Gear Review: Charge Head by Under Armour Lacrosse
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Company: Under Armour Lacrosse / Product: Charge Head / Price: $79.99
After checking out the Lax Pro Stringer, our buddy Larry Hastings sent over a couple Under Armour heads for us to check out. After all the hoopla with Under Armour and NCAA lacrosse last year, I was really curious to see how Under Armour would react and what they would do to better their offering in the lacrosse world. Initial impression? Okay, you’ve got my attention.
Appearance… +10.0
Looking past the “highlight” color of the head, the aesthetics look great on this head. I don’t hate the highlight color, but it was a little loud for my tastes, thankfully they also offer it in white and several other colors. The structure of the head kind of reminds me of an STX X2 with the zig-zagging braces along the sidewall, while the actual view from the sidewall (see below) reminds me a lot of the Warrior Revolution.
Either way, both of those efforts don’t hurt in making a nice looking head.
The last Under Armour head I reviewed had some dufus looking hole clamps along the top wall. While it’s great to see UA trying to add their own technology to the lacrosse world, that’s one thing I won’t miss. Maybe it’s the Team 22 and Gait influence in Under Armour now, but I could see them making strides in the industry with efforts like this one.
Stringing… +7.5
While there are plenty of holes along the sidewall, as you will notice in the picture below, they are kind of paired as you get further down the stick. While it didn’t majorly inconvenience me, there were a few times I would have rather moved the sidewall up or down a little bit into the space is where there aren’t any holes.
Again not a huge inconvenience, but in a world of total customization, it’s the little things that can make a difference. On the plus side though, the design and structure of the scoop actually works to protect the top lace from wear, which on grass might not be a huge issue, but indoors is really nice to have.
I strung this one up with the Lax Pro Stringer, so that definitely helped in how well the pocket turned out, but I would say this stick is meant for a mid, maybe a mid-high pocket.
Stiffness… +7.5
Where the sidewall structure might remind me of an X2 and other really stiff defensive heads, the stiffness does not. By no means is this head flimsy, it isn’t nearly as stiff as the X2. To me, this basically means that instead of a defensive only head, now I could see myself using it as a midfielder. I took a lot of face-offs with it and each time the head bounced back to its normal shape. I really like heads like this that don’t have a natural pinch to it (looking at you Proton family). Even after repeated bends, it should return to its normal shape. So far, so good.
I feel like the rest of this ties into durability so that’s move on.
Durability… +7.5
For 4.7 ounces, this head has the opportunity to get a 10 and then some. The only reason I’m even docking it 2.
5 here is because of the time frame I was able to test it out in. I feel confident in saying that it would last a long time in play, but as I’ve come to find out, I’m not nearly as rough on my heads as some people, so the jury is out.
Nonetheless, I feel a little sadness parting with this because I would LOVE to continue playing with this throughout the year. I tend to play both ways a lot and I feel this is always a great judge in seeing the full durability of equipment. You are able to see how well it can both take and give checks, as well as the more specific points of performance per each position. Offensively, the shape of the ball helps to hold the ball nice and low. Defensively, it can give checks like and scoop up gb’s like no one’s business.
I will say that I’m not a huge fan of the throat of the stick, more so the connection to the shaft than anything else. The top and bottom of the shaft are well covered by the head, but it cuts back up to the throat on either side, leaving it open to wobble a little or even possibly break if enough pressure was put on it.
Value… +10.0
Ringing in at $79.99, I wish I could give it more points. This is a great price point for Under Armour to not only enter the market (used lightly), it is a great price to gain a great amount of loyalty by a lot of people interested in trying out some new equipment. If you are looking into getting a new stick, I would definitely recommend checking the Under Armour Charge out.
Overall… +8.2/10
Under Armour’s “2nd effort” in the lacrosse world is making out to be a great one. Unfortunately for me, I have to give this head away, fortunately for you all, one of you gets to receive it for free. I’d dance around in a white body suit if it meant winning this thing, would you?
I’ll give you a little sneak peek at the next Under Armour we will be checking out and giving away, but it is also a solid showing. Meet the Nitric U head by Under Armour Lacrosse…
Got some gear you wish we would review? Hit us up and let us know what you think we should review next.
Under Armour Charge 2 U H · StringKing
Learn how to string a Under Armour Charge 2 U lacrosse head with a Mid-High Pocket. Our step-by-step stringing tutorials make it easy to string the perfect stick.
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Charge 2 U H
Claw-like mid-high that grips & rips.
