GB2212251A

GB2212251A - Sub-calibre penetrator projectile.

Info

Publication number: GB2212251A
Application number: GB8125293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernhard Bisping; Hermann Jansen; Peter Wallow
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1980-08-23
Filing date: 1981-08-19
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2001-08-19
Also published as: IT1171440B; NO812832L; FR2543287B2; DE3031722C2; IT8149070A0; FR2543287A2; NL8103810A; GB2212251B; DE3031722A1

Abstract

Arrangement for a kinetic-effect projectile for a barrel weapon, comprising a flying projectile, characterised in that a predetermined quantity of inequalities 20.1, etc., provided on the periphery as means of connection by conformity of shape, are produced at the same time, to form nominal breaking points for ensuring the desired breaking capacity of the penetrator in a given region, and in that there is arranged at a predetermined axial distance to the rear of the peripheral inequality 22.4 furthest away from the tip 12 a transition cone 24 for connecting the region located on the same side as the tip to a main penetrator 22 mounted at the rear. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Ammunition for barrel weapons.

This invention relates to a.iunition for barrel weapons, the @mmunitioin compri@ing a casing containing a propulsive charge, a fin stabilized sub-calibre pencil shaped projectile having a high ratio of length to di- meter typically 20:1, en expendable sabot engaging the outer peripheral surface of the projectile until separation following emergence from the barrel of the weapon.The sabot has a rear gas pressu@e receiving surface with an outer circumference defining the ammunition calibre and locate in front of the centre of gravity of the projectile and a front sir de to cause separation of the sabot into segments after leaving the barrel.

In our prior not published applications 7923786 there is described suor. ammunition for barrel wespons comprising a casino housing a propulsive charge, e fin stabilised sub-calibre pencil shape projectile end an expendable sabot formed rrom a number of segmente in engagement with and positioned around the peripheral surface of the projectile until separation follouing emergence from a barrel after firing, the abutment joints between the segments forming the sabot having a sealing means, the forward and of the sabot having e cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a forward facing air darn surface to effect separation of the sabot segments, a gas pre@sure receiving surface of the sabot preferably extending from the rear end of said cylindrical our race which is in front of the centre of greity of the projectile to the rear end of the sabot and progressively tapering towards the peripheral surface of the projectile, the inner circumferential surface of the sa@@@ engaging the peripheral surface of the projectil@ @@. a non-axially displaceable manner, a plane containing the rear end of the said cylindrical peripheral surface being @@ proxi@ ty to a plane containing the fron@ end of the inner circumferential surface of the sabot, e space defined between the tapering gas pressure receiving eurfece and the casing containinn S part of the propulsive charg@. The purpose is to enable space available for a propulsive charge to be enlarged in suc: e way t, at higher final ballistic performance is obtainable row a propulsive charge increased accordingly. The penetration power of the projectile of this ammunition was round to be greater with single targets than with multiple target.

This invention soaks ta enable the penetration power of the projectile ta be increased when used against multiple targets sven under particularly difficult conditions and to make the projectile separable in a predetermined manner in the part near the nose, causing @@ much as posslble of the penstrator mass available to penetrate the target.

According to this invention there ic provided ammunition for barrel weapons comprising a ca@ing housing @ propulsive charge, a fin stabilised sub-calibre pencil shape projectile and an expendable sabot formed from a number of segmente in engagement with and positioned around the peripheral surface of the projectile until separation following emergence from a barrel after firing the abutment jointe between the segments forming the sabot having a sealing leans, the forward snd of the sabot having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a forward facing air dam surface to effect separation of the sabot segments, a gas pressure receiving surface of the sabot preferably extending from the rear end of said cylindrical surface which is in front of th6 centre of gravity of the projectile to the roar end of the sabot and progressively tapering towards the peripheral surface of the projectile, the inner circumfarential surface of the sabot engaging th? peripheral surface of the projectile in a non-axially displaceable manner, the peripheral surface of the projectile having a number of rugositles engaged by parts of the sabot, the rugosities Poring predefined break points, a traneition zone being provided on a peripheral part of the projectile rearward of the rugosities farthest from the nose, said zone joining with the main body part forming the rear of the projectile.In this arrangement not only doss it enable the increased power resulting from a greeter propulsive charge to teke effect on the target but it i@ also possible to construct the tail t@ a great@@ length, whereby the high lengt@ to diameter ratio which i@ favourable in a penetrato@ (20:@ or more@ is combined with the advantages of predetermined fracture and the best maximum cohesive mass ev@ilable for each stap@ of the penetration of multiple @rmouren targets.

Furthermore, the preselectable inclusion of a transition tapering conicall@ in the connection zone offers the ad@antage of ensuring that the penetrator @@ less liatle to be destroyed.

This invention may also be incorporateL into thE ammunition disclosed in application 7923876.

An embodiment according to the invention is shown by wey of example in the accompanying drauiing wherein parts no essential to this invention have been omitted.

In this respect reference ia made to our application 7923876.

The drawing shows a side elevation, with the main penetrator only partly shown, of a projectile with a sabot which comprises three segments and which is shown in section.

