GB734920A - Hollow charge projectile - Google Patents

Abstract

734,920. Ammunition projectiles and fuzes therefor. ANSTALT FUR DIE ENTWICKLUNG VON ERFINDUNGEN UND GEWERBLICHEN ANWENDUNGEN ENERGA. Dec. 11, 1953 [Dec. 30, 1952], No. 34615/53. Class 9(1). A hollow charge projectile, Fig. 6, is provided with an impact and inertia operated fuze having a body 2 mounted in a fuze carrier 3, which is fixed in a tubular body 4. The assembly constitutes an antenna mounted in the ballistic cap 5, which is screwed into the body 9 of the projectile. The tube 4 extends within the cap to the base of a metal cone 10 lining the charge 7 and is aligned with a detonator 11 housed in a relay charge 8. Annular packings 12 hold the cone and hollow charge in position and also secure a conical element 13 centring the body 4. The body 4 may be made in sections screwed together and housing an explosive column preferably of compressed explosive, e.g. pen thrite, hexogen or derivatives thereof. Thin wads 14, 15, Fig. 7, are placed at the junction of the tube sections to prevent shifting of the elements during transport or on firing. Screwed into the rear section 4b of the body 4 is a detonating primer 16 having a concave base. The body 4 may be a single tube closed at the rear by a conical metal plug to produce a hollow-charge effect. In the fuze body 2 is mounted a striker carrier 19, Fig. 9, which also houses a primer 20 bearing against a cork ring 21. On impact, if the striker is not driven-in, the primer is thrown forwards due to inertia, compressing the ring 21 and impinging on the striker. The head of the striker is provided with a cutting edge 23, to bite into the target on impact, and a peripheral groove 26 receives the forward edge of the carrier 19, while the tip of the striker is centred by an internal flange 24. The primer 20 rests on a flexible washer 28 supported by a collar 29 which bears against the fuze carrier 3 and supports the fuze body 2 and striker carrier 19, the body 2 being crimped to the carrier 19 at the forward end. Behind the collar 29 is a safety chamber 30 decreasing in diameter and ending in a passage 32 below which is a second primer 33 directly above the explosive column 6. This second primer may be omitted. If the projectile is accidentally dropped on its head, the fuze body 2 is crushed and the collar 29 sheared, the fuze being driven into the safety chamber until halted by the narrowing of the chamber. Should the projectile fall accidentally on its base, the collar is again sheared by inertia and the fuze braked as before. When the projectile is fired, if the speed at impact is high the striker carrier 19 is crushed and the striker driven into the primer before shearing of the collar can occur. Otherwise the head 1 bites into the target, the collar shears and the fuze is driven into the chamber 30, the primer being carried by its momentum on to the striker. Fire is transmitted by the primer to the column 6 and through the cone 10 to the detonator 11 to explode the hollow charge.