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Types of shells in Armored Warfare: Project Armata
Fighters!
The firepower of a tank or any other combat vehicle consists of two components – the characteristics of the gun and the characteristics of ammunition.
Let’s see what modern tanks shoot, how ammunition is arranged, how they pierce armor and hit what is behind it.
Kinetic ammunition
One of the most common types of ammunition for main battle tanks today is kinetic ammunition. As the name implies, such projectiles overcome the protection of their targets at the expense of kinetic energy. Kinetic ammunition includes caliber and sub-caliber armor-piercing shells and a huge variety of their variations.
Armor Piercing Projectiles
Caliber Armor Piercing Projectiles, as the name suggests, have a diameter equal to the caliber of the gun they are fired from. In the game Armored Warfare: Project Armata, this type of ammunition is mainly presented on low-level vehicles. If you do not go into details, then a caliber armor-piercing projectile consists of a projectile body made of high-hardness steel, an armor-piercing tip and a ballistic cap. The first serves to increase penetration and improve the ability of the projectile to “bite” on sloping armor and not ricochet from it.
A ballistic cap covers it from above, which serves to improve the aerodynamics of the projectile.
The impact behind the armor (that is, damage to the crew and internal units of military equipment) occurs due to fragments formed by the armor and the projectile itself. To improve this indicator, there is often a small explosive charge in the body of the projectile, which is detonated when the armor is broken, such shells are called chamber shells.
Armor-piercing sub-caliber shells
The largest part of the kinetic ammunition presented in the game belongs to armor-piercing sub-caliber shells (abbreviated as BPS), whose own caliber is many times smaller than the caliber of the gun. Due to their smaller mass, they can reach much higher speeds compared to caliber projectiles and have significantly better armor penetration. In addition, this indicator is increased due to the fact that the core of a sub-caliber projectile has a relatively small diameter and the concentration of impact energy at the point of collision of the projectile and armor is much higher than that of caliber projectiles.
A conventional armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile (in Western sources called APCR – Armor Piercing Composite Rigid) is quite simple – a core of hard cermet alloys is “packed” in a coil-shaped pallet made of light metal. The pallet holds the projectile in the bore and takes on the pressure of the powder gases when fired, accelerating the entire projectile to very high speeds. For better aerodynamics, the pallet and the core are covered with a ballistic cap from above, and to adjust the shooting, the projectile is equipped with a tracer at the back. Like a conventional armor-piercing projectile, the BPS with an inseparable pallet was stabilized by rotation.
The device of some previously used armor-piercing projectiles, now outdated , breaking through it due to its high kinetic energy. The armor effect of the BPS is provided by fragments of the armor and core, which are also heated to high temperatures, since a large amount of thermal energy is released during penetration.
With all its advantages, such ammunition had a serious drawback – at long distances, the projectile sharply loses its speed, armor penetration and accuracy. The reason for this is the high aerodynamic resistance of the non-separable pallet and the relatively small mass of the BPS.
The solution to the problem was the creation of an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a detachable pallet (APDS – Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot). Its design is similar to that of a simple BPS, but the hard alloy core is enclosed in a steel shell, and the pallet is designed in such a way that when the projectile exits the barrel, it separates from the core under the influence of an oncoming air flow or centrifugal force. The core itself in a steel shell, having a small diameter and good shapes from the point of view of aerodynamics, flies further, faster and more accurately than a conventional BPS.
Over time, it turned out that the armor penetration of rotation-stabilized sub-caliber shells is limited – it is impossible to make a too long core for them.
Therefore, the next step in the development of this type of projectiles was BOPS – armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber projectiles (in English APFSDS – Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot). The active part of such a projectile (core, shell and ballistic tip) is equipped in the rear with an aerodynamic stabilizer, reminiscent of the plumage of an arrow or dart. Here the leading device acts as a pallet, which is also separated from the active part of the projectile when it leaves the gun barrel.
Previously, tungsten carbide was used as the core material for sub-caliber projectiles, now alloys based on tungsten and depleted uranium are used. The very process of interaction between the BOPS core and armor is quite complicated and deserves not even a separate article, but a small book.
In the game, armor-piercing and armor-piercing sub-caliber shells are the main ammunition for the vast majority of vehicles. They are distinguished by a high rate of armor penetration, good damage and the ability to penetrate well through reactive armor and combined armor.
The result of penetration of a 7-inch armor plate by a feathered sub-caliber projectile
Armor-piercing HEAT shells
The next fairly common type of ammunition is armor-piercing HEAT shells (APC). At one time, before the advent of sufficiently powerful BPS and combined armor, they were the main type of shells for fighting tanks and other armored vehicles.
