Historical Ammunition Loadouts
Дата: 20.02.2014 12:53:06
Tuccy: A collection of data from various sources that will be probably
interesting foer all of us who dab into the history sometimes.
Ammunition loadouts for tanks that we have in game or that are
similar (or which can, at least, serve as point of interest). NOTE:
Some configurations cannot be used in game, obviously ;)
Special thanks to bojan for his data on Yugoslavian loadouts and
for directing me to some interesting Russian literature.
Czechoslovakia
Lt vz. 35 (aka PzKpfw 35(t)) (3,7cm UV vz.34)
54 HE-Frag, 24 AP
Note:Did not find standard loadouts for vehicles in Wehrmacht service. After intorduction of loader it was necessary to remove one ammo bin, reducing the total loadout to 72. It can be expected that in German service, the usual loadout was similar to German standards: 50:50. Between 1940-1941 APCR shots may have been carried, if so, then probably one bin / 6 rounds.
LT vz.38 (AKA PzKpfe 38t) (3,7cm UV vz.38)
60 HE-Frag, 30 AP Note:Did not find standard loadouts for vehicles in Wehrmacht service. After intorduction of loader it was necessary to remove several ammo bins, reducing the total loadout to 72. It can be expected that in German service, the usual loadout was similar to German standards: 50:50. Between 1940-1941 APCR shots may have been carried, if so, then probably one bin / 6 rounds.
Yugoslavia
Post-war ammunittion loadouts for T-34/85, M4A3E4 Sherman, M47 Patton, T-54A and more
M4A3E4 Sherman (76mm M1A1C/M1A2) 1950s: 31 HE; 30 AP; 10 HVAP 1950s-1960s: 31 HE; 20 AP; 20 HVAP 1960s: 46 HE; 10 AP; 15 HVAP
Note.: M4A3E4 was M4A3(75)W rebuilt as part of MAP by mounting a 76mm gun. Ammunition loadout was the same as with M4 (76)W.
in 1960s tanks were shifted to support roels because of wear and tear and weak and non-standard guns.
T-34/85 (85mm ZIS-S-53) 1950s: 23 HE; 24 AP; 8 HVAP 1950s-1960s: 23 HE; 20 AP; 12 HVAP 1960s: 23 HE; 12 AP; 8 HVAP; 12 HEAT 1975: 23 HE; 8 AP; 8 HVAP; 16 HEAT
Note.: T-34/85 remained longer in the "1st line" role for several reasons, one of them being the HEAT ammunition. M47 Patton (90mm M36) 1950s: 26 HE; 25 AP; 10 HVAP; 10 HEAT 1950s-1960s: 26 HE; 20 AP; 15 HVAP; 10 HEAT 1960s: 26 HE; 10 AP; 15 HVAP; 20 HEAT 1974: 26 HE; 5 AP; 10 HVAP; 30 HEAT 1974 modernised: 35 HE; 5 AP; 10 HVAP; 40 HEAT
Infantry support: 1960s: 41 HE;5 AP; 10 HVAP; 15 HEAT 1974: 41 HE; 5 AP; 25 HEAT 1974 modernised: 60 HE; 10 AP; 30 HEAT
Note.: Modernised M47 lost one crewman - assistant driver/gunner - and gained space for additional 29 rounds of ammunition. According to Yugoslavian tests US HEAT shells had issues with proper initiation at high impact angles.
T-54 (100mm D-10T)
1960s: 14 HE; 12 AP; 8 HEAT
1970s: 14 HE; 8 AP; 12 HEAT
1970s: 20 HE; 6 AP; 8 HEAT
Note.: 2nd variant for 1970s is infantry support loadout
T-55 (100mm D-10T)
1960s: 17 HE; 16 AP; 10 HEAT
1970s: 16 HE; 12 AP; 15 HEAT
1970s: 26 HE; 8 AP; 9 HEAT
Note.: 2nd variant for 1970s is infantry support loadout
PT-76 (76mm D-56TM)
20 HE; 4 AP; 4 HVAP; 12 HEAT
T-72 (125mm D-81T 2A46)
14 HE; 15 APFSDS; 10 HEAT
27 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
T-72M (125mm D-81T 2A46)
17 HE; 15 APFSDS; 12 HEAT
32 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
M-84 (125mm D-81T 2A46)
15 HE; 15 APFSDS; 12 HEAT
30 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
Germany
General rule for HE:AP ratio was 50:50,. The notable exception were weapons with low muzzle velocity, designed for infantry support (7.5cm KwK L/24; 10.5cm StuH) - there amount of AP/HEAT was usually between 25-33%. APCR ammunition was rare, used only for some guns and generally distributed only when enemy heavy tanks were expected. One of the exceptions were 37mm and 50mm guns. APCR for 88mm L/71 was not distributed at all. HEAT ammunition often replaced HE instead of AP, especially in high velocity guns. USSR General rule, once the HVAP rounds became available, was 4 HVAP rounds for tanks and 8 for antitank guns/SP guns. However in practice troops tended to hoard HVAP from disabled tanks.
