Composite ply architecture for sabots

A sabot having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of sabot segments, each of said sabot segments comprising a repeating structure of:

• (a) a plurality of plies of a first fibrous material oriented radially from said longitudinal axis, wherein each fiber of said first fibrous material is oriented substantially parallel (0) to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• (b) a plurality of plies of a second fibrous material, comprising
• a first portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a positive acute angle (+) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said first portion;
• and
• a second portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a negative acute angle (-) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said second portion, said repeating structure being (0,0,+,-,0,0).

An APFSDS kinetic energy tank projectile, comprising:

• a penetrator having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a sabot comprising a plurality of sabot segments oriented concentrically around said penetrator and comprising a repeating structure of:
• (a) a plurality of plies of a first fibrous material oriented radially from said longitudinal axis, wherein each fiber of said first fibrous material is oriented substantially parallel (0) to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• (b) a plurality of plies of a second fibrous material, comprising
• a first portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a positive acute angle (+) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said first portion;
• and
• a second portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a negative acute angle (-) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said second portion, said repeating structure being (0,+,0,-,0).

An APFSDS kinetic energy tank projectile, comprising:

• a penetrator having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a sabot comprising a plurality of sabot segments oriented concentrically around said penetrator and comprising a repeating structure of:
• (a) a plurality of plies of a first fibrous material oriented radially from said longitudinal axis, wherein each fiber of said first fibrous material is oriented substantially parallel (0) to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• (b) a plurality of plies of a second fibrous material, comprising
• a first portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a positive acute angle (+) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said first portion;
• and
• a second portion of said plurality of plies of said second fibrous material having each fiber oriented at a negative acute angle (-) with respect to said longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to every other fiber of said second portion, said repeating structure being (0,0,+,-,0,0).