Shot trap

In today's article we will talk about Shot trap, a topic that has captured the attention of many people over time. Shot trap is a concept that has generated debate and discussion in different areas, from the personal to the professional level. Since its appearance, Shot trap has aroused the interest of researchers, experts and curious people who seek to further understand its meaning and its impact on society. Throughout history, Shot trap has demonstrated its ability to influence the way people think and act, and in this article we will explore some of the reasons behind its relevance and continued presence in our lives.

A shot trap is a deficiency in an armoured vehicle's design. It is a location where a shell that has struck but fails to penetrate may ricochet in such a manner as to hit another area of the vehicle where it is more likely to cause damage, or if it jams into the armour and explodes there, it may produce a concentrated blast effect that will damage the vehicle by blowing off the turret.[1] Shot trap may also refer to the safety device used to collect used projectiles at some rifle ranges.

For example, the initial turret design of the Panther, Tiger II, M26 Pershing and KV-1 tanks had shot traps.[2] The lower edge of the curved mantlet acted as a shot trap by deflecting incoming shots downwards towards the hull roof or into the turret ring where the shell could potentially jam the traverse mechanism. In an attempt to minimize the shot trap potential, some late production Panther G and the M26 Pershing T26E5 prototype modified the lower edge of the mantlet.[3] The final Tiger II production turret did not feature the curved front of the early turret, instead using a flat plate sloped back 10 degrees.[4]

  • A tank turret with a front face which curves up and down. The sides are slanted vertically and curved laterally
    A model depicting the curved front of the early Tiger II turret
  • A tank turret with an almost square, flat, vertical face, the sides are almost vertical, and curve laterally only slightly
    The flat front of the later Tiger II production turret
  • Panther with regular rounded mantlet
    Panther with regular rounded mantlet
  • Panther with flattened lower 'chin' mantlet
    Panther with flattened lower 'chin' mantlet

Notes

  1. ^ Zaloga 1993, p. 37.
  2. ^ Maksim Kolomiets, KV. "Klim Voroshilov"-tank proryva p. 82
  3. ^ Hunnicutt, Pershing, p.149
  4. ^ Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 13–16.

References

  • Hunnicutt, R.P. (1971). Pershing: A History of the Medium Tank T20 Series. City: Feist Publications. OCLC 500632382.
  • Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1993). Kingtiger Heavy Tank, 1942-45. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-282-X.
  • Zaloga, Steven (1993). Sherman Medium Tank 1942-1945. City: Osprey Publishing (UK). ISBN 978-1-85532-296-7.
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