Heavy tanks
Churchill III (6pdr 57mm MkIII) 41 Frag, 40 AP
Note: Fragmentation rounds were made by mating Soviet O-271 57mm shells to British cases. This was mostly because British did not supply HE ammunition for 6 pounder guns. Total ammunition loadout was supposed to be 84 projectiles, as shown here they were split roughly 50:50. In practice, though, loadouts of 130-150 rounds were not unusual.
KV-1 vz.1942/KV-1S (76mm ZIS-5)
Sources differ here, for example comparison with Churchill III states following loadout that gives only 90 rounds (instead of 114): 68 HE, 22 AP. However there are also more detailed loadouts: 1943: 86 HE, 28 AP. April 1943: 86 HE; 24 AP, 4 HVAP December 1943: 74 HE, 5 shrapnel, 20 AP, 15 HVAP May 1944: 74 HE, 10 shrapnel, 30 AP
Note: Changing priorities are clearly visible here, especially the late 1943 amount of HVAP projectiles to counter heavier German vehicles - it is far above the standard load of 4 HVAP per tank, so it could be based on actual battlefield practice (hoarding HVAP from destroyed vehicles).
KV-85 (85mm D-5T)
46 Frag, 20 AP, 4 HVAP
Note: 85mm gun was considered as not too suitable for heavy tanks. During WWII, USSR did not produce much (if any) HE-Frag shells for this gun, instead AA fragmentation rounds had to be used. Their effect on field fortifications and other hardened targets was rather underwhelming. IS-85/IS-1 (85mm D-5T)
39 Frag, 16 AP, 4 HVAP 47 Frag, 12 AP
Note: Second variant is infantry support when encountering heavier enemy tanks was not anticipated.
IS-122/IS-2/IS-3 (122mm D-2-5T; 122mm D-25T)
18 HE, 10 AP 20 HE, 8 AP Post-war: 17 HE, 11 AP
Note: Second variant was rather usual, as He projectiles were usually enough even for most armored targets. 8 AP projectiles was a "hardware limit" - at least in IS-3, 8 projectile holders could not physically fir the longer HE-Frag projectiles. During big operations, tanks were often overloaded with ammunition.
T-10 (122mm D-25T)
15 HE; 15 AP
T-10M (122mm M-62T)
15 HE; 6 APDS; 9 HEAT
Note: In game 15xHE, 9xAP, 6x HEAT
Medium Tanks
T-34/76 (76mm L11; 76mm F-34) 1941: 57 HE and shrapnel; 20 AP 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 25 AP léto 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 21 AP; 4 HVAP prosinec 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 20 AP; 5 HVAP květen 1944: 67 HE, 8 shrapnel; 21 AP; 4 HVAP
Note: HVAP started to appear since April 1943, theoretical load was at least 4 per tank, in practice it was often higher. Shrapnel shells were loaded mostly because there was an abundance of them and often were used as emergency AP against lighter targets (such as PzKpfw IV side) T-34/76 models 1940, 1941 carried 77 rounds, model 1942, 1943 100
T-34/57 (57mm ZIS-4) 20 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 60 AP leden 1943: 20 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 40 AP; 20 HVAP květen 1944: 28 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 44 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: All loads seem to be for T-34/57 model 1943 (100 rounds of ammunition), T-34/57 model 1941 would be abel to carry only 77 rounds as the ammunition was generally as big as for 76mm gun.
