EP0106263B1 - Armour perforating explosive projectile within a cartridge case - Google Patents

Abstract

On impact the primer (37) is struck by the point (33) and transmits the ignition to an explosive column (14) located in the hollow nose (4). The splinters from a metal closing piece (17) are then thrown violently into an empty duct (19) located along the center line of the high-explosive filling (23, 24) made of stabilized secondary explosive material. When the projectile has been fired it is driven in rotation in order to stabilize it and the bolt (27) subjected to centrifugal force frees the way along the duct (19). The splinters from piece (17) can therefore travel through the duct (19) and strike the ignition booster (22) which is also made of stabilized secondary explosive material. The hollow charge is formed by the conical piece (11). A highly effective projectile is produced having great operational safety.

Description

The subject of the present invention is an explosive punctured cartridge-shell projectile which can be used in particular in a light individual shoulder weapon with a rifled barrel making it possible to obtain excellent marksmanship against point targets such as anti-tank weapons even protected by shields, helicopters operating at low altitude, or lightly or weakly armored personnel carriers such as ATVs. Such a weapon using a projectile according to the invention can be distributed to the infantry at the rate of a few copies per company, thereby significantly increasing its firepower and its means of action without reducing its mobility.

Explosive perforating projectiles of the conventional type are provided with a detonating device generally comprising an explosive material known as primary, that is to say capable of being ignited under the action of a relatively low energy shock to the impact of the projectile on the objective. In some of these known type projectiles, the detonator comprising the primary explosive charge is located inside the explosive charge consisting in turn of a stabilized secondary explosive material. This results in a high risk of accident in the event of an unexpected firing of the detonator. In other projectiles of known type, the detonator is mobile and mounted outside the secondary explosive charge, movens being provided to move the detonator into the interior of the secondary explosive charge after firing. It is therefore understood that such security devices are very complex.

There is also known (FR-A-1 149 810) a hollow projectile with an explosive charge corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 and comprising a central flame tube intended to guide the ignition flame, originating from the firing of '' a primer located in the lead rocket, up to a primary explosive detonator placed at the rear of the charge.

Furthermore, the German patent 858 949 provides for the firing of an explosive projectile by means of a metal, the movement of which can be prevented by a safety pin, with a detonator comprising primary material, located behind the explosive charge.

The subject of the present invention is the production of a cartridge-piercing explosive projectile having important qualities both in terms of safety of use and in terms of efficiency. The invention very simply solves the problem of operational safety. In addition, the structure of the projectile makes it possible to better distribute the masses by allowing a short total length and an advantageous ballistic shape, the projectile having a long relief warhead and a relatively short cylindrical portion thus reducing the loss of speed on the trajectory.

The projectile of the invention also makes it possible to obtain stabilization on the trajectory with a small pitch of scratches, a relatively high initial speed for a limited recoil and allows the use of low propellant pressures of the order of 400 to 600 bars. .

The projectile of the invention makes it possible to project numerous fragments at impact at high speed, the range of these projections being however reduced, which has the advantage of not exposing the nearby hole. By allieurs, the lightness of the projectile of the invention allows the servant to transport a large quantity of ammunition thus increasing the number of shots he can have.

Finally, the projectile of the invention can comprise a self-destructive device which acts quickly, for example after approximately 2 seconds, after the start of the shot.

As claimed, the penetrating explosive projectile capable of being stabilized by gyration comprises a body provided with gyration training means cooperating with a rifled barrel, a warhead secured to the body and a head rocket comprising a primer in primary explosive material. The projectile contains an explosive charge and means for igniting the explosive charge on impact. The projectile further comprises an empty channel axially incorporated in the explosive charge, open at its front end and communicating with the explosive charge at its rear end. According to the invention, the projectile body is integral with a cartridge case and the explosive charge consists exclusively of stabilized secondary explosive materials, even after the start of the shot. The explosive charge is further delimited forwards by a weakly conical cup acting as a flat charge. A column of stabilized secondary explosive material is arranged in the axis of the hollow warhead. The column is closed at its rear end by a metal element located near the front end of the empty channel. Finally, safety means are provided in order to close the empty channel and to prevent any projection of metal shards up to the explosive material located behind the empty channel as long as the gyration of the projectile is insufficient. Upon impact of the projectile, the explosive material primer of the rocket ignites the explosive material of the aforementioned column, causing splinters to be projected through the empty channel.

