Tank Turrent vs Rifle bullet question

[Rockrivr1]

Ok, this is most likely a very dumb question, but one that I keep wondering about. A few weeks ago I was watching Saving Private Ryan and at the end the GI Sniper was in the church tower. While shooting BGs he saw in the scope that the Tank was aiming at him. Of course it fired and killed him and another GI that was up there.

When this part was played I remember wondering the first time I saw this, what would of happened if he fired a round into the turrent. I know, would of had to be an amazing shot, but what if he did. Then I though that maybe the round would be way to small to amount to anything, but what if it was a 50 cal round.

My question is basically this. If a 50 cal AP round or two went down a tank turrent and lodged against an unfired shell in the breach, when the shell was fire would the lodged rounds have any effect. Would it damage the turrent, cause the shell to take on a wierd spin out of the barrel or even cause the tank turrent to explode?

It probably would do nothing, but I'm wondering if it could. What do you think?

 

[Cosmoline]

Unless it was an incendiary AP round, then I doubt it very much. Consider the force involved. A shell is going to hit its target with forces far, far greater than any small arm can match. And if the charge in the shell is triggered by this crushing, a mere dent by a bullet will do nothing to set it off. A bullet "lodged" in the bore would merely be a smudge of lead, and would have no significant impact on anything. It's softer than the shell and would just get smeared around. If it were steel core it might offer more resistance, but frankly the force of the shell is going to win that fight. At worst it would scratch the bore and indent the side of the shell.

It would have to hit the primer, or pierce the side of the shell and ignite the powder. And it could only do this if it was burning itself.

 

[Tamara]

Do you mean actually firing a round down the bore of the tank's main gun? If the shell loaded was HE, and not AP with a base charge, and if by some miracle of physics the .50 round hit it square on, it would probably detonate in the chamber, which would mean a bad day for the tank.

The odds of this actually happening are about as great as the odds of me winning the Powerball lottery, and I didn't buy a ticket.

Better targets on an AFV for a rifle-armed sharpshooter are vision blocks, and the little bit of the tank's meaty filling that sometimes sticks out the hatch atop the turret.

 

[Henry Bowman]

and the little bit of the tank's meaty filling that sometimes sticks out the hatch atop the turret.

Tam - You never cease to crack me up! Kind of like "that unpleasantness in Europe during the early 1940s."

 

[NMshooter]

The track pins make great targets too...

 

[Linux&Gun Guy]

What if you shot down the turret while they had the breech open?

 

[Tamara]

Depending on what it hit inside, and at what angle it hit it, it'd either flatten out and fall to the floor, or spang about inside for a bit, making the turret basket an exciting place to be standing until it was spent.

 

[mack69]

RE:

Dang Tam..you certianly have a flare for words.....
Hmmm a 50 cal projectile spanging around the inside of a WWII tank exciting???

 

[Rockrivr1]

The answers are kinda what I thought. Didn't know for sure and I've always wondered.

Damn, now I have to figure another way to disable a tank when the world ends and I'm stuck in a dead end canyon with a home made tank breathing down my neck.

 

[Tory]

Instead of relying upon a Magic Bullet,

why not use the "sticky bomb" deployed in that same movie? A brick of C-4, gelignite, dynamite, ANFO, or the like should take the tracks out. For that matter, a sufficient quantity of Molotov cocktails might asphyxiate the engine and, possibly, the crew, depending upon the quality of the air filtration system and the quantity of fuel applied to the tank - or broiler, as the case may be......

 

[dustind]

What about shooting the side of the barrel and causing the barrel to bulge inward? Is that possible?

 

[Jeff Timm]

Dustind asked, "What about shooting the side of the barrel and causing the barrel to bulge inward? Is that possible?"

Not likely mate. It would take a major caliber AP round from another tank cannon, or a direct hit on the barrel with a shaped charge. Those cannon barrels are TOUGH!

If they ever open up Aberdeen Proving Ground Museam to the public again, you can see even WWII cannon barrels were heavy, tough stuff.

Best to sneak up on the crew when they stop and brew up some tea. Then strangle them with piano wire and two toggles.

Geoff
Who believes in killing tanks cheap...besides you can get real money for a tank in good condition!

 

[MaterDei]

Those cannon barrels are TOUGH!

I'll second that! In fact they are so strong that they don't break even when The Hulk spins a tank around by it's barrel. That's a lot of weight. Truly amazing.

 

[Delmar]

Artillery barrels are made very tough. The first bunker buster bombs used in Gulf War I were made of surplus 8" cannon barrels, and will smash through several dozen feet of steel reinforced concrete.

 

[tankertom]

Gotta agree on the tank barrels being tough. I have seen one chop down a power pole just in front of me when the gunner wasn't paying attention on a road march. Falling wires got a bit sporty.

tt

 

[ZeroX]

I always hated that. The sniper was my favorite character.

 

[roscoe]

I must admit that I had the same thought - maybe every sniper should keep a few API rounds for shooting down the bore.

Or, you could do as Indiana Jones did and stuff a rock in the end of the barrel.

 

[Redlg155]

If you are a "sniper" then your best bet would be to take out the primary and secondary sighting systems for the main gun. Of course that still doesn't get you in the clear since he could "boresight" on you through the tube and make your day very bad.

However, there is no dishonor by making a hasty departure and relocating.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Delmar]

I liked the sniper character myself, but he did violate the first rule. Shoot-move. Being a sniper is not good for long life. Nobody likes you in the first place, and the bad guys are going to devote a lot of attention towards you as you are bringing a lot of heat on them and they know it.

 

[shep854]

The real problem is, there's no escape from the writers; once they decide it's time for a character to go, he's toast.

 

[MrMurphy]

That was not a tank, it was an assault gun... a howitzer with an armored carriage on tracks.


Generally rifle fire that doesn't kill the commander or driver or ricochet down the hatch just makes an annoying "ping!" while the tank crew finds the shooter.


A sergeant I knew was shelled in Sandbox War #1 by 152mm artillery pieces, everyone dove inside and buttoned up. He said the "ping! Ping!" of shrapnel was a bit annoying, but otherwise, they were fine. A direct hit atop the tank is the only thing that would really hurt them.

 

[MJRW]

An aside. How did the misspelling of "turret" as "turrent" become so popular? I see "turret" spelled more often as "turrent" and I can't figure out why. How does the exact same misspelling happen when the word isn't even pronounced that way? I don't see it misspelled as "turet" or "turrett", it is always misspelled as "turrent." And the people continue to misspell it over and over again the same way. There has to be someone here who understands how this happens because it sure as hell isn't me.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Wellllllllll, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the best speller in the world. I think I seen it spelled that way once or twice and it just stuck.

Damned MicroSoft Spell Checker has ruined my mind!!

 

[armoredman]

Anyone remember what make of SP gun it was? If it was a Hetzer, than a PTRD 14.5mm anti tank rifle could penetrate the side armor close up. The Hetzer was a cheapie slap togther design that was surprisingly good, and actually used in two other countries after the war, but it has cheesy side and rear armor.
If it was a Stug, forget it.....taking out the gun commander would just ensure they hunt your rear down....
BTW, one WWII assault gun never to mess with - Sturmtiger. 380mm rocket mortar....

 

[armoredman]

Sturmtiger.