Preview: Soviet Kontakt Explosive Reactive Armor Sets
From Heavy Hobby
1/35th scale
In each set you recieve:
150 pcs normal ERA
15 pcs damaged ERA
A total number is 165 pcs in one set
6 types of reactive armor modules in different damaged states
The Subject: Soviet Kontakt Explosive Reactive Armor
The Soviet Union was the second country to adopt explosive reactive armour in form of their Kontakt ERA, which was first introduced in 1984. In most forms, Kontakt ERA uses two reactive elements, although there might have been versions with just one reactive element. The reactive elements are located in rather small boxes (314 x 148 mm base area) with three-millimetre thick steel walls. The reactive sandwich with the designation 4S20 consists of a 2 mm thick steel plate, a 7 mm thick explosive and a 2 mm thick steel plate. A Kontakt ERA tile with two reactive sandwich plates has a weight of 5.7 kilograms without attachment bolts. About 151 tiles are used for a tank (although the number varies depending on tank type and surface area).
Kontakt-1 ERA tile showing the arrangement of the two elements.
Just like Blazer, the original Kontakt ERA did not provide any protection against armour-piercing ammunition and used insensitive explosives in order to prevent the detonation by small arms fire. According to Russian sources, Kontakt ERA provides protection equivalent to up to 400 mm rolled steel armour (RHA) when hit by single-stage shaped charge warheads. Unlike Blazer, Kontakt provides protection at a greater amount of angles, because of the use of two reactive elements aligned at different angles. The smaller size of the Kontakt tiles is also favorable.
Heavy Hobby's new sets of Kontakt Explosive Reactive Armor
Heavy Hobby are providing six types of reactive armour modules in different damaged states in their new 3D printed sets. There will be complete and damaged modules supplied in each kit we are told by Heavy Hobby.
In each set you recieve:
150 pcs normal ERA
15 pcs damaged ERA
A total number is 165 pcs in one set
A CAD representation of the blocks of reactive armour, each a single unit to be placed on the tank to your desires.
This is how the part look once removed from the printer and cleaned up....
These are soon to be available from the distributors of Heavy Hobby. You can get these directly from Heavy Hobby by emailing them here: contact@canadacommoditiestrade.com
