate),
while 76mm HVAP failed to penetrate.

(2) At 400 yards, one round out of four fair hits of 17pdr SABOT penetrated the glacis of
tank No.2 (best plate). This was the only penetration of this plate by a fair hit with any of
the ammunitions (including 76mm HVAP w/17pdr APBC propellant, 76mm HVAP w/17pdr
SABOT propellant) at ranges 200 yards and over.

(3) At 400 yards, one round out of one fair hit with 17pdr APCBC and one round out of one
hit with 17pdr SABOT penetrated the lower nose of tank No.2 (best plate). Both rounds of
76mm APC, M62 failed to penetrate, and one round of 76mm HVAP penetrated while the
second round failed to penetrate. Two rounds out of two hits of 76mm HVAP w/17pdr SABOT
propellant also penetrated.

(4) At 200 yards one fair hit with each of the standard ammunitions failed to penetrate the
glacis of tank No.2 (best plate). The relative depths of the partial penetrations at this range
were as follows:
     (a) 17pdr APCBC - 2"
     (b) 17pdr SABOT - 1 7/8"
     (c) 76mm HVAP - 1 5/16"
     (d) 76mm APC, M62 - 1"

(5) At 200 yards firing at the glacis of tank No.3 (average plate) one round out of four fair
hits with 76mm HVAP penetrated, this round, after partially penetrating, ...[illegible word]...
and penetrated the plate ...[illegible word]... . One round of 17pdr SABOT penetrated and
one round failed to penetrate at this range. One fair hit with 17pdr APCBC failed to
penetrate, but cracked the plate. The second round striking within 6" of the first round
penetrated.

(6) In contrast to the results obtained in this teast with 17pdr SABOT, in firing conducted by
First U.S. Army at Balleroy on 10 July 44, 5 rounds were fired at the front plate of a Panther
tank at 700 yards. Examination of pictures of this firing indicates that the first round struck
the mantlet, the second between the track and the nose plate, the third at the junction of
the nose and glacis and penetrated. The fourth and fifth were fair hits on the glacis and both
penetrated. The conflict between these results and those obtained by the board is expalined
by Col. A. G. Cole, Deputy Director of Artillery, Ministry of Supply. Col. Cole witnessed part
of the test and states that the ammunition lot furnished the board had not been proof fired.
He further states that, in his opinion, the lot is of sub-standard manufacture and if proof
fired would not have been accepted.

(7) 76mm APC, M62 fair hits which failed to penetrate caused no cracking of the plate of
average quality. 76mm HVAP, 17pdr SABOT, and 17pdr APCBC caused cracking in varying
degrees. In general, 17pdr APCBC caused greater damage to the plate than 17pdr SABOT or
76mm HVAP.

5. Findings
a. The 17pdr SABOT fired in this test has penetrating power equal or slightly better than that
of the 17pdr APCBC and the 76mm HVAP, T4. It is, however, definitely inferior to these
ammunitions because of its inaccuracy. The board invites attention to the fact that its
findings and conclusions apply only to the ammunition furnished it and may not apply to
good quality 17pdr SABOT.

b. The accuracy of 76mm APC, M62 is satisfactory. However this ammunition is definitely
inferior to either the 17pdr APCBC or the 76mm HVAP, T4, because of its poor penetrating
power.

c. The 17pdr APCBC and the 76mm HVAP, T4, are both highly accurate ammunitions. In the
opinion of the members of the board, two of whom have had considerable experience test
firing British and American tank and antitank weapons, the 76mm HVAP, T4 is the most
accurate tank or antitank ammunition encountered to date.

d. The 17pdr APCBC is more effective against the front of a Panther tank than is the 76mm
HVAP, T4. Its margin of superiority is not great. Neither one can be depended upon to
penetrate the glacis plate in one fair hit on average quality plate.

e. Combining 76mm HVAP, T4 projectile with 17pdr APCBC propellant offers no advantages
over a standard ammunition.

f. Because of its accuracy and since the core is essentially the same as that in 17pdr SABOT,
76mm HVAP, T4 projectile with 17pdr SABOT propellant may provide an ammunition
superior to 17pdr SABOT as regards accuracy and to 17pdr APCBC and 76mm HVAP as
regards penetration.

6. Conclusions
a. That the 17pdr SABOT of the lot tested is considered an unsatisfactory ammunition
because of its inaccuracy.

b. That the 76mm APC, M62 is considered an unsatisfactory ammunition for use against
heavy armor because of its inferior penetration.

c. That the 17pdr APCBC and the 76mm HVAP, T4 are considered the best antitank
ammunitions available in these calibers for use against heavy armor. The 17pdr APCBC is
somewhat superior to the 76mm HVAP, T4, against the Panther Tank. Neither one can be be
depended upon to penetrate the glacis plate of the Panther in one fair hit on average quality
plate.

d. That the possibilities should be investigated of using 76mm HVAP, T4 projectile with
17pdr SABOT propellant, if 17pdr guns are made available to U.S. units.

Andrew P. O'Meara, Colonel, F.A., President.

Francis B. Shearer, Colonel, Ord, Member.
John B. Routh, Lt Col, F.A., Recorder.

3 Incls.
Incl No.1 - Appendix "A".
Incl No.2 - Photographs of firing. Numbers 1-27 inclusive 1.
Incl No.3 - Letter order, HQ 12th Army Group (Rear), dated 16 August 1944, Subject:
"Appointment of Board of Officers".

NOTES:
(1) The Photographs were not included with the documentation so I am unable to provide
them here.

This information above was supplied to me by Jim O'Neil (Arizona, USA), the original source
is declassified documents made available in 1988.