T-34/85 (85mm D-5T; 85mm ZIS-S-53) May 1944: 33 Frag, 8 shrapnel; 10 AP; 4 HVAP 1945: 36 Frag; 15 AP; 4 HVAP Post-war: 36 Frag/HE; 14 AP; 5 HVAP Note: Post-war further development would be similar to Yugoslavia T-44M (85mm ZIS-S-53)
40 Frag/HE; 15 AP; 6 HVAP
T-54; T-54A; T-54B (100mm D-10T)
12 HE, 4 Frag; 12 AP; 6 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-54K; T-54AK (100mm D-10T)
10 HE, 4 Frag; 10 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-54BK (100mm D-10T)
9 HE, 4 Frag; 9 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
OT-54 (100mm D-10T)
10 HE; 6 AP; 3 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-55 (100mm D-10T)
18 HE, 4 Frag; 15 AP; 6 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-55K (100mm D-10T)
15 HE, 4 Frag; 13 AP; 3 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
OT-55 (100mm D-10T)
9 HE,a 4 Frag; 8 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-62 (115mm 2A20 U-5TS)
16 HE; 16 APFSFDS; 8 HEAT
Note: Similar mix could be expected for T-62A and its 100mm D-54TS.
Light Tanks
T-26 (45mm 20K) 78 Frag; 42 AP December 1943: 78 Frag; 34 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: HVAP available since at latest spring of 1943. Theoretically 4 per tank, battlefield reality was often higher. T-70 (45mm vz.1942) 48 Frag, 22 AP Summer 1943: 48 Frag, 18 AP, 4 HVAP December 1943: 56 Frag, 22 AP, 12 HVAP May 1944: 52 Frag; 26 AP; 12 HVAP
Note: Neither of these loadouts gives the 94 rounds carried, it is likely some type (canister/shrapnel) was left out - feel free to fill in by more Frag (in game HE) 45mm tank gun model 1942 was not identical to the antitank gun model 1942, it retained L/46 barrel, but had new recoil mechanism.
PT-76 (76mm D-56TM) 24 HE, 8 AP, 4 HVAP, 4 HEAT 24 HE, 4 AP, 4 HVAP, 8 HEAT
Note: Not in game SP Guns Note: SP guns in Soviet terminology meant assault guns and tank destroyers primarily as there was not much SP artillery used.
SU-76; SU-76M (76mm ZIS-3) 40 HE; 20 AP 30 HE, 30 AP 40 HE, 12 AP, 8 HVAP 30 HE; 22 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: Loadouts varied by purpose, as SU-76 was used both as SP gun and as a makeshift SP AT gun. Generally loadouts would match those of 76mm divisional guns. HVAP available since April 1943.
SU-122 (122mm M-30S) 36 HE, 4 HEAT 40 HE
Note: HEAT had some issues, usually the crews did not bother with it.
SU-85 (85mm D-5S)
24 Frag, 24 AP
24 Frag, 16 AP, 8 HVAP Note: 85mm HVAP was available roughly since the beginning of 1944 SU-100 (100mm D-10S)
15 HE, 18 AP Note: Based on the purpose, this loadout may vary.
SU-152; ISU-152
13 HE; 7 AP
20 HE
Note: Because of a limited loadout, many units preferred to load HE only, its terminal effect was likely to knock out any enemy anyway.
ISU-122
18 HE; 12 AP Note: As with ISU-152, more HE was often loaded in favor of AP.
USA Not much here so far, sources are not that detailed. Some post-war loadouts for 76mm and 90mm guns can be linked tot he Yugoslavian section above.
37mm M3/M5/M6
30% Frag, 40% Canister; 30% AP
Note: Loadout used by USMC in the Pacific. on ETO where there was more threat of armored encounter, it is likely the proportion of AP will be higher.
75mm M3
50% HE, 10% WP, 40% AP
65% HE, 10% WP, 25% AP
Note: Second variant is again from the Pacific. WP is smoke - can be replaced by more HE in game.
3-inch AT gun
10% HE, 90% AP
Note: Theoretical loadout for 3-inch GMC M10 (Wolverine) TD - given more demands on infantry support, more HE was often loaded, even if the 3in/76mm HE was regarded as weaker than 75mm. HVAP projectiles began to appear in August 1944, but were rather scarce.
105mm howitzer M4
70% HE, 15% WP, 15% HEAT
UK and Commonwealth As with the US, Brits tended to set loadouts by gun rather than by vehicle
20mm Polsten/Oerlikon Automatic Cannon
67% Frag, 33% AP
Note: 20mm Polsten was primarily an antiaircraft gun, however it was proposed as a secondary weapon for Centurion tank and AT series of assualt guns.
