Author Topic: Self-sealing Tanks (Read 549 times)

Stoney74 · « **on:** October 09, 2006, 12:35:22 AM »

Can someone describe the construction and function of self-sealing tanks?

Golfer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2006, 01:16:12 AM »

Inside the fuel tank or the tank itself you'd have a couple layers of rubber. One layer would swell when it made contact with fuel the other would not due to chemical treating. If a round penetrated the tank then the newly unprotected rubber came in contact with fuel causing that section to expand which would either seal or greatly reduce the size of the hole made by the round.

That's a nutshell. I'm sure google will be your friend on this one.

It really depended on the installation but there's a bed calling my name. Or the girl in it...it's hard to tell but I know I shouldn't be here now. Night!

gripen · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2006, 04:37:52 AM »

There appear to have been several ways to construct self sealing tanks. Some were so called rubber bags like in the Bf 109. Sometimes it was a simple canvas and rubber layer outside the tank (some russian planes). Sometimes it was rather thick unvulganized layer outside tank (Hurricane). Sometimes the layer was inside the tank (some American planes) etc.

Also the principles how the sealing worked seem to vary quite a lot.

gripen

Charge · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2006, 07:42:39 AM »

Also their function was not always very good. E.g. Bf110 had those in the wings and they worked rather well against rifle caliber bullets, but British Hispano's ball ammo made such large holes that those could not be sealed and the wing was easy to catch fire. But in 109 the "fuel bag" was part of the armour system and the bullet had to travel through duraluminun reinforced bulkhead and bag of fuel to get to armoured seat and try to penetrate that. IIRC the .50 was not very successful in that but Hispano was.

-C+

Kev367th · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2006, 09:48:27 AM »

Wasn't just the Hispano ammo on the Spits.

On a typical 2 Hispano + 4 MG loadout -
2 of the .303s were loaded with Mk IV incendiary, about a 20% chance of starting a fire. (roughly).

Warspawn · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2006, 03:55:32 PM »

Wouldn't good self-sealing prevent fuel leaks?

Why am I always getting pinged by .303's or 7.9mm and immediately start leaking fuel with my D-hog?

Not a good thing with one fuel tank.