A tandem-charge or dual-charge weapon is an explosive device or projectile that has two or more stages of detonation, assisting it to penetrate either reactive armour on an armoured vehicle or strong structures.
An RPG-29 and its PG-29V rocket with a tandem-charge warhead
The self-guided FGM-148 Javelin missile has a tandem-charge warhead.
Tandem charges are effective against reactive armour, which is designed to protect an armoured vehicle (mostly tanks) against anti-tank munitions.[1] The first stage of the weapon is typically a weak charge that either pierces the reactive armour of the target without detonating it, leaving a channel through the reactive armour so that the second warhead may pass unimpeded, or simply detonates the armour, causing the timing of the counter-explosion to fail. The second detonation from the same projectile (which defines it as a tandem charge) attacks the same location as the first detonation where the reactive armour has been compromised. Since the regular armour plating is often the only defence remaining, the main charge (second detonation) has an increased likelihood of penetrating the armour.
However, tandem charges are useful only against explosive reactive armour, much less so against the non-explosive reactive armor, since their inner liner is not explosive itself and thus not expended by the small forward warhead of tandem-charge attack. Modern explosive reactive armour such as Relikt and Malachit can defeat tandem charges[citation needed].
The PG-7VR warhead for the RPG-7 rocket launcher and the PG-29V warhead for the more modern RPG-29 rocket launcher are examples of tandem charges, but the technology is employed worldwide. Examples of missiles that use tandem charges include the BGM-71 TOW, FGM-148 Javelin and the Brimstone.
Penetrating weapons
The Storm Shadow missile uses a tandem-charge warhead to penetrate hardened structures.
Dual charges increase the effectiveness of warheads when used against structures (such as bunkers). Because the explosion of a unitary high explosive charge will follow the path of least resistance, much of the explosive power of a warhead will be lost to the air surrounding the target if detonated outside the structure. This effect can be countered by using heavily constructed gravity bombs with delay fuzes that penetrate the earth, concrete, etc. of the target before exploding—thus containing the explosion inside the structure and significantly increasing its effect.
Gravity bombs require aircraft to fly rather close to what may be a heavily-defended target, which poses a significant risk to the launch aircraft. Cruise missiles equipped with large tandem-charge warheads can use the first charge to create a hole into which the missile flies before exploding the second charge, creating a similar effect of the delayed gravity bomb. An example of an anti-structure tandem-charge warhead is the BROACH warhead.
tandem, charge, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2021. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tandem charge news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message A tandem charge or dual charge weapon is an explosive device or projectile that has two or more stages of detonation assisting it to penetrate either reactive armour on an armoured vehicle or strong structures Contents 1 Anti tank 2 Penetrating weapons 3 See also 4 ReferencesAnti tank Edit An RPG 29 and its PG 29V rocket with a tandem charge warhead The self guided FGM 148 Javelin missile has a tandem charge warhead Tandem charges are effective against reactive armour which is designed to protect an armoured vehicle mostly tanks against anti tank munitions 1 The first stage of the weapon is typically a weak charge that either pierces the reactive armour of the target without detonating it leaving a channel through the reactive armour so that the second warhead may pass unimpeded or simply detonates the armour causing the timing of the counter explosion to fail The second detonation from the same projectile which defines it as a tandem charge attacks the same location as the first detonation where the reactive armour has been compromised Since the regular armour plating is often the only defence remaining the main charge second detonation has an increased likelihood of penetrating the armour However tandem charges are useful only against explosive reactive armour much less so against the non explosive reactive armor since their inner liner is not explosive itself and thus not expended by the small forward warhead of tandem charge attack Modern explosive reactive armour such as Relikt and Malachit can defeat tandem charges citation needed The PG 7VR warhead for the RPG 7 rocket launcher and the PG 29V warhead for the more modern RPG 29 rocket launcher are examples of tandem charges but the technology is employed worldwide Examples of missiles that use tandem charges include the BGM 71 TOW FGM 148 Javelin and the Brimstone Penetrating weapons Edit The Storm Shadow missile uses a tandem charge warhead to penetrate hardened structures Dual charges increase the effectiveness of warheads when used against structures such as bunkers Because the explosion of a unitary high explosive charge will follow the path of least resistance much of the explosive power of a warhead will be lost to the air surrounding the target if detonated outside the structure This effect can be countered by using heavily constructed gravity bombs with delay fuzes that penetrate the earth concrete etc of the target before exploding thus containing the explosion inside the structure and significantly increasing its effect Gravity bombs require aircraft to fly rather close to what may be a heavily defended target which poses a significant risk to the launch aircraft Cruise missiles equipped with large tandem charge warheads can use the first charge to create a hole into which the missile flies before exploding the second charge creating a similar effect of the delayed gravity bomb An example of an anti structure tandem charge warhead is the BROACH warhead See also EditHigh explosive anti tank Shaped chargeReferences Edit BAE s Lrod Cage Armour Defense Industry Daily Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tandem charge amp oldid 1101622634, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