The warhead of a cumulative projectile is a charge of some kind of explosive, equipped with a recess in the form of a cone. This recess is covered with a lining of a rather heavy and ductile metal, such as copper. A fuse is located at some distance in front of the explosive.
When the BCS collides with the armor, the fuse is activated, and the explosive detonates. Under the influence of energy and explosion products, the metal lining of the cone-shaped recess collapses into a jet, which, rushing towards the armor, pierces it. At the same time, due to the enormous speed and pressure, the materials of the cumulative jet (or, in short, the CS) and the tank armor interact as two ideal fluids according to the laws of hydrodynamics.
Thus, the cumulative jet literally “washes out” the armor, while working and slowing down.
There is a very common myth that a HEAT shell burns through the armor of a tank due to the high temperature of the jet. This is a delusion, since the temperature of the COP can reach approximately 600 degrees Celsius, and this is clearly not enough to burn through or melt through several hundred millimeters of armor in an instant.
Another factor worth mentioning is the focal length – the distance between the explosive charge of the BCS and the armor, at which the penetration of the cumulative jet will be maximum. That is, it is irrational to undermine an explosive charge with a funnel and lining close to the armor, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance between them, which is done in modern projectiles equipped with a “head”, as in the diagram below. Moreover, a fuse is located in this head, which causes the detonation of the explosive when it collides with the armor.
HEAT projectiles used during and immediately after World War II were spin-stabilized in flight like conventional kinetic projectiles.
However, later it turned out that such rotation has a negative effect on the penetration of the cumulative jet. Therefore, modern BCS in flight is stabilized by plumage, like BOPS. This plumage in its dimensions can be either equal to the caliber of the gun or larger than it. In the latter case, the plumage blades open after the projectile leaves the barrel.
Another interesting BKS subtype is tandem projectiles. In such ammunition, there are two (and in some cases more) cumulative warheads. The first “takes over” the dynamic protection of the tank and the upper layers of armor, while the second pierces what is left. Thus, tandem ammunition has both a greater breakdown and the ability to overcome dynamic protection.
In addition to the “regular” tank shells, the HEAT warhead is also used in anti-tank guided missiles, presented in Armored Warfare on many AFVs and on some MBTs (in the form of a missile launched from the gun barrel).
What does a cumulative jet do when it overcomes the armor of a tank? For those who are inside the attacked car, nothing good.
They are struck by fragments of armor formed during penetration, the cumulative jet itself, moving at great speed and capable of igniting fuel vapors in the tank or a propellant charge in the ammunition, as well as explosion products. An additional damaging factor can be a shock wave from the detonation of explosives, which can “leak” through open hatches into a tank or armored vehicle and concuss those inside.
In Armored Warfare: Project Armata, armor-piercing HEAT shells can be found on a huge number of vehicles, especially among MBTs. They have slightly lower penetration compared to armor-piercing sabots, but also slightly higher damage, which makes them a good choice for dealing with lightly armored enemy vehicles or shooting into the weak spots of your rivals. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the dynamic protection and combined armor of modern armored vehicles are largely “imprisoned” specifically for the fight against BCS, which is also reflected in the game.
High-explosive fragmentation shells
In a real battle, tanks meet not only their own kind, but also infantry, enemy fortifications, buildings and many other similar targets. For such cases, high-explosive fragmentation shells (or OFS) are prepared in the ammunition of modern MBTs. Their device is quite simple – a thick-walled body, a lot of explosives inside and a fuse located in the head of the projectile. And if in the old types of HE shells a percussion fuse was used, which was activated upon collision with an obstacle or after some time after the moment of contact, then modern ammunition, especially for automatic small-caliber guns, is equipped with remote programmable fuses that allow you to effectively deal with enemy infantry in an open field or with helicopters flying by. All that is required to set the fuse to the desired detonation distance is to measure the distance with a laser rangefinder.
When hitting a tank, OFS rip off and damage external equipment located on it.
It is also possible the formation of fragments from the inside of the armor and contusion of the crew. And with relatively weak protection and a powerful projectile, the armor can simply be broken through.
The OFS in Armored Warfare have a similar principle of operation: Project Armata. They deal damage even if the armor is not broken. The amount of damage is inversely proportional to the thickness of the armor at the point of impact, in addition, high-explosive fragmentation shells damage the external equipment of the tank – the cannon, sights, chassis.
