High-explosive incendiary
Type of ammunition
In warfare, high-explosive incendiary (HEI) is a type of ammunition specially designed to impart energy and therefore damage to its target in one or both of two ways: via a high-explosive charge and/or via its incendiary (fire-causing) effects. Each round, by definition, has both capabilities.
HEI ammunition is fused either mechanically or chemically. The armor-piercing ability can vary widely, allowing for more focused fragmentation or larger scatter.
01History
HEI ammunition was originally developed for use in large-caliber cannon, howitzer and naval artillery. Currently, HEI rounds are most commonly made in medium-caliber sizes of 20, 25, 30, and 35 mm. They are fired from various platforms, including aircraft, anti-aircraft cannons, and anti-missile systems.
HEI ammunition has also been used on the battlefield against tanks and other armored vehicles, but mostly in a last ditch attempt to disable external components.
02Uses
HEI rounds are mainly used in incendiary rounds against softer targets such as aircraft, infantry, and unarmored vehicles.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “High-explosive incendiary”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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