Abstract: A sub-caliber armor-piercing projectile exhibits for improving its penetration effect against a strongly inclined target surface a break-up in the region of a fracture zone of an expendable nose portion. The latter is provided at its point region with an arrangement which favors a sliding-off, which arrangement includes at least two frusto-conical surfaces which encompass the longitudinal projectile axis A and which surfaces are differently inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the projectile or include a sphere disposed in a spherical recess. The arrangement can be cladded with a ballistic hood and can be provided in the region of the frusto-conical or the spherical surfaces with a lubricating medium. The fracture zone is constructed in such a way that when a deviating sliding-off of the arrangement occurs, as large as possible a twisting impulse is transferred under the main projectile portion in order to improve its penetration capability by means of a more favorable penetrating angle.