A sabot 30 with three segments (not shown in detail) with one illustrated in lateral elevation end one in section, is provided with a single flange 34 and on the periph@ral surface 3@ of the fla@@@ a s@aling and guide ring @@ is provided. @ gas pressure receiving @u-face 36 whi@@ defin@@ the sabot 3@ at the re@@ @xt@@@@ from a forward out@@ edg@ 32 to a rear ed@@ @@. T@ Inner peripheral surface of the sabot enga@@@, the proje@tile 12 is pro@ided with formations prefera@ly ann@@@@ and corresponding to rugo@ities 22.1 - 22.5 on the prejectile surface. This forme a connecting zo@@ @@ with a boundary 11 n@a@ the nase and in the vicinity o@ en air dam cavity 46 which has a front odg@ @@, In the rear zone the peripheral surface of the transition cone 24 is closely surrounded by an internal surface 52 of the sabot. The internal surface 52 terminates in an annular edge 98 which delimits the connecting zone 40 at the rear.Each of the sabot segments has a rear support 48 extending radially outward to the diameter corrosponding to the cali@re of the barrel.

Ths support extension offers the advantage of ensuring that as the projectile passes through the barrel or firing tube sufficient pressure acts radially inwards in the rear zone of the sabot 30 so that r locked connection will be provided by interaction of the surface 52 and the conical surface 24. the annular edge 18 thus forms the rear boundary of the connecting zone 14, the arrangewent illustrated offering the advantage of reducing the lik@lihood cf the projectile beino shot down (detached from t sabot) and du@ account is taken in this connection oT the penetrator material bein of density such as a heavy metal sintered alloy with a tungsten or depleted uraniur. base and also of the considerable length of the rear part of the penetrator.

The advantage of the predetermined detachability of the pre-penetrator parts 20.1 to 20.4 is comb@ne Lith the high degres of accuracy with which the re@aining part of the projectile hite the target, so thaW after passing through a final preliminary armour suffi@ient mass is etill available, with corresponding kinetic energy, against a main armour.

The free volume extending to the rear from. the front outer edge 38 of the gas pressure receivinc surface 36 is available for a considerably increased propulsive cherge. In conjunction with this and with the in@reased final ballistie performance obtainable by modifications to the zone of the rugosities and penetrator sections as well as the trensitio-i cone in each case adapted to the correeponding zone of the sabot, the p@n@trator projectile system according to the invention can be adapted over wide limits to the particular requirements arising in connection with the target in question.

Claims

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. Ammunition for barrel wespons compri@ing a casing housing a propulsive charge, a fin stabilised sub-calibre pencil shape projectile and an expendable sabot formed from a nunbar of segments in engagement th and positioned around the peripheral surface of the proj@ctile until separation following amergence from a barrel after firing, the abutment joint botusan the segments forming the sabot having a sealing means, tha rarard end of the sabot having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a forward racing air doe surface to effect separation of the sabot sagments, a gas pressure @eceiving surface of the sabot preferably @xtending from the rear and of said cylindrical surface which is in @ront of the centre of gravity of the projectile to the rear end of the sabot and pro gre@sively tapering towards the peripheral surface of the projectile, the inner circumferential surface of the sabot engaging the peripheral surface of the projectile in a non-axi@lly diaplaceable manner, the peripheral surface of the projectile having a number of rugoritirc engaged by part of the sabot, the rugositi@@ forming predefined break points,a tran@ition zone being provided on a peripheral part of the projectile rearward of the rugosities farthest from the nose, said zone joining with the main body part for sing the rear of the projectile.

2. Ammunition in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the transition zone is provided on a surface of the projectile engaged by the sabot.

3. Ammunition according tL Claim 2, wherein the transition zone comprises a conically tapering surface extending rearwardly, engaged by Z complementary tapering surface at the rear inner peripheral surface of tha sabot.

4. Ammunition constructed and arranged to function substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

4. Ammunition constructed end arrange! o function substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawing drawing.

5. Ammunition according to any one of Claims 1 to 14 of application 7923876, wherein the peripheral surface of the projectile having a number of rusositiss engaged by parts of the sabot, the rugosities forming predefined break points, a transition zone being provided on a peripheral part of the projectile rearward of the rugosities furthest from the nose, said zone joining with the main body part forcing the rear of the projectile.

1. Ammunition for barrel weapons comprising a casing housing a propulsive charge, a fin stabilized sub-calibre pencil shape projectile and an expendable sabot formed from a number of segments in engagement with and positioned around the peripheral surface of the projectile until separation following emergence from a barrel after firing, the abutment joints between the segments forming the sabot having a sealing means, the forward end of the sabot having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a forward facing air dam surface to effect separation of the sabot segments, a gas pressure receiving surface of the sabot extending from the rear end of said cylindrical surface which is in front of the centre of gravity of the projeotile to the rear end of the sabot and progressively tapering towards the pripheral surface of the projectile, the inner circumferential surface of the sabot engaging the peripheral surface of the projectile in a nonaxially displaceable manner, the peripheral surface of the projectile having a number of formations engaged by parts of the sabot, the formations forming predefined break points, a transition zone being provided on a peripheral part of the projectile rearward of the formations furthest from the nose, said zone joining.with the main body part forming the rear of the projectile.

3. Ammunition according to Claim 2, wherein the transition zone comprises a conical surface tapering rearwardly, engaged by a complementary tapering surface at the rear inner peripheral surface of the sabot.