"October 20th, 1944
Report on the effectiveness of 122 mm howitzer HEAT shells
- 122 mm HEAT rounds were fired at a range of 4000-4500 meters using the DT scale and the stock special charge.Firing showed that:
- Calibration was performed against targets located on a hill pointed towards the battery and a flat horizontal clearing. 90-95% of the shells burst. The explosion is thermite type.
- When shooting at targets positioned on reverse slopes, the shells ricochet and do not explode.
- Firing at narrow targets from 4000-4500 meters is ineffective due to high dispersion.
Firing at personnel is also ineffective. Compared to the HE-fragmentation grenade there are a lot fewer fragments, and thus a lot less damage is dealt. - Firing at dugouts, pillboxes, tanks, or armoured cars was not performed.
Conclusions: using HEAT shells fired from a 122 mm howitzer at a range of over 2 km against enemy personnel or MG nests is unreasonable due to low effectiveness.
Chief of Staff, Captain [signature]"