The metallic element for closing the explosive column preferably has a concave profile directed towards the front end of the channel.

It is known that a stabilized explosive mass, which it is agreed to call secondary explosive substance, is not ignited for example when a bullet passes through it. However, it has been found that a projectile launched at a much higher speed, about twice that of such a bullet, is capable, by striking secondary explosive material, of provoking its deflagration even in the absence of primary explosive material. The invention is therefore based on the use of this phenomenon, the ignition of the explosive charge consisting exclusively of stabilized secondary explosive being caused by the fragments of the metal element closing the rear end of the explosive column, fragments which are forcefully projected through the empty channel located in the axis of the explosive charge.

The security closure means preferably comprise a radial cavity inside the bubble is mounted a lock subjected to a closing spring and capable of closing the channel. The center of gravity of the bolt is, in the closed position, on the same side of the axis of the projectile as said cavity so that the gyration of the projectile around its axis causes the opening of the bolt and the release of the channel. Thus, in this extremely simple manner, great safety is obtained in using the projectile of the invention since, before the start of the shot causing the projectile to turn, the axial channel is completely closed by the aforementioned lock. An unexpected ignition of the explosive column causing the projection of the metallic closing element therefore does not risk igniting the explosive charge of the projectile since the debris of the metallic element is stopped by the bolt and cannot reach up to the explosive charge.

The radial cavity inside which the safety shutter lock moves is advantageously made in an annular flange comprising a plurality of radial bores making it possible to lighten said flange. The axial empty channel is preferably made in a part forming an integral part of said flange.

To improve the ignition of the explosive charge, a priming relay comprising a stabilized secondary explosive material is preferably placed at the rear end of the channel so that it can be struck by the fragments of the projected closing metallic element. through the aforementioned axial channel in order to ignite the explosive charge of the projectile. The latter preferably comprises two loaves of explosive of revolution, of generally annular shape, which can be superimposed around the axial channel and partially separated by the annular flange of the safety closure device.

The flat charge of the projectile of the invention is preferably constituted by a cup of generally frustoconical shape with a large opening angle which is mounted around the front end of the axial channel and inside the body of the projectile. The cup delimits with the body of the projectile and the outer walls of said axial channel the cavity containing the explosive charge of the projectile.

The periphery of the frustoconical cup constituting the hollow charge preferably has a knurling or other equivalent means in order to increase the friction torque between the cup and the body of the projectile to avoid any relative rotation during the strong acceleration of rotation at the start of the stroke.

The projectile of the invention also comprises an instantaneous percussion head rocket. According to a first variant, the head rocket comprises, inside a thin-walled ogival cap, a discharge plate provided with a point-shaped member mounted by means of a deformable element so as to be able, on impact, to strike a primer which causes the explosive column of the projectile to ignite.

In another embodiment, the head flare comprises, still inside a thin-walled ogival cap, an axial bar made of hard material, for example metal carbide, mounted inside a connected flange to a point-shaped member by a thin connecting rod. This rod is capable of being cut by shearing on impact on a hard obstacle via the aforementioned bar, the point-shaped member then being separated from the flange and coming to strike the primer and ignite the explosive column. In the case where the projectile hits a soft obstacle on impact, the ignition of the explosive column by the primer is done by the point-shaped member which remains integral with the aforementioned laguelle flange is mounted by the intermediate of a deformable element so that it can be moved on impact until the point strikes the primer.

