[dragoon500ly]

Over the life of this thread, we have discussed modern military firepower, I thought it would be intresting to highlight what tankers would have faced in WWII.

The 2 pounder: In the early years of the war, this was the standard cannon armament for much of the British armor force. It fired AP and APHV ammunition. APHV entered service in the latter years of the war,
at 250m, it could penetrate 64mm of homogeneous armor,
at 500m: 57mm,
at 750m: 51mm
at 1,000m: 45mm.

AP was used during the early years,
at 250m it could penetrate 58mm,
at 500m: 52mm,
750m: 46mm
at 1,000m: 40mm.

The 6 pounder entered service at the hight of the North Africa fighting, its main round was the APCBC round, against homogeneous armor,
at 500m, it could penetrate 81mm,
at 1,000m: 74mm,
at 1,500m: 63mm
at 2,000m:56mm.

During this period the Germans started introducing face-hardened armor on their MkIIIs and MkIVs, the 6pdr at
500m, could penetrate 76mm of this armor,
at 1,000m: 74mm,
at 1,500m: 68mm
at 2,000m: 63mm

The 37mm M6 was introduced on the Stuart light tank just before the intorduction of the 6pdr. Its APC M51 round, against homogeneous armor,
at 500m could penetrate 53mm,
at 1,000m: 46mm,
at 1,500m: 40mm
at 2,000m: 35mm.

Against German face-hardened armor:
at 500m: 46mm,
at 1,000m: 40mm,
at 1,500m: 38mm
at 2,000m: 33mm

The early models Lee/Grants and M4 Shermans used the 75mm gun M-2. Its main antitank round was the AP M72 and the APC M61. The performance of the AP round (homogeneous/face-hardened armor):
at 500m: 60mm/58mm,
at 1,000m: 53mm/46mm,
at 1,500m: 46mm/33mm
at 2,000m: 38mm/25mm,

The APC's performance,
at 500m: 60mm/69mm;
at 1,000m: 55mm/60mm,
at 1,500m: 51mm/55mm
at 2,000m: 46mm/48mm.

The late models Lee/Grant and M-4A1 Shermans used the longer barrelled 75mm Gun M-3. It used the same AT rounds as the M-2.
AP shot at 500m: 76mm/66mm;
at 1,000m 63mm/53mm,
at 1,500m at 51mm/41mm
at 2,000m: 43mm/33mm.

APC shot,
at 500m: 66mm/74mm,
at 1,000m: 60mm/67mm,
at 1,500m: 55mm/60mm
at 2,000m: 50mm/54mm.

The 3-inch gun was mounted on the M-10 tank destroyer. It fired the AP M79, APC M62 and the HVAP M93.
AP at 500m: 109mm;
at 1,000m: 92mm,
at 1,500m: 76mm,
at 2,000m: 64mm.

The APC round,
at 500m: 93mm,
at 1,000m: 88mm,
at 1,500m: 82mm
at 2,000m: 75mm.

HVAP at 500m: 157mm,
at 1,000m: 135mm,
at 1,500m: 116mm
at 2,000: 98mm.

The 76mm gun entered service from 1943 onwards. It fired three types of rounds, the AP M79, the APC M62 and the HVAP M93 (TD use only).

The AP round
at 500m: 109mm,
at 1,000m: 92mm,
at 1,500m: 76mm
at 2,000m: 64mm.

APC
at 500m: 93mm,
at 1,000m: 88mm,
at 1,500m: 82mm
at 2,000m: 75mm.

HVAP
at 500m: 157mm,
at 1,000m: 135mm,
at 1,500m: 116mm
at 2,000m: 98mm

The Sherman Firefly mounted the 17pounder. It used the APCBC and SVDS (early form of sabot).

APCBC
at 500m: 140mm,
at 1,000m: 130mm,
at 1,500m: 120mm
at 2,000m: 111mm.

SVDS,
at 500m: 208mm,
at 1,000m: 192mm,
at 1,500m: 176m
at 2,000m: 161mm.

The final WWII tank gun was the 90mm. It fired the APC M82 and the HVAP M304.

The APC
at 500m: 120mm,
at 1,000m: 112mm,
at 1,500m: 104mm,
at 2,000m: 96mm.

The HVAP,
at 500m: 221mm,
at 1,000m: 199mm,
at 1,500m: 176mm
at 2,000m: 156mm

Sources are "Sherman", "British and American Tanks of WWII"