Hi Claus
Very interesting, here is something relevant from
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ped-charge.htm
"A Monroe-effect shaped-charge warhead can be expected to penetrate armor equal to 150-250% of the warhead diameter. "
All WWII HEAT munitions are 'simple' Monroe effect types. So the -theoretical maximum- range/effect against armour plate of any of the WWII munitions is 2.5 times the Munitions diameter.
This is because
"At larger standoff ( >2.5*WH diameter), the jet is broken into many small particulates".(See 1) ie its become straightforward HE blast
So the maximum space a bazooka HEAT can cross and still have its armour penetrating jet effect is 2.36 * 2.5, thats 5.9 inches. Any further and the jet has lost its focus and is more akin to blast than blowtorch.
Now PZ IV track width is about 15 inches so the schurtzen side plate is at least 15 inches from the lower hull.
Looking at pictures its clear that the upper hull and turret is at least 11 inches behind the schurtzen plate.
see for example
http://www.steeldragons.net/PanzerIVbuildpageone.html
So shurtzen is clearly far enough away from the armour proper to protect 100 per cent from bazooka and PIAT.
If we work this in reverse we get what the HEAT value of the schurtzen should be
lets say the shurtzen plate is a very conservative 11 (28cm) inches from the hull, we get
28 / 2.5 = 11.2
So Schurtzen should have minimum HEAT armour value of 11, assuming that the HEAT round is working at its theoretical maximum and youve hit part of the shurtzen that is in front of close armour, not in front of the lower hull for instance.
Looking at some HEAT rounds that were in use if we divide the penetration by W/H diameter we get a good idea how far from the theoreticl maximum of 2.5 the pratical penetration ratios were.
German 61mm rifle grenade is 126/61 = 2
Bazooka is 4.7/2.36 = 2
PIAT is 75/88 = 1.1
Panzerfaust 60 = 200/140 = 1.4
Yes Yes I realise some of this has been posted elsewhere. its here for ease of access.
(1)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...2-warheads.htm
Best Regards Chuck.