GB1605340A

GB1605340A - Bombs and projectiles

Info

Publication number: GB1605340A
Application number: GB238476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: M Held
Original assignee: Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm AG
Current assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Priority date: 1976-01-21
Filing date: 1976-01-21
Publication date: 1992-01-02

Description

(54) BOMBS AND PROJECTILES We. MESSERSCHMIn-BOLKOW-BLOHM Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, of 8000 Miinchen. German Federal Republic. a Company organised and existing under the laws of the German Federal Republic. do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us. and the method by which it is to be performed. to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a bomb or a projectile of the kind intended for use against runways.

roads or the like surfaces and having two explosive charges which are axially in succession with an intermediate gap and which detonate in succession to each other. The front explosive charge, detonated first, being constructed as a lined hollow charge with the end facing away from the lining having the shape of a cone directed towards the rear explosive charge.

In such a known projectile the rear explosive charge is also constructed as a hollow charge.

The front hollow charge detonates immediately on impact and the spike formed penetrates the target. the detonation of the rear hollow charge does not take place until this occurs and the section of the projectile casing housing the first charge has passed through the aperture made and has reached a position beyond or inside the target. The second hollow charge spike produced is in turn capable of penetrating any obstacle of the nature of a wall which lies in its path in the vicinity of the detonation point. Otherwise because the pressure is limited it causes no further lasting damage to walls. such as a permanent warping or dislocation.

Deformation of this kind, particularly when runways and roadway surfaces are attacked is frequently desired and is of greater military value than a crater which can be rapidly repaired with quick-setting concrete or synthetic resin mixtures. The concrete slabs which have been dislocated and raised from the foundation also destroyed and which are usually of large areas have to be completely removed when the target.

are repaired and the slabs replaced with the replanning of the foundations. It is obvious that these measures require considerable machinery and expenditure of time and are thus very difficult to carry out under combat conditions.

For the aforementioned reasons conventional high explosive bombs are still used where it is desired to cause damage to runways, road or the like surfaces. When fitted with a delayed action fuse and dropped from great heights these bombs, owing to their kinetic energy, are able to penetrate concrete on which they make impact before detonation takes place providing the advantage. as already mentioned. of slab deformations which are difficult to repair.

Nowadays, however. flying over airfields at a great height presents such risks to the aircraft that this type of attack will not be adopted. The possible alternative of using low altitude flight to avoid radar detection is of little advantage. A high explosive bomb of the conventional kind.

dropped over a runway from a height of 20-10() m. for instance, would endanger the aircraft itself on detonating. This danger can be overcome by slowing down the bomb during falling. If this is done a further disadvantage is involved as owing to the low kinetic energy, the bomb is no longer capable of penetrating concrete. It therefore detonates on the surface of the latter. so that the desired disruption of the slabs do not occur.

This invention seeks to provide a simple means and a type of bomb or projectile which can reach the target reliably without endangering personnel or equipment in the delivery to produce serious damage at the target.

According to this invention there is provided a bomb or a projectile having two explosive charges positioned in axial succession with an intermediate gap. the front explosive charge.

which is arranged to be detonated first. being a lined hollow charge with the end facing away from the lining having a cone shape pointing towards the rear explosive charge. the rear explosive charge. which is arranged to be detonated after the hollow charge. being an integral part of a shell which is mounted in the bomb or projectile casing and which can be accelerated by a propulsive charge, the hollow charge, the shell and the propulsive charge with respective detonating means being adapted in such a way that the shell before detonation passes through an aperture formed in the target hy the hollow charge.

The bomb or projectile according to the invention is characterised by a compact structure.

so that large numbers can be launched from an aircraft. It provides lasting damage to targets.

such as runways and road surfaces, as the spike of the hollow charge penetrates concrete slabs.

while the shell. passing through the apenure before detonation, deforms the concrete slab with the high pressure of the explosive charge.

dislocating the slab from the foundation in the process.

The combined high-power spike and explosion effects occur very reliably' in the desired order and at the required points.

regardless of whether the bomb or projectile makes impact on the target at high or low' speed or is even stationary thereon. Consequently' the arrangement also offers the advantage of dropping the bombs or projectiles from low altitudes over the target area and slowing their fall onto the target by' destabilising surfaces.

parachutes or similar devices mounted at the tail, so that a carrier aircraft can reach a safe distance in time before the detonation takes place.

The lining of the hollow charge preferably' is in the form of a cone with an obtuse angle. such as between 120 and 160O. which in conjunction with the use of copper. aluminium or similar metals as a lining material. ensures that the target will be penetrated with apertures of considerable cross section.

To make certain that the explosive charge of the shell is not detonated prematurely by the detonating hollow charge. when the distance between the charges is small, it is advisable for the cone at the end of the hollow charge which is further away from the lining to have an opening angle of not more than 140 and for the head of the shell facing this cone to be made ogival in shape with the space between the hollow charge and the shell filled with an inert material, such as a plastics.

The propulsive charge can be accommodated in a combustion chamber provided between the base of the shell and the base of the bomb or projectile so that. in conjunction with the shell. it forms a cartridge type propulsive charge. It can also be positioned between the explosive charge and the shell base provided with at least one outlet nozzle. so that the shell functions as a rocket propelled missile.

The correct detonation instant of the hollow charge may be ensured by' an electrical Impact fuse in the nose of the bomb or projectile in conjunction with a securable electrical detonator and propagation charge, the detonator and propagation charge being positioned co-axially In the region of the apex of the hollow charge cone facing away from the lining. In the lining zone of the aforementioned cone the hollow charge.

according to a further development of the invention, is also provided with a piezo-ceramic unit of which both end faces are covered with metal plates. On detonation of the hollow chargc this piezo-ceramic unit fires the detonator of the propulsive charge by conductor v.ires from the metal plates. In a further preferred arrangement.

the explosive charge of the shell is pyrolechnically connected with the propulsive charge through a delay unlit. a securable flame detonator and a propagation charge.