The projectile of the invention further comprises a shell fitted with a primer made of primary explosive material capable of being ignited by the striker of the weapon using the projectile and of transmitting fire to a propellant charge mounted in the shell thus ensuring the departure of the coup. The body of the projectile separates in a conventional manner from the case which remains in the breech or in the cartridge chamber playing the role of breech of the weapon used. The case used, while being light and made for example of light metal such as duralumin, however has a sufficiently thick bottom to obtain sufficient resistance when the projectile is used in a light weapon in which the breech itself is replaced by an ammunition locking mechanism mounted in a cartridge chamber open towards the rear.

The projectile of the invention preferably comprises a self-destruct charge placed outside the bottom face of the body of the projectile and capable of causing the explosion of the explosive charge to delay.

In an advantageous embodiment, the projectile according to the invention further comprises a self-propelling tank containing a second solid fuel propellant mounted between the body of the projectile and the socket. The self-propelled tank is provided at its rear part with an exhaust nozzle of convergent-divergent profile. The solid fuel in the self-propelling tank advantageously comprises a revolution loaf provided with a central passage with a star profile. A relay charge which can be produced for example in the form of a roll of compressed powder can be ignited by the propellant charge of the socket and is mounted in the vicinity of the exhaust nozzle so as to transmit flames through the central passage of the fuel bar up to said solid fuel located in the self-propelling tank in order to ignite the latter.

• la fig. 1 est une vue en coupe partielle d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un projectile selon l'invention montrant la partie avant de ce projectile;
• la fig. 2 est une vue en coupe montrant la partie arrière du même projectile comportant notamment un réservoir auto-propulseur;
• la fig. 3 est une coupe selon III-III de la fig. 2 montrant la structure du carburant solide contenu dans le réservoir auto-propulseur;
• la fig. 4 est une vue en coupe selon IV-IV de la fig. 1 montrant la collerette annulaire comprenant le verrou d'obturation de sécurité;
• la fig. 5 est une vue en coupe d'une variante de fusée de tête pouvant être utilisée sur un projectile selon l'invention; et
• la fig. 6 est une vue en coupe partielle d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un projectile de l'invention ne comportant pas de réservoir auto- propulseur.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of some embodiments taken by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawing, in which:

• fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a projectile according to the invention showing the front part of this projectile;
• fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the rear part of the same projectile comprising in particular a self-propelling tank;
• fig. 3 is a section on III-III of FIG. 2 showing the structure of the solid fuel contained in the self-propelled tank;
• fig. 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of FIG. 1 showing the annular collar comprising the safety shutter lock;
• fig. 5 is a sectional view of a variant of the head rocket which can be used on a projectile according to the invention; and
• fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a projectile of the invention not comprising a self-propelling tank.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the explosive perforating cartridge-shell projectile according to the present invention comprises a body 1 of generally cylindrical shape made integral with a self-propelling tank 2 also of generally cylindrical shape by means of a thread 3. In the direction of the front of the projectile , the body 1 is made integral with a hollow cone 4 of generally conical shape with a thin wall, by means of a thread 5. At the front end of the projectile is disposed the head rocket 6 provided with a ogival cap 7 with thin wall.

The projectile is completed in the vicinity of its rear end by a socket 8 whose bottom 9 has a relatively large thickness compared to its cylindrical wall crimped on the rear of the tank 2. The projectile can be introduced into the breech or into the chamber cartridge of an individual weapon comprising a rifled barrel-barrel. A copper hoop 10 cooperates with these scratches in order to cause stabilization by gyration of the projectile at the outlet of the barrel-tube. A flat load 11 is constituted by a cup of generally frustoconical shape with a large opening angle and whose concavity is directed towards the front. The cup 11 is mounted in the vicinity of the front of the body 1 and it has, on its periphery, a knurling 12 making it possible to ensure a correct rotary drive of the cup during the propulsion of the projectile in the rifled barrel. The knurling 12 of the cup 11 made for example of steel, is in fact printed when mounted in the bore of the body 1 made of light metal of the magnesium or anti-corrodal type. Inside the hollow warhead 4 and in the axis of the latter is mounted an explosive column 13 containing a stabilized secondary explosive material 14 inside a cylindrical sheath tube 15 whose open rear end 16 is closed by a metallic closure element 17 having a concave profile directed towards the rear. At its front end, the column 13 includes a pellet 14a made up of primary explosive facilitating the transfer of fire to the secondary explosive 14.