2pdr OQF Gun
100% AP.
Witl Littlejohn squeeye-bore adaptor: 100% APCNR
Note: Contrary to popular perception 2pounder HE/Frag sheplls WERE produced, tbut in relativcely small amounts and they were not supplied - as epr doctrine - to Armoured units. AT guns of the Royal Artillery had some Frag shells int heir loadouts.
37mm Tank Gun
50% AP, 50% Frag
Note: Probably applies not only to US 37mm guns, but also to 37mm Bofors guns used in Africa.
6pdr OQF Gun
100% AP
20% HE; 74% AP; 6% APDS
Note: APDS began to appear during 1944. HE shells were rather scarce, they were not available initially and did not have good enough eprformance - hence the switch to 765mm gun.
75mm Tank Gun (75mm OQF Mk.V; 75mm M2; 75mm M3)
55% HE, 35% AP
65% HE, 35% AP
Note: "missing" 10% are WP shells - in game load HE instead.
76mm Tank Gun (76mm M1; 3" M5/M7)
45% HE, 45% AP
Note: UK did not receive HVAP rounds for these guns. "Missing" 10% is again WP ammunition.
17pdr OQF Gun
34% HE, 60% AP, 6% APDS
Note: This is distribution prescribed for "antitank specialist" units - antitank guns, TDs and Sherman Firefly. HVAP ammunition begun to appear in August 1944. For Centurion I/II loadouts were more likely to be similar to Comet 77mm gun (see below).
77mm OQF Gun
50% HE, 44% AP, 6% APDS
Comet: 30xHE; 27xAP; 4xAPDS
Note: Contrary to 17pdr gun that was viewed as anti-tank (and even in tank units would be deployed with plenty of 75mmg un tanks for HE support), 77mm gun was primary armament of tank units - loadouts reflect that.
95mm OQF Howitzer
57% HE, 10% HEAT
Note: "missing" ammunition is again WP smoke.
105mm Howitzer M4
57% HE, 10% HEAT
Note: Notice difference against US loadouts, British preferred to load significantly more smoke rounds.
Of course, any and all additions or corrections are welcome, especially if they cover US, UK or German loadouts
Czechoslovakia
Lt vz. 35 (aka PzKpfw 35(t)) (3,7cm UV vz.34)
54 HE-Frag, 24 AP
Note:Did not find standard loadouts for vehicles in Wehrmacht service. After intorduction of loader it was necessary to remove one ammo bin, reducing the total loadout to 72. It can be expected that in German service, the usual loadout was similar to German standards: 50:50. Between 1940-1941 APCR shots may have been carried, if so, then probably one bin / 6 rounds.
LT vz.38 (AKA PzKpfe 38t) (3,7cm UV vz.38)
60 HE-Frag, 30 AP Note:Did not find standard loadouts for vehicles in Wehrmacht service. After intorduction of loader it was necessary to remove several ammo bins, reducing the total loadout to 72. It can be expected that in German service, the usual loadout was similar to German standards: 50:50. Between 1940-1941 APCR shots may have been carried, if so, then probably one bin / 6 rounds.
Yugoslavia
Post-war ammunittion loadouts for T-34/85, M4A3E4 Sherman, M47 Patton, T-54A and more
M4A3E4 Sherman (76mm M1A1C/M1A2) 1950s: 31 HE; 30 AP; 10 HVAP 1950s-1960s: 31 HE; 20 AP; 20 HVAP 1960s: 46 HE; 10 AP; 15 HVAP
Note.: M4A3E4 was M4A3(75)W rebuilt as part of MAP by mounting a 76mm gun. Ammunition loadout was the same as with M4 (76)W.
in 1960s tanks were shifted to support roels because of wear and tear and weak and non-standard guns.
