Projectile HE ER BT VMK 
Contents
Projectile HE ER BT VMK - Poland
Projectile HE ER BT VMK, a 155 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile from a Slovak-Polish manufacturer, one of a whole series of 155 mm rounds with improved aerodynamics.
A full-calibre extended-range high-explosive fragmentation projectile with a tapered rear section (boat tail) — a long-range projectile of modern design.
Manufacturers: MSM Group (Slovakia), Czechoslovak Group CSG (Czech Republic), Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (Poland), Ukrainian Armored Vehicles.
Projectiles in the VMK series were specially reworked from MKM projectiles for the Polish customer, because the country bought a batch of Korean K9 self-propelled guns with a reduced charge chamber. For this reason the VMK projectile is 25 mm shorter than its prototype, the MKM series projectile. The ballistics of the projectiles are similar, but the range differs because of the change in weight of the VMK.
The designation (BT) indicates the absence of a base-bleed generator, and the designation FB (on the analogue the marking is M3) refers to stabilizing lugs along the projectile body.
It has a moderate explosive power (8.6 kg of TNT), but an increased number of fragments compared with the MKM. For this reason it is mainly used to destroy personnel and lightly armored vehicles at long distances.
The projectile has a hollow tapered section screwed onto the lower part of the projectile (body), which provides an increased firing range of up to 32,300 metres when fired from a 52-caliber gun.
Technical specifications
- Weight with fuze: - 43.55 kg
- Length without fuze: - 791 mm
- Explosive filling - 8.6 kg
- Weight with fuze: 44 kg
- Operating temperature: -46 °C/ +63 °C
Usage notes
The HE ER BT projectile of the VMK series is not described in Kropyva for any gun. Be aware that the difference in range relative to the HE ER BT projectile of the MKM series (OFD MKM) will be +1 to 1.2 km. The closest analogue that can be used in Kropyva is the OFD MK projectile, which is described with the Zuzanna 2 gun. For it, Kropyva offers TC-F charges (marked as F in Kropyva) and DM72 charges.
Please note: the TC-F modular propellant charges, like DM72, are the most powerful in the range of propellant charges of the MACS modular charge system.
Accordingly, when choosing M232, M232A1 or TCME 100 modules, expect a short round.
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The manufacturer, MSM Group, changed the name of its projectiles three times in a short period and also licensed production in the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine, where the name and the length of the projectile (in Poland) were changed as well. Hence the confusion.
For example, the projectile ERFB BT MKM, became ERFB BT VMK for the Poles and is 25 mm shorter because it did not fit into the Korean K9 guns bought by the country, and so on. Therefore the designation on the projectile and in Kropyva has some differences.
The range may also differ somewhat, but the ballistics of the projectiles are the same.
Oleh Syrota (Georgich©) for the Armed Forces of Ukraine /
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