The invention is further explained in conjunction with an embodiment and modification shown b!t way of example In the accompanying drawings. In the drawh1gs:- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through one version of a bomb. and Figure 2 shows a further modified shell suitable for use with the bomb shown in Figure 1.

and also in longitudinal section.

Figure i shows a bomb 1 designed to cause extensive lasting damage to runways. road or the like surfaces. In a casing 2. with a nose end 3 and of ogival shape. two explosive charges 5 and 6 are accommodated in succession to each other in the axial direction to leave an intermediate space filled with a plastics 4. The front charge 5 Is a hollow charge and the rear charge 6 is an integral part of a shell 7 with a thick-walled crllndrical casting It forming at the front end an ogival head 9 of greater wall thickness. To accelerate the shell 7. a propulsive charge 13 is located in a combustion chamber 12 provided between the base 10 of the shell and the base 11 of the bomb.

Dunog the acceleration phase the shell 7 is guided by a section 14 of the bomb casing 2.

which has reduced intemal diameter. The guiding action is assisted by a guide ring 15.

The hollow charge 5 has a lining 16 of copper.

aluminium or a similar metal in the form of a cone with an obtuse angle 17 preferably' between 120 and 16O" On the side opposite the lining the charge is in the form of a cone I 18 pointing towards the shell 7. At the tip of the cone 18 an electric detonator 70 is provided in a safety element 19 and a propagating charge 21 is provided between the detonator 20 and the explosive charge. The input side of this detonator 20 is operatively connected through twin w'ire 23 with an impact fuse 22 in the nose 3 of the bomb.

The hollow charge 5 is associated with a piezo-ceramic unit 26 coated w'ith metal plates 24. 25. From the piezo-ceramic unit 26 a tw'tn wire 27 leads to a detonator 28 which is embedded in the propulsive charge 13 and which is fired by the piezo-ceramic unit 26 w'hen the hollou charge is detonated.The explosive charge 6 of the shell 7 is pyrolechnicallv coupled with the charge 13 through a delay unit 29 extending through the base 10 or the shcll. a name detonator .30 movably mounted in a safety element 7 1 aflixed to the base I () of the shell and a propagation charge 32.

Figure 2 shows a further shell 36 suitable for use in the bomb of Figure 1 . In this ear ion of the shell the propulsive charge 37 by which it is accelerated is accolnmodalrd in a combustion chamber 4() provided between the charge BX and the base 39 of the shell. In contrast to Figure the base 39 of the shell has a central nozzle 41 ior propellant gases which generated bn the propulsive charge 37 and which accelerate the shell 36 by rocket action. The pyrolechnic detonation chain from the propulsive charge 37 to the explosive charge 38 has a delay unit 42. a flame detonator 43 and a propaFnrlon charge 44 and is shown in the armed position wherein the flame detonator 43, movable in the safety element 45, has been deflected from the direction of the detonation chain.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A bomb or a projectile having two explosive charges positioned in axial succession with an intermediate gap, the front explosive charge, which is arranged to be detonated first, being a lined hollow charge with the end facing away from the lining having a cone shape pointing towards the rear explosive charge, the rear explosive charge, which is arranged to be detonated after the hollow charge being an integral part of a shell which is mounted in the bomb or projectile casing and which can be accelerated by a propulsive charge, the hollow charge, the shell, and the propulsive charge with respective detonating means being adapted in such a way that the shell before detonation passes through an aperture formed in the target by the hollow charge.

2. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with claim I. wherein the hollow charge has a lining in the form of a cone with an obtuse angle preferably between 120 and 160 the lining of the hollow charge being copper, aluminium or a similar metal.

3. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein a cone is provided at the end of the hollow charge which is furthest from the lining the cone having an angle of not more than 140". the shell head facing the said cone being of ogival shape.

4. A bomb or projectile in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate space between the hollow charge and the shell is filled with an inert materials, such as a plastics.

5. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein a propulsive charge is accommodated in a combustion chamber provided between the base of the shell and the base of the bomb or projectile.

6. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with any preceding claim I to 4, wherein a propulsive charge is accommodated in a combustion chamber provided at the base of the shell, the base of the shell having an outlet nozzle for propellant gases produced by the propulsive charge.

7. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the zone of the tip of the cone of the hollow charge which faces away from the lining has an electrical detonator accommodated in a safety element which is operatively connected on the input side with an impact fuse in the nose of the bomb or projectile and on the outlet side with a propagation charge adjacent the explosive charge.

8. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the hollow charge is provided in the zone of the casing with a piezoceramic unit covered at both ends with metal plates and wires connecting the metal plates of the piezo-ceramic unit to a detonator in the propulsive charge of the shell.

9. A bomb or a projectile in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the explosive charge of the shell is pyrotechnically connected with the propulsive charge through a delay unit, a flame detonator housed in a safety element and a propagation charge.

10. A bomb constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and is shown in the armed position wherein the flame detonator 43, movable in the safety element 45, has been deflected from the direction of the detonation chain. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A bomb or a projectile having two explosive charges positioned in axial succession with an intermediate gap, the front explosive charge, which is arranged to be detonated first, being a lined hollow charge with the end facing away from the lining having a cone shape pointing towards the rear explosive charge, the rear explosive charge, which is arranged to be detonated after the hollow charge being an integral part of a shell which is mounted in the bomb or projectile casing and which can be accelerated by a propulsive charge, the hollow charge, the shell, and the propulsive charge with respective detonating means being adapted in such a way that the shell before detonation passes through an aperture formed in the target by the hollow charge.