T-34/85 (85mm ZIS-S-53) 1950s: 23 HE; 24 AP; 8 HVAP 1950s-1960s: 23 HE; 20 AP; 12 HVAP 1960s: 23 HE; 12 AP; 8 HVAP; 12 HEAT 1975: 23 HE; 8 AP; 8 HVAP; 16 HEAT
Note.: T-34/85 remained longer in the "1st line" role for several reasons, one of them being the HEAT ammunition. M47 Patton (90mm M36) 1950s: 26 HE; 25 AP; 10 HVAP; 10 HEAT 1950s-1960s: 26 HE; 20 AP; 15 HVAP; 10 HEAT 1960s: 26 HE; 10 AP; 15 HVAP; 20 HEAT 1974: 26 HE; 5 AP; 10 HVAP; 30 HEAT 1974 modernised: 35 HE; 5 AP; 10 HVAP; 40 HEAT
Infantry support: 1960s: 41 HE;5 AP; 10 HVAP; 15 HEAT 1974: 41 HE; 5 AP; 25 HEAT 1974 modernised: 60 HE; 10 AP; 30 HEAT
Note.: Modernised M47 lost one crewman - assistant driver/gunner - and gained space for additional 29 rounds of ammunition. According to Yugoslavian tests US HEAT shells had issues with proper initiation at high impact angles.
T-54 (100mm D-10T)
1960s: 14 HE; 12 AP; 8 HEAT
1970s: 14 HE; 8 AP; 12 HEAT
1970s: 20 HE; 6 AP; 8 HEAT
Note.: 2nd variant for 1970s is infantry support loadout
T-55 (100mm D-10T)
1960s: 17 HE; 16 AP; 10 HEAT
1970s: 16 HE; 12 AP; 15 HEAT
1970s: 26 HE; 8 AP; 9 HEAT
Note.: 2nd variant for 1970s is infantry support loadout
PT-76 (76mm D-56TM)
20 HE; 4 AP; 4 HVAP; 12 HEAT
T-72 (125mm D-81T 2A46)
14 HE; 15 APFSDS; 10 HEAT
27 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
T-72M (125mm D-81T 2A46)
17 HE; 15 APFSDS; 12 HEAT
32 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
M-84 (125mm D-81T 2A46)
15 HE; 15 APFSDS; 12 HEAT
30 HE; 6 APFSDS; 6 HEAT
Note: Not in game ;)
Germany
General rule for HE:AP ratio was 50:50,. The notable exception were weapons with low muzzle velocity, designed for infantry support (7.5cm KwK L/24; 10.5cm StuH) - there amount of AP/HEAT was usually between 25-33%. APCR ammunition was rare, used only for some guns and generally distributed only when enemy heavy tanks were expected. One of the exceptions were 37mm and 50mm guns. APCR for 88mm L/71 was not distributed at all. HEAT ammunition often replaced HE instead of AP, especially in high velocity guns. USSR General rule, once the HVAP rounds became available, was 4 HVAP rounds for tanks and 8 for antitank guns/SP guns. However in practice troops tended to hoard HVAP from disabled tanks.
Heavy tanks
Churchill III (6pdr 57mm MkIII) 41 Frag, 40 AP
Note: Fragmentation rounds were made by mating Soviet O-271 57mm shells to British cases. This was mostly because British did not supply HE ammunition for 6 pounder guns. Total ammunition loadout was supposed to be 84 projectiles, as shown here they were split roughly 50:50. In practice, though, loadouts of 130-150 rounds were not unusual.
KV-1 vz.1942/KV-1S (76mm ZIS-5)
Sources differ here, for example comparison with Churchill III states following loadout that gives only 90 rounds (instead of 114): 68 HE, 22 AP. However there are also more detailed loadouts: 1943: 86 HE, 28 AP. April 1943: 86 HE; 24 AP, 4 HVAP December 1943: 74 HE, 5 shrapnel, 20 AP, 15 HVAP May 1944: 74 HE, 10 shrapnel, 30 AP
Note: Changing priorities are clearly visible here, especially the late 1943 amount of HVAP projectiles to counter heavier German vehicles - it is far above the standard load of 4 HVAP per tank, so it could be based on actual battlefield practice (hoarding HVAP from destroyed vehicles).
KV-85 (85mm D-5T)
46 Frag, 20 AP, 4 HVAP
Note: 85mm gun was considered as not too suitable for heavy tanks. During WWII, USSR did not produce much (if any) HE-Frag shells for this gun, instead AA fragmentation rounds had to be used. Their effect on field fortifications and other hardened targets was rather underwhelming. IS-85/IS-1 (85mm D-5T)
39 Frag, 16 AP, 4 HVAP 47 Frag, 12 AP
Note: Second variant is infantry support when encountering heavier enemy tanks was not anticipated.
