OVERVIEW: The 122mm HEAT-Frag (High-Explosive Anti-Tank Fragmentation) round is a dual-purpose munition designed for use with Soviet 122mm guns, combining a shaped-charge for armor penetration with a fragmentation sleeve for anti-personnel effects. It is intended to engage both armored vehicles and soft targets in proximity with a single round.

DETAILS: The 122mm HEAT-Frag round incorporates a shaped-charge warhead capable of penetrating approximately 200-250 mm of rolled homogeneous armor, suitable against mid-20th-century tanks and armored vehicles. Surrounding the central HEAT charge is a fragmentation casing designed to disperse lethal fragments upon detonation, increasing effectiveness against nearby infantry and light equipment. The round is fin-stabilized and fired at relatively low velocities, preserving shaped-charge effectiveness regardless of range. It was used with the D-25T 122mm gun mounted on platforms such as the IS-2, IS-3, and ISU-122. This munition type enhanced tactical flexibility by allowing engagement of mixed target types without switching ammunition.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Tank/Artillery Gun Ammunition
Primary Use: Dual-purpose (anti-armor and anti-personnel)
Function: Armor penetration via shaped-charge jet, area effect via fragmentation
Strong Against: Armored vehicles (WWII–early Cold War), infantry, soft vehicles
Weak Against: Modern MBTs with composite/ERA armor, APS, defilade positions
Platform: IS-2, IS-3 heavy tanks; ISU-122 (D-25T 122mm gun)
Integration: Standard for 122mm rifled tank and SPG guns of Soviet origin

SOURCE:
Janes Ammunition Handbook ; Russian Ministry of Defence Archives ; U.S. Army Foreign Materiel Exploitation Data ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-25T