Inside the body 1 and in the axis of the latter is mounted a centrifugal safety device referenced 18 as a whole. The device 18 has an axial empty channel 19 passing through the cup 11 and an annular flange 20 also visible in section in FIG. 4. The outer wall 21 of the channel 19 is fixed at its front end to the hollow center of the cup 11. At its rear end, the channel 19 communicates with a priming relay 22 comprising a stabilized secondary explosive material.

The explosive charge of the projectile intended to project on impact the cup 11 constituting the hollow charge, comprises two loaves of explosive of revolution 23 and 24 of generally annular shape and superimposed around the outer wall 21 of the channel 19 partially separated by the annular collar 20. As can be seen in fig. 1, the explosive charge constituted by the two loaves 23 and 24 of stabilized secondary explosive material is therefore housed in a cavity which is defined inside the body 1 and delimited at the front by the cup 11 and at the rear through the bottom 25 of the body 1. The empty channel 19 is located in the axis of the explosive charge 23, 24 and the ignition relay 22 is embedded in the explosive bar 24.

The annular flange 20 has a radial cavity 26 which extends beyond the axis of the channel 19 and inside which is mounted a cylindrical lock 27 which is biased towards the axis by a spring 28 s pressing on the bottom of the cavity 26. The structure of the cylindrical latch 27 is such that its center of gravity 29 is in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1, on the same side of the projectile axis as the bottom of the cavity 26. This result can be obtained for example by making a blind hole 30 in the latch 2.

Under these conditions, it will be understood that the gyration of the projectile around its axis causes the action of a centrifugal force on the mass of the bolt 27 which compresses the spring 28 and, by being housed in the cavity 25, releases the channel 19 that it completely obstructed when the projectile was not rotated.

To lighten the projectile and avoid any imbalance during the gyration, the annular flange 20 further comprises five radial holes 31 also visible in FIG. 4.

The rear end of the explosive column 13 comprising the concave metallic element 17 is placed at a certain distance from the front opening of the channel 19 as can be seen in FIG. 1. Taking into account the axial mounting of the explosive column 13 and the empty channel 19, the ignition of the explosive column 14 causes the projection of metallic fragments of the element 17 which penetrate into the channel 19 and are capable, when the latch 27 has cleared the channel 19, causing deflagration of the ignition relay 22 and the ignition of the explosive charge 23, 24.

The head rocket 6 comprises, inside the ogival cap 7 with thin wall, a discharge plate 32 provided with a point-shaped member 33. The plate 32 is mounted on an intermediate member 34 made of light metal secured by the thread 35 with the front end of the warhead 4. The discharge plate 32 is mounted at a certain distance in front of the intermediate element 34 by means of a stamped deformable skirt 36 made of light metal. In the axis of the intermediate element 34 is placed a primer 37 whose front part can be struck by the tip 33 through the passage 38 of the intermediate element 34 on impact of the projectile.

A wedging sleeve 39 is interposed between the intermediate element 34 and the reflexed end edge of the sheath 15 of the explosive column 13 which rests on a shoulder of the front part of the warhead 4. Under these conditions, the explosive column 13 is suitably wedged inside the warhead 4 by its front end when the intermediate element 34 is screwed and in the vicinity of its rear end by means of a support 40. It will be noted that the element intermediate 34 and the other bodies of the head rocket 6 such as the discharge plate 32 are supported on the sleeve 39 made for example of plastic. Under these conditions, in the event of expansion of the explosive 14, it is liable to move axially slightly inside its sheath tube 15. The flexibility of the sleeve 39 therefore makes it possible to absorb the differences in thermal expansion between the sheath 15 and the explosive 14.