IS-122/IS-2/IS-3 (122mm D-2-5T; 122mm D-25T)
18 HE, 10 AP 20 HE, 8 AP Post-war: 17 HE, 11 AP
Note: Second variant was rather usual, as He projectiles were usually enough even for most armored targets. 8 AP projectiles was a "hardware limit" - at least in IS-3, 8 projectile holders could not physically fir the longer HE-Frag projectiles. During big operations, tanks were often overloaded with ammunition.
T-10 (122mm D-25T)
15 HE; 15 AP
T-10M (122mm M-62T)
15 HE; 6 APDS; 9 HEAT
Note: In game 15xHE, 9xAP, 6x HEAT
Medium Tanks
T-34/76 (76mm L11; 76mm F-34) 1941: 57 HE and shrapnel; 20 AP 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 25 AP léto 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 21 AP; 4 HVAP prosinec 1943: 65 HE, 10 shrapnel; 20 AP; 5 HVAP květen 1944: 67 HE, 8 shrapnel; 21 AP; 4 HVAP
Note: HVAP started to appear since April 1943, theoretical load was at least 4 per tank, in practice it was often higher. Shrapnel shells were loaded mostly because there was an abundance of them and often were used as emergency AP against lighter targets (such as PzKpfw IV side) T-34/76 models 1940, 1941 carried 77 rounds, model 1942, 1943 100
T-34/57 (57mm ZIS-4) 20 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 60 AP leden 1943: 20 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 40 AP; 20 HVAP květen 1944: 28 Frag, 10 shrapnel; 44 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: All loads seem to be for T-34/57 model 1943 (100 rounds of ammunition), T-34/57 model 1941 would be abel to carry only 77 rounds as the ammunition was generally as big as for 76mm gun.
T-34/85 (85mm D-5T; 85mm ZIS-S-53) May 1944: 33 Frag, 8 shrapnel; 10 AP; 4 HVAP 1945: 36 Frag; 15 AP; 4 HVAP Post-war: 36 Frag/HE; 14 AP; 5 HVAP Note: Post-war further development would be similar to Yugoslavia T-44M (85mm ZIS-S-53)
40 Frag/HE; 15 AP; 6 HVAP
T-54; T-54A; T-54B (100mm D-10T)
12 HE, 4 Frag; 12 AP; 6 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-54K; T-54AK (100mm D-10T)
10 HE, 4 Frag; 10 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-54BK (100mm D-10T)
9 HE, 4 Frag; 9 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
OT-54 (100mm D-10T)
10 HE; 6 AP; 3 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-55 (100mm D-10T)
18 HE, 4 Frag; 15 AP; 6 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-55K (100mm D-10T)
15 HE, 4 Frag; 13 AP; 3 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
OT-55 (100mm D-10T)
9 HE,a 4 Frag; 8 AP; 4 HEAT
Note: In game, HEAT may be replaced by HVAP
T-62 (115mm 2A20 U-5TS)
16 HE; 16 APFSFDS; 8 HEAT
Note: Similar mix could be expected for T-62A and its 100mm D-54TS.
Light Tanks
T-26 (45mm 20K) 78 Frag; 42 AP December 1943: 78 Frag; 34 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: HVAP available since at latest spring of 1943. Theoretically 4 per tank, battlefield reality was often higher. T-70 (45mm vz.1942) 48 Frag, 22 AP Summer 1943: 48 Frag, 18 AP, 4 HVAP December 1943: 56 Frag, 22 AP, 12 HVAP May 1944: 52 Frag; 26 AP; 12 HVAP
Note: Neither of these loadouts gives the 94 rounds carried, it is likely some type (canister/shrapnel) was left out - feel free to fill in by more Frag (in game HE) 45mm tank gun model 1942 was not identical to the antitank gun model 1942, it retained L/46 barrel, but had new recoil mechanism.
PT-76 (76mm D-56TM) 24 HE, 8 AP, 4 HVAP, 4 HEAT 24 HE, 4 AP, 4 HVAP, 8 HEAT
Note: Not in game SP Guns Note: SP guns in Soviet terminology meant assault guns and tank destroyers primarily as there was not much SP artillery used.
SU-76; SU-76M (76mm ZIS-3) 40 HE; 20 AP 30 HE, 30 AP 40 HE, 12 AP, 8 HVAP 30 HE; 22 AP; 8 HVAP
Note: Loadouts varied by purpose, as SU-76 was used both as SP gun and as a makeshift SP AT gun. Generally loadouts would match those of 76mm divisional guns. HVAP available since April 1943.
