Description

100 mm Fixed Ammunition with HE M82 Projectile – Overview

The 100 mm HE M82 is a fixed high-explosive (HE) artillery round, typically used in tank guns and anti-tank field guns from the mid-20th century era. This round is designed to deliver a high-explosive payload to soft targets, field fortifications, and lightly armored vehicles.

It was widely used in Soviet and Eastern Bloc artillery systems, especially the D-10T tank gun mounted on vehicles like the T-54, T-55, and in the BS-3 100mm field gun.

General Characteristics

• Caliber: 100 mm

• Type: Fixed (cartridge is one-piece — projectile and casing are permanently attached)

• Projectile: High-Explosive (HE) M82

• Purpose: Anti-personnel, anti-fortification, general-purpose explosive

• Fuzing: Point-detonating fuze (PD), typically instantaneous or with optional delay

• Shell Weight: Approx. 15–16 kg

• Muzzle Velocity: Around 900–1000 m/s (varies by gun and charge)

• Effective Range: Up to 14–18 km in artillery guns, shorter in tank use (~3–4 km)

The M82 HE Projectile

• Type: High-Explosive fragmentation shell

• Construction: Steel body filled with TNT or similar explosive

• Detonation: Upon impact via point-detonating fuze (e.g., V-429E or MG-8)

• Effect: Fragmentation over wide radius (lethal radius typically 10–20 m)

• Targets: Infantry, bunkers, soft vehicles, trenches, structures

Compatible Guns

1. 100 mm D-10T Tank Gun

   • Mounted on T-54, T-55, and Chinese Type 59 tanks

   • Also used in self-propelled variants (e.g., SU-100)

2. 100 mm BS-3 Field Gun

   • Towed anti-tank and field artillery gun

   • Known for high velocity and long barrel

3. Naval and coastal defense variants

   • Some fixed 100mm guns used on ships or coastal batteries

Use Cases

• Saturation fire against enemy troops or emplacements

• Destruction of field fortifications like bunkers, walls, and trenches

• Secondary anti-vehicle use (against light armor and soft-skinned vehicles)

• Urban combat for breaching walls and fortified buildings

Advantages

• Strong explosive payload

• Versatile against soft targets

• Effective area damage via fragmentation

• Relatively high velocity for a HE round

Limitations

• Not armor-piercing – ineffective against main battle tanks

• Heavier round — lower rate of fire compared to smaller calibers

• Obsolete in modern tank combat – mainly found in legacy systems