120mm

HE
DM11
Tank ammunition

Traditionally used primarily for engaging enemy armor, the

role of modern main battle tanks has widened considerably,
keeping pace with the altered mission spectrum of todays
armed forces. For example, tanks are often called in to support
the infantry during operations in built-up areas. In such cases,
their task is to destroy dismounted enemy forces and long range
anti-tank weapons, especially when occupying field fortifications,
buildings and other forms of cover.
The earlier DM12 and M830 family of multipurpose shaped charge
fragmentation ammunition is now only partially able to meet
contemporary operational requirements.
This led Rheinmetall, a 50% member of DMI, to develop a new
family of 120mm HE ammunition that can be fired from any tank
with a 120mm smoothbore gun. The DM11 is in service with the
United States Marine Corps as the Multi-Purpose High Explosive
(MP-HE) cartridge.

120mm HE DM11
The cartridge is a modular design, consisting of
propulsion,

warhead

and

fuze.

The

full-calibre

projectiles features a retractable fin tail assembly. The

round has been designed to successfully engage soft
and semi-hard targets even at long ranges.
A mixture of steel and heavy metal fragments, coupled
with high-performance explosives, assures massive
destruction in the target zone.
When fired in airburst mode, the round can be used

Technical Data
Muzzle velocity
L44 tank gun

approx. 970m/s

L55 tank gun

approx. 1,000m/s

Shrapnel fragment weight

9kg (19.8 lbs)

Insensitive Munition

Explosive Fill

Explosive

Maximum effective range

Climate zones

5,000m
up to and including A1

to take out a wide variety of different targets. In this

case, an electronic time-delay fuze detonates the
warhead at a predetermined distance from the target.
Alternatively, the fuze can be programmed to detonate
the warhead upon impact or after a programmable
delay. When the delay mode is selected, the warhead
detonates after penetrating a building wall or roof.

Status
In service with US Marine Corps
In procurement for German Army, Greece, Norway
In serial production

The fuze timer is set once the cartridge is loaded,

giving the tank crew maximum flexibility when engaging
targets.
Key Characteristics
Optimum effectiveness in the target zone due to

tactical setting of fuze function when cartridge is

already loaded. Fuze modes include:
Airburst mode
Time delay
Impact
Broad range of targets defeated including:

Anti-tank guided weapon teams

Targets behind walls/in defilade
Targets in bunkers/field fortifications
Area targets/dismounted units in the open
Light- and medium-weight armoured vehicles

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