HESH rounds common in WW2

  • Thread starter Deleted member 1487
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Deleted member 1487

The EP shell was the HEAT. Both EP and EPS shells have detonator close to the base.
The EP shell was a supposed to be a shaped charge, but due to the insensitivity of the base detonator the shaped charge flattened against the target before the base detonator contacted a hard surface and detonated, inadvertently creating a HESH effect even though it wasn't designed to do so. It ended up being MORE effective than the HEAT of that caliber as a result. Meanwhile the EPS had a nose fuse that detonated the shaped charge properly, so it functioned as designed as a HEAT round. The HESH effect was totally unintended with the EP shell and was 'fixed' with the EPS nose fuse. So what I'm suggesting to get the early HESH principle noted by both the Brits and Axis powers is that the 'malfunctioning' EP shell actually is a totally different effect and they exploit it. The Italians and Germans notice it in the Desert in 1940-41, while the Brits find out about the HESH effect by testing captured Italian EP rounds. So both sides then develop the concept starting in 1941 as a POD. So say by 1942 both the Brits and Germans are fielding the HESH round, which then the US starts fielding in 1943. Perhaps then via LL the Soviets get it in 1944, as they lacked a lot of domestic plastic explosive production capacity due to the invasion disrupting their explosives output (IOTL LL provided a lot of their explosives and they didn't field their own HEAT rounds I think for the same reason, they lacked the necessary plastic explosive output to make the shaped charge; I do know that for sabotage purposes they fielded a lot of US plastic explosives, British output of plastic explosives was lower than Germany and the US had the highest output of anyone during the war).
 

Deleted member 1487

So how about this as a scenario: in the Desert campaign of 1941 both sides notice that the Italian AT guns at surprisingly effective at short ranges when using their EP shells, more than any HEAT effect would indicate, so for the Germans they test them out and notice the effect of the shell splatting on armor and start designing similar types of shells for use when encountering the T-34s and KVs of the Soviets, plus of course the Matilda tanks, as it enables their lower velocity weapons to knock them out. As such ammo become more common the Brits pick up on it and capture some in late 1941 during Operation Crusader. Testing of EP shells starts them on the path to developing their own in 1942. A problem with the shells is that they are relatively short ranged due to the lower velocities needed to work properly and given WW2 fuse sensitivity, so they aren't as useful in the Desert and in Russia, but are more useful than WW2 HEAT and let low velocity howitzers be even more effective against buildings, fortifications, and armor. They find their niche and let even smaller guns remain useful at closer ranges. In the 1942 campaign even the 50mm tank guns and short 75s can then deal with sloped armor Soviet tanks, while giving Assault Guns an enhanced impact in urban terrain without having to have massive cannons. They enable supporting armor to blast 'mouse holes' for infantry in addition to blasting down defensive positions. Perhaps in Stalingrad that would helped knock out major fortified buildings like Pavlov's House. Perhaps that then prevents the race to build 'super gun' AFVs that could blast away at long ranges against Allied armor, as even the standard PAK40 could knock out the heaviest of tanks within 1km where most tanks were knocked out. When the British field their own HESH it is initially only in response to the Tiger, because until 1943 they really don't have any enemy armor that can't be handled by existing guns (the 2 lber just needs to be replaced by the 6 pounder). HESH then appears for the Allies in the Sicilian Campaign for use against heavy German armor, but remains rare, and while it is somewhat of a rarity in German hands in the West because armor just isn't that heavy and a normal 75 can knock out all Wallied AFVs. Meanwhile in the East that is where it would likely have the biggest impact, as even the PAK38 (50mm) AT guns can handle T-34s; certain shots against heavy Soviet armor available even later in the war would still even be effect with 'just' a 50mm round (say one with reduced propellant and a longer projectile containing more RDX). Due to the shorter range of such shells though that would likely cause the Soviets to 'stand off' and engage from longer range with their heavier guns as they did IOTL. They'd have to be more cautious of closing due to AT gun ambush by smaller guns that could be more easily manhandled and concealed, but still be very deadly and have a higher rate of fire. Perhaps their use just leads to more artillery and longer range direct fire support weapons to neutralize any exposed defensive weapons in ambush, while forcing more recon unit use to make sure AFVs are a clear path. Defenders would have a significant advantage from ambush, but attackers would have a more effective demolition shell for use against defenders in fortified positions. Not sure if that cancels enough other out?
 
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