Armor-Piercing High Explosive Shells
Another interesting type of shells are HESH shells (either HESH or HEP in English). Their device is similar to that of a conventional OFS, however, the shell of the projectile is very thin and easily deformed, and an explosive is located inside, which has sufficient plasticity. Well, the fuse itself, as without it.
Colliding with the armor, the body of the BFS is deformed, and the explosive “spreads” over the armor, after which the fuse is activated – and the explosive detonates.
As a result of the impact of the shock wave from the inside of the armor, a lot of fragments are formed, which injure the crew and damage the equipment, no penetration is required. However, now BFS are quite rare, since they work very poorly against combined armor, which most tanks are equipped with in our time.
In Armored Warfare: Project Armata BFS are featured on some Western tanks. Their principle of causing damage is similar to the principle of HE, however, HE shells have an increased chance of damaging the internal equipment of the tank and crew members.
That’s it. Good luck in your battles, more shells hitting your opponents and less hitting your vehicles and allies!
Discuss
Guided projectile
Patent authors:
Shipunov A.G.
Zakharov L.G.
Zybin I.M.
Chubunov V.A.
F42B12/18 – shaped charges in series Essence of the invention: in the bow of the projectile there is a homing head 1, two leading shaped charges 2, installed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the charge with axes divergence in the direction of the bow.
Between the leading charges 2 there is a single safety-actuator 14 for them. A steering drive 3 is placed between the leading charges 2 and the main warhead 8. f-ly, 1 ill.
The invention relates to guided projectiles to destroy armored targets equipped with dynamic protection.
A guided projectile is known (France, application 2581749 dated 05/10/85), taken as an analogue. A guided projectile is designed to destroy armored targets. It consists of a leading shaped charge, the main shaped charge warhead, mounted in tandem. An engine is installed between the leading shaped charges and the main warhead.
Known guided projectile 9M117M, taken as a prototype. It consists of a leading shaped charge, the main warhead, a steering drive unit is installed between them, a leading shaped charge is installed on the front end of the steering drive unit in the nose of the fairing. The guided projectile includes an engine, an equipment compartment with stabilizers.
At present, it is topical to destroy tanks and other armored targets equipped with dynamic protection when a guided projectile approaches from above.
In such guided projectiles, a homing head is installed in the warhead to provide control, and if a leading shaped charge is installed behind the homing head at the end of the steering gear unit, the effectiveness of the armor penetration of dynamic protection and, accordingly, the main armor of the target by the main cumulative warhead is significantly reduced.
This phenomenon occurs as a result of the fact that when the leading shaped charge is triggered, the cumulative jet must pierce all the elements in front of the homing head.
To eliminate these shortcomings by increasing the effectiveness of the armor penetration of dynamic protection and the main armor of the target with a guided projectile with a homing head located in the bow, an additional leading shaped charge is installed, and both leading shaped charges are installed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile with a divergence of the axes in the direction bow to prevent penetration of the elements of the homing head.
In addition, in order to simplify the design of the projectile and reduce the length of the projectile, the safety-actuator (fuze) of the leading shaped charges is installed between the cases of charges with cumulative funnels.
The drawing shows a guided projectile. It consists of a homing head 1, two leading shaped charges 2, a steering drive unit 3, which also contains a hydraulic coordinator 4, a power source 6, control equipment 7, the main warhead 8 of the engine 9 stabilizers 10. The leading shaped charge 2 has a body 11, in which there are two charges 12, two cumulative funnels 13. Cumulative funnels 13 with charges 12 are located at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
The angle of inclination of the funnel with the charge is selected for reasons of a significant reduction in the passage of the elements formed by the cumulative jet in the homing head.
Safety actuator 14, transitional charge 15 is installed in the housing.
Principle of operation.
When a guided projectile approaches the armor, the contacts close to trigger the safety-actuating element 14 of the leading shaped charges 12.
The contacts are arranged inside the homing head 1. After the formation of the cumulative jets, the dynamic protection placed on the target is pierced.
After the time determined by the electronic delay, the safety-actuating mechanism of the main warhead 8 is activated, and the main warhead 8, formed by the cumulative jet, pierces the target’s armor.
Thus, the charges with cumulative funnels are placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, the angle is chosen constructively for reasons of significant reduction in the passage of shaped-charge jets when the charges are fired through the elements located inside the homing head.
The installation of one safety-actuator (fuze) for the simultaneous operation of two charges makes it possible to simplify the design, increase reliability and reduce the dimensions of the guided projectile.