SU-122 (122mm M-30S) 36 HE, 4 HEAT 40 HE
Note: HEAT had some issues, usually the crews did not bother with it.
SU-85 (85mm D-5S)
24 Frag, 24 AP
24 Frag, 16 AP, 8 HVAP Note: 85mm HVAP was available roughly since the beginning of 1944 SU-100 (100mm D-10S)
15 HE, 18 AP Note: Based on the purpose, this loadout may vary.
SU-152; ISU-152
13 HE; 7 AP
20 HE
Note: Because of a limited loadout, many units preferred to load HE only, its terminal effect was likely to knock out any enemy anyway.
ISU-122
18 HE; 12 AP Note: As with ISU-152, more HE was often loaded in favor of AP.
USA Not much here so far, sources are not that detailed. Some post-war loadouts for 76mm and 90mm guns can be linked tot he Yugoslavian section above.
37mm M3/M5/M6
30% Frag, 40% Canister; 30% AP
Note: Loadout used by USMC in the Pacific. on ETO where there was more threat of armored encounter, it is likely the proportion of AP will be higher.
75mm M3
50% HE, 10% WP, 40% AP
65% HE, 10% WP, 25% AP
Note: Second variant is again from the Pacific. WP is smoke - can be replaced by more HE in game.
3-inch AT gun
10% HE, 90% AP
Note: Theoretical loadout for 3-inch GMC M10 (Wolverine) TD - given more demands on infantry support, more HE was often loaded, even if the 3in/76mm HE was regarded as weaker than 75mm. HVAP projectiles began to appear in August 1944, but were rather scarce.
105mm howitzer M4
70% HE, 15% WP, 15% HEAT
UK and Commonwealth As with the US, Brits tended to set loadouts by gun rather than by vehicle
20mm Polsten/Oerlikon Automatic Cannon
67% Frag, 33% AP
Note: 20mm Polsten was primarily an antiaircraft gun, however it was proposed as a secondary weapon for Centurion tank and AT series of assualt guns.
2pdr OQF Gun
100% AP.
Witl Littlejohn squeeye-bore adaptor: 100% APCNR
Note: Contrary to popular perception 2pounder HE/Frag sheplls WERE produced, tbut in relativcely small amounts and they were not supplied - as epr doctrine - to Armoured units. AT guns of the Royal Artillery had some Frag shells int heir loadouts.
37mm Tank Gun
50% AP, 50% Frag
Note: Probably applies not only to US 37mm guns, but also to 37mm Bofors guns used in Africa.
6pdr OQF Gun
100% AP
20% HE; 74% AP; 6% APDS
Note: APDS began to appear during 1944. HE shells were rather scarce, they were not available initially and did not have good enough eprformance - hence the switch to 765mm gun.
75mm Tank Gun (75mm OQF Mk.V; 75mm M2; 75mm M3)
55% HE, 35% AP
65% HE, 35% AP
Note: "missing" 10% are WP shells - in game load HE instead.
76mm Tank Gun (76mm M1; 3" M5/M7)
45% HE, 45% AP
Note: UK did not receive HVAP rounds for these guns. "Missing" 10% is again WP ammunition.
17pdr OQF Gun
34% HE, 60% AP, 6% APDS
Note: This is distribution prescribed for "antitank specialist" units - antitank guns, TDs and Sherman Firefly. HVAP ammunition begun to appear in August 1944. For Centurion I/II loadouts were more likely to be similar to Comet 77mm gun (see below).
77mm OQF Gun
50% HE, 44% AP, 6% APDS
Comet: 30xHE; 27xAP; 4xAPDS
Note: Contrary to 17pdr gun that was viewed as anti-tank (and even in tank units would be deployed with plenty of 75mmg un tanks for HE support), 77mm gun was primary armament of tank units - loadouts reflect that.
95mm OQF Howitzer
57% HE, 10% HEAT
Note: "missing" ammunition is again WP smoke.
105mm Howitzer M4
57% HE, 10% HEAT
Note: Notice difference against US loadouts, British preferred to load significantly more smoke rounds.
Of course, any and all additions or corrections are welcome, especially if they cover US, UK or German loadouts
Historical Ammunition Loadouts