In-bore Detonation of Non-standard Ammunition, Testing a Russian T-55 Tank in U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center

INCIDENT:

On 21 May 2009 the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) was performing an accuracy and fire control test on a Russian T-55 tank at the H-Field Firing Range, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). The three man crew, commander (also loading), gunner and driver were firing Russian designed 100-mm UBK-4M cartridge with the BK5M High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) warhead. Upon firing the second round of the day, a catastrophic incident occurred. The warhead exploded in the tank cannon rupturing the tube, killing the commander, fatally injuring the gunner and seriously injuring the driver.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (CRC) team arrived on 23 May and initiated their investigation. The authors need to acknowledge the efforts of the CRC team in their thorough and professional investigation. Much of the factual information presented herein was obtained through the combined efforts of the CRC team and individuals in the unit. This paper provides general details surrounding the incident and address contributing factors. The conclusions and recommendations presented herein are those of the authors and not the findings, conclusions or recommendations of the Central Accident Investigation Board.

Throughout the paper unless specifically designated otherwise the term ‘unit’ refers to that team within ATC that was responsible for executing the test and reporting the results. The unit is comprised of engineers and technicians with personnel ranging from less than 1 to 20 plus years of experience in the test, operation and maintenance of Russian designed equipment. The authors of this paper are members of the unit.

DETAILS:

1) In January 2009 testing was initiated on the T-55 tank at the H-Field Firing Range. At this time fourteen armor piercing, fin stabilized, discarding sabot – tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds were fired. The firing of forty-four HEAT rounds was scheduled but field gun not tank ammunition was delivered to the test site. The ammunition delivered was for use in an anti-tank field gun, which was incompatible with the tank. The field gun ammunition was turned in; no HEAT rounds were fired at this time.

In May 2009 the tank HEAT rounds were acquired for testing. Twenty-two of the UBK-4M/BK5M HEAT rounds and 24 APFSDS-T rounds were fired between 14 and 20 May 2009 by the crew as a part of the test. The test scenarios were, stationary tank – stationary target and stationary tank – moving target.

On 21 May 2009 the crew prepared the tank for firing, moving tank – stationary target scenario. The incident occurred on the second round of the day at approximately 0930.

Failed 100-mm gun tube after incident, 65” and 60” long cracks in images A and B respectively

Whole report - In-bore Detonation of Non-standard Ammunition, Testing a Russian T-55 Tank