Referring to fig. 2, it can be seen that the shell 8 of the projectile contains a primer 41 made of primary explosive material covered by a cap 42 which can be struck by the precursor of the weapon using the projectile. The flames coming from the initiator 41 are transmitted by the bores 43 of an intermediate piece 44 to a charge of relay powder 45 which transmits the fire to the propellant charge 46 which is in the form of an annular bread mounted on the inside the sleeve 8 between the bottom wall 9 and an annular flock 46a. The fire from the propellant charge 46 and the relay charge 45 is also transmitted by the holes 47 of an intermediate element 48 to a roll of compressed relay powder 49 mounted in the axis of the socket 8 inside a light metal support 50 held by a stamped 51 against the external front face of the exhaust nozzle 52 of convergent-divergent profile which is fixed by screwing by means of the thread 53 on the bottom 54 of the tank 2. Firing instantaneous powder 49 transmits fire after a certain time (after the projectile leaves the barrel of the weapon used) through orifice 55 to another annular relay 56 also mounted in the support 50 near its front end and which is arranged, as can be seen in fig. 2, inside the divergent part of the nozzle 52. The relay 56 projects a flame through the channel 58 causing the ignition of a powder charge 60. As soon as the projectile has left the barrel tube of the weapon used, the powder charge 60 50 is therefore capable of igniting the self-propelling charge 57 mounted inside the self-propelling tank 2. As can be seen in particular in the section of FIG. 3, the self-propelling charge 57 has an axial empty channel with a star profile 58.

A self-destruction device referenced 59 as a whole is mounted inside the channel 58 in the bottom 25 of the body 1. This self-destruction device comprises in particular the powder charge 60 which is capable of igniting a charge 61 of powder charged with aluminum or magnesium so as to produce a highly exothermic combustion mixture. The load 61 is of annular structure and mounted inside the support 62 screwed by the thread 63 into the bottom 25. The combustion of the load 61 causes the bottom wall 25 to gradually heat up. When the temperature of this wall reaches a predetermined limit greater than 250 ° C., the explosive charge 24 in contact with this wall enters into deflagration. The heat transmission through the wall 25 therefore makes it possible to obtain the self-destruction with delay of a projectile which would not have exploded by impact on the head rocket.

It will also be noted that in the slightly conical front part of the body 1, the external periphery of the projectile has axial countersinks 65 which are capable of progressively braking by aerodynamic effect the rotation of the projectile on its trajectory.

Fig. 5 illustrates a variant for a head rocket 66 which can be used on a projectile according to the invention. In this figure, similar parts have the same references. The intermediate support 34 and the primer 37 are found inside the thin-walled ogival cap 7. In this variant, an axial bar made of hard material, for example metal carbide referenced 67, is mounted inside a flange 68 having a tip 69. The assembly of the flange 68 provided with the bar 67 and the tip 69 is mounted by means of a deformable stamped element 36 so that the tip 69 is at a short distance of the primer 37. At the junction between the tip 69 and the body of the collar 68, the material of the collar 63 is thinned in the form of a thin connection zone 70.

Under these conditions, on impact on a hard obstacle, the bar 67 of hard material is capable of cutting by shearing the connection zone 70 thus causing the tip 69 which strikes the primer 37 without the element 36 being is distorted.

On the contrary, on impact on a soft obstacle, it is the assembly of the flange 68 comprising the bar 67 which moves by deforming the element 36 until the point 69 strikes the primer 37.

Under these conditions, the percussive head comprising the hard bar 67 makes it possible to ensure operation at high impact incidence on a hard obstacle by shearing of the weakened connection zone 70 of the flange made of light metal for example in anti-corrodal . In the case of a soft obstacle, the operation is the same as for the head rocket illustrated in FIG. 1.

