Description
25mm Oerlikon Target Practice Discarding Sabot Round
Item Overview
This 25mm Oerlikon Target Practice Discarding Sabot round represents the 25×137mm training ammunition developed for high-velocity automatic cannons. Known as TPDS ammunition, it used a smaller practice projectile held inside a lightweight sabot. This design allowed crews to practice with the feeding, recoil, velocity, and flight characteristics of armor-piercing discarding-sabot ammunition.
Identification and Features
Caliber: 25×137mm
Manufacturer family: Oerlikon
Cartridge type: Target Practice Discarding Sabot
Abbreviation: TPDS
Projectile configuration: Subcaliber practice projectile held inside a discarding sabot
Associated weapon family: Oerlikon KBA 25mm automatic cannon
Original purpose: Gunnery training, gun testing, and weapon-system operation
How It Worked
The lightweight sabot surrounded the smaller practice projectile and matched the full 25mm diameter of the gun bore. When fired, the sabot transferred pressure and spin to the subcaliber projectile. After leaving the muzzle, the sabot sections separated and fell away while the practice projectile continued toward the target. This reproduced the basic operation of service APDS ammunition without using an armor-piercing penetrator.
Training Use
TPDS ammunition allowed crews to train with a high-velocity cartridge while reducing the cost and specialized materials required for armor-piercing service rounds. The projectile was designed for target practice and gun-system testing rather than combat. Some versions included a tracer and were marked TPDS-T, but no tracer designation should be assigned to this round unless supported by its markings or construction.
Historical Background
The 25×137mm cartridge began with automatic-cannon development during the 1960s. Oerlikon continued the design after acquiring European rights to the original TRW 6425 cannon in 1967, leading to the Oerlikon KBA during the early 1970s. The cartridge family later became widely used in armored vehicles, naval mounts, and air-defense systems. Target-practice discarding-sabot rounds were developed so crews could train with the speed and trajectory of modern armor-piercing ammunition.
Model Information
The M910 TPDS-T is a well-documented 25×137mm example that was ballistically matched to M791 APDS-T and M919 APFSDS-T service ammunition. However, the listed Oerlikon round should not be identified as an M910 or as a tracer cartridge without supporting markings. Manufacturer, model, date, case material, and tracer configuration may vary between national and commercial versions.
Condition
This military-surplus round may show scratches, paint loss, discoloration, surface oxidation, faded markings, or other evidence of age and storage. Appearance and markings may vary slightly 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 .7lbs.
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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