OVERVIEW: 115mm Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds are high-velocity kinetic energy projectiles designed to defeat armored targets. These munitions were developed primarily for smoothbore gun systems and represent a major leap in anti-armor capability compared to traditional AP or HEAT rounds.

DETAILS: APFSDS ammunition utilizes a long-rod penetrator made from dense materials such as tungsten or depleted uranium. The projectile is housed in a sabot that discards after leaving the barrel, allowing the sub-caliber penetrator to travel at very high speeds. These rounds are primarily associated with the Soviet-designed 115mm U-5TS smoothbore gun, as used on the T-62 main battle tank. Their core purpose is defeating modern armored threats with minimal dispersion and high penetration at long ranges.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Caliber: 115mm (gun)
Type: APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot)
Penetrator Material: Tungsten alloy or steel (early versions)
Penetration: ~350–450 mm RHA at 2,000 m (variant-dependent)
Muzzle Velocity: 1,600–1,800 m/s
Effective Range: 1,500–2,500 m
Stabilization: Fin-stabilized
Fuze: None (inert kinetic energy round)
Platforms: T-62 main battle tank

NOTES:
Offers superior performance against homogeneous steel armor compared to HEAT or AP rounds.
Limited effectiveness against advanced composite or ERA-equipped tanks.
Primarily used by Soviet-aligned forces from the 1970s onward.


SOURCE:
Soviet/Russian munitions manuals
https://armour.ws
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/115_mm_tank_gun