It will be noted that the flange 68 has an outer surface approximately 5 times greater than that of the front end of the hard bar 67.

Fig. 6 illustrates a variant of a projectile not comprising a self-propelling charge capable, as in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, to provide additional speed at the exit of the barrel.

Apart from this difference, the principle of pyrotechnic transmission from the primer 37 located in the head rocket 6 via the explosive column 14 to the main explosive charge 24 is identical. Identical bodies have the same references. Because of this identity, the major part of the projectile in FIG. 6 in external view.

As can be seen in fig. 6, there is in the socket 3 the propellant charge 71 which is here of generally cylindrical shape and which is ignited by means of the relay charge 45 after transmission of the flames coming from the primer 41. The device is also found self-destruction device 59 placed in the axis of the propellant charge 71 and fixed to the bottom 25 of the body 1.

That the projectile is of the simple type illustrated in fig. 6 or combined with a self-propelling tank as illustrated in figs. 1 and 2 in order to provide additional speed, in all cases an explosive penetrating projectile of great efficiency and great safety of use is obtained. This high yield results from the combination of precision, lightness, high initial speed, high explosive content and the resulting perforating power.

The objectives reserved for the weapon using such a projectile are located only a few hundred meters, whether fixed or mobile. The projectile of the invention remarkably light compared to its caliber, endowed with a significant explosive capacity allows, thanks to its flat charge, to ensure the perforation of relatively thick and resistant armor. The pyrotechnic chain with which the projectile is equipped and comprising in particular the explosive column 14 ensures extremely rapid transmission of fire as soon as it hits. The impact speed can be estimated between 600 and 200 m / sec. Thanks to the very high speed of pyrotechnic transmission, the fragments of the end element 17 of concave shape are projected practically upon impact through the empty axial channel 19 which passes in the axis of the explosive charge 23, 24 so very severely strike the ignition relay 22 consisting exclusively of secondary charge. It is thus possible to avoid the presence of dangerous primary explosives inside the explosive charge itself. The speed of the metal fragments of the element 17 is of the order of 1500 m / sec. The physical barrier constituted by a simple lock 27 which is laterally erased under the effect of centrifugal force makes it extremely simple to ensure high safety in use.

The cup 11 constituting the flat charge of the penetrating projectile is then propelled at high speed by the explosive charge 23, 24. The high speed of pyrotechnic transmission combined with the short length of the channel 19 makes it possible to ignite the explosive charge 23, 24 then that the cup 11 is still at a sufficient distance from the objective to allow it to retain its perforating effects.

The hollow bullet 4 of the projectile as well as its body 1 and the reservoir 2 can be made of magnesium, which makes it possible to obtain both marked relief and an incendiary effect on impact.

It can therefore be seen that the structure of the projectile of the invention dispenses with a conventional detonator containing primary and sensitive material necessary for traditional priming. In addition, the projectile of the invention prevents the detonator from being located inside the charge with all the risks that this entails. It is also not necessary to use as is usually the case with a detonator without the charge which moves after the start of the shot. Finally, the projectile according to the invention makes it possible to provide security in a very simple manner for a munition with a flat charge and an instantaneous percussion head rocket. Indeed, in the event of unexpected operation of the head initiator and of the explosive column 14 ensuring the pyrotechnic transmission, the fire cannot be communicated to the relay _'22 , the cylindrical lock 27 transversely obstructing the axial channel 19 as long as the projectile has not been launched. The lock 27 therefore constitutes a physical obstacle for the directional metallic particles launched through the channel 19 in the direction of the relay 22.

