Description
25mm Oerlikon Armor-Piercing Discarding-Sabot Round with Aluminum Windscreen and Steel Case
Item Overview
This 25mm Oerlikon Armor-Piercing Discarding-Sabot round features a steel cartridge case, light-colored sabot assembly, and pointed aluminum windscreen. It represents the 25×137mm ammunition family developed for high-velocity automatic cannons. Its exposed components make it a distinctive example for an ordnance collection, technical display, or ammunition study.
Identification and Features
Caliber: 25×137mm
Manufacturer family: Oerlikon
Projectile type: Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot
Abbreviation: APDS
Case material: Steel
Windscreen material: Aluminum
Sabot appearance: Light-colored segmented assembly
Associated weapon family: Oerlikon KBA 25mm automatic cannon
Original purpose: Engaging lightly armored vehicles and protected equipment
How It Worked
An APDS projectile placed a narrow armor-piercing penetrator inside a lightweight sabot that matched the gun’s 25mm bore. The sabot centered the penetrator and allowed the expanding propellant gases to launch it at high velocity. After leaving the muzzle, the sabot sections separated and fell away while the smaller penetrator continued toward the target. The penetrator defeated armor through concentrated kinetic energy rather than an explosive bursting charge.
Aluminum Windscreen
The pointed aluminum windscreen formed the aerodynamic nose of the projectile and helped reduce drag during flight. It covered the front of the internal penetrator but was not the primary armor-penetrating component. Lightweight aluminum provided the required shape without adding unnecessary mass to the projectile nose.
Historical Background
The 25×137mm cartridge began with automatic-cannon development during the 1960s. Oerlikon continued work on the system after acquiring European rights to the original TRW 6425 cannon design in 1967, leading to the Oerlikon KBA during the early 1970s. The cartridge size later became widely used with armored-vehicle, naval, and air-defense weapons. APDS ammunition gave these compact cannons greater velocity and armor penetration than conventional full-caliber projectiles.
Condition
This military-surplus round may show scratches, discoloration, surface oxidation, finish wear, aging of the sabot, handling marks, or other evidence of storage. The steel case, light-colored sabot, and aluminum windscreen may vary slightly in appearance between inventory examples. The cannon, ammunition belt, links, packaging, and other accessories are not included unless specifically pictured or stated.
Ideal For
This 25mm round is well suited for Oerlikon ammunition collections, automatic-cannon displays, armored-vehicle exhibits, military museums, ordnance identification displays, and historical ammunition research.
Approx length 9", Approx width 1.5", Approx height 1.5", Approx weight lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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