English Mk1 questions

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Rob Beale

I suspect that Armour Piercing ammo was used here.

Rob

Rob, you'd like to think so, but I'm not sure that AP ammo would have been used to proof the armour. Here's why: I used to be the Vice-President of the Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club back in B.C. I had open and virtually unlimited access to the range there and used to do things the public weren't allowed to. I loved doing penetration tests on various items such as propane bottles, cars, trucks, and even a B.C. Hydro bus. (B.C. guys, keep this under your hats!) Some time ago, the Canadian Government, in it's infinite wisdom decided to ban Incendiary ammunition. I had a bunch of 7.62 X 54R API which was soon going to be prohibited so I figured I'd spend a thoroughly enjoyable day at the range blowing it away. I had a 12" X 12" X 1" piece of steel which I set up as a gong at the 200m range. For comparison I fired several shots from my M14 using 7.62 Nato Ball. Bang! Clang! Bang! Clang! Bang! Clang! I checked the steel and found that the gong was dented to maybe 1/4". This is tougher steel than I thought. Next, I fired several shots of 7.62 X 54R API from a Moisin-Nagant M44 carbine. Wow! Every bullet of the API was protruding from the back of the steel gong. Not quite enough energy to completely pass through, but the steel was definitely holed. I was surprised to see that the ammo, fired from a short barreled carbine at 200m still carried sufficient energy to penetrate 1" steel. So, to make a long story short, AP ammunition from a long barreled Lee-Enfield at closer range would in all likelihood penetrate the armour, resulting in needed repairs to the UC and a loss in confidence for the crews.