Claims (15)

1. Armour-piercing explosive projectile capable of being stabilized by gyration and comprising a body (1) provided with means for imparting gyration (10) interacting with a rifled gun barrel, a nose cone (4) attached to the body and a nose fuse (6) possessing a primer (37) of primary explosive material, the projectile containing an explosive charge (23, 24) and means for firing the said explosive charge on impact, and possessing an empty channel (19) incorporated axially into the explosive charge (23, 24), open at its front end and communicating with the explosive charge at its rear end, characterized in that the body of the projectile is firmly attached to a cartridge case; in that the explosive charge (23, 24) consisting entirely of secondary explosive materials which are stabilized, even after the launching of the shot, is delimited at the front by a flat or slightly conical charge (11); in that a column of stabilized secondary explosive material (14) is located in the axis of the hollow nose cone (4) and closed at its rear end by a metal element (17) located close to the front end of the empty channel (19); and in that safety means (18) are provided in order to block the empty channel (19).

2. Projectile according to Claim 1, characterized in that the metal closing element (17) of the explosive column (14) possesses a concave profile facing towards the front end of the channel (19).

3. Projectile according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the safety blocking means (18) comprise a radial cavity (26) within which is mounted a bolt (27) which is subject to a closing spring (28) and capable of blocking the channel (19), the centre of gravity (29) of the bolt being situated, in the closing position, on the same side of the axis of the projectile as the said cavity, in a manner such that the gyration of the projectile about its axis causes the opening of the bolt (27) and the clearing of the channel (19).

4. Projectile according to Claim 3, characterized in that the radial cavity (26) is made in an annular collar (20) possessing a plurality of radial weight- reducing perforations (31), the said collar being firmly attached fixed to the abovementioned channel (19).

5. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a priming relay (22) comprising a stabilized secondary explosive material is arranged at the rear end of the channel (19) in a manner such as to be capable of being struck by the shards of the metal closing element (17), which shards are projected through the abovementioned channel (19), in order to fire the explosive charge (23, 24).

6. Projectile according to Claim 3, characterized in that the explosive charge comprises two rotationally symmetrical cakes of explosive, of generally annular shape (23, 24), superposed around the channel (19) and partially separated by the annular collar (20).

7. Projectile according to Claim 6, characterized in that the periphery of the frustoconical pan (11) possesses a milling (12) increasing the frictional torque between the pan and the body of the projectile.

8. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the nose fuse comprises, within a thin-walled nose cap (7), a recoil plate (32) provided with a point-shaped member (33) mounted by means of a deformable element (36) in a manner such as to be capable, on impact, of striking the primer (37).

9. Projectile according to any one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the nose fuse comprises, within a thin-walled nose cap (7), an axial bar of hard material (67), of the metal carbide type, mounted within a collar (68) connected to a point-shaped member (69) by a linking zone of low thickness (70), capable of being severed by cutting, on striking a hard obstacle, by the abovementioned bar in order to strike the primer, the said collar as a whole being mounted by means of a deformable element (36) in a manner such as to be capable, on striking a soft obstacle, of moving so that the said point strikes the primer.

10. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the cartridge case (8) is provided with a primer (41) of primary explosive material capable of being fired by the firing pin of a weapon and of transmitting the fire to a propulsive charge (46, 71) mounted in the case.

11. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that it comprises a self-destruction charge of highly exothermic combustion (61) arranged outside the base surface (25) of the body of the projectile.

12. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a self-propelling reservoir (2) containing a second solid- fuel propellant (57) is mounted between the body of the projectile and the case, the said reservoir being provided in its rear part with an exhaust pipe (52) of converging/diverging profile.

13. Projectile according to Claim 12,
characterized in that the solid fuel of the self-propelling reservoir comprises a rotationally symmetrical cake (57) provided with a central passage of star-shaped profile (58), at least one relay charge (56) being fired with a time-lag and mounted in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe (52) in a manner such as to transmit flames through the central passage (58), to the solid fuel (57) of the self-propelling reservoir.

14. Projectile according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the outer periphery of the nose cone possesses axial milled portions (65) capable of braking, by aerodynamic effect, the rotation of the projectile in its trajectory.

15. Projectile according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the nose cap, the hollow nose cone and body are made of light metal, such as magnesium.

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