Loading artillery shells. Artillery Ammo: Increasing accuracy and range. Artillery shells are classified
Artillery ammunition are weapons that are part of missile and artillery weapons (RAV) fire systems and largely determine the combat capabilities and effectiveness of fire destruction of the enemy, including the solution of a number of special tasks to support troop operations.
They can be used to destroy manpower and equipment, destroy military and civilian structures, as well as to perform special tasks: smoke, camouflage maneuvers of friendly troops, preventing the deployment of enemy troops, illuminating an area or illuminating targets in dark time days, etc.
Artillery shells are among the main types of material means of warfare. The provision of highly effective ammunition in the required quantities has played and continues to play a role key role in achieving victory. With the development of technology and means of defense, the consumption of ammunition during combat operations increases immeasurably. Thus, in 1760, during the capture of Berlin, Russian artillery expended 1,200 shells, and Soviet artillery, during the assault on Berlin in 1945, expended 7,226 wagons of shells and mines.
At the present stage of development of military art, the performance of combat missions must be ensured with the least expenditure of material resources. This requires widespread use of highly effective ammunition.
Depending on the specifics of the fire missions to be solved, the composition of combat kits artillery systems As a rule, several types of ammunition are included.
HIGH EXPLOSIVE ARTILLERY SHELLS
The basis of the ammunition of the ground forces cannon and rocket artillery is high explosive (HE) ammunition. This is due to the fact that HE ammunition hits up to 60% of all targets on the battlefield. This type of artillery shells allows you to effectively combat almost all types of targets: openly located and manpower located in shelters, field-type fortifications, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, artillery guns and mortars both in firing positions and on the march, OP, radar, etc. .d. Moreover, modern artillery delivery vehicles make it possible to hit targets at a distance of more than 50 km from the line of combat contact.
The improvement of the ammunition of the ground forces' cannon and rocket artillery is currently moving along the path of increasing the firing range, the power of action at the target, and reducing technical dispersion. The firing range is being increased mainly through modernization of delivery vehicles and improvement of the shot design (aerodynamic shape of the projectile body, design of the propellant charge), the use of gas generators in the design of the projectile, bottom excavation and the use of new high-energy powders, as well as the use of active-rocket projectiles .
Increasing the effectiveness of ammunition is carried out by using new explosives, lighting and smoke compositions, alloyed projectile steels, using a body design with organized crushing. When designing new ammunition, special attention is currently paid to the safety of their combat use throughout their entire life cycle.
CLUSTER ARTILLERY AMMUNITION
In order to increase the efficiency of destruction of area objects, cluster munitions with fragmentation combat elements. Projectiles of this type are used in cannon artillery of 120, 152 and 203 mm calibers, 240 mm caliber mortars, 220 and 300 mm caliber MLRS, as well as in TR and OTR combat units. Due to the many points of rupture of combat elements (BE), the area of fragmentation damage compared to conventional ammunition of the same caliber increases many times. Cluster munitions are especially effective when firing at manpower, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles located openly and located in open fortifications.
CONCRETE PROJECTILES
With the advent of fortification structures such as bunkers, in which the personnel inside are covered with a concrete cap that is not penetrated by conventional HE shells, the need arose to create ammunition capable of effectively combating these targets. For this purpose they were created concrete-piercing shells. They combine two types of action: impact (due to kinetic energy) and high-explosive from the activation of a bursting charge. Due to the need to achieve high kinetic energy, concrete-piercing shells are used only in large-caliber guns - 152 and 203 mm. The defeat of personnel inside the fortification occurs due to the high-explosive action or due to fragments of the concrete cap formed when the projectile hits.
HIGH PRECISION ARTILLERY AMMUNITION
In the 80s of the last century, artillery equipment appeared precision-guided ammunition. This is the name given to ammunition that, like homing missiles, has devices on board that detect a target and guide the ammunition towards it until it hits it directly. The first domestic samples of such ammunition - the 240-mm adjustable high-explosive mine "Smelchak" and the 152-mm guided high-explosive fragmentation projectile "Krasnopol" - hit targets illuminated by radiation laser pointer. This type of guidance system is called semi-active laser guidance system.
In the 90s, a new type of high-precision ammunition appeared, capable of autonomously, without human intervention, detecting armored targets by their thermal radiation. The first such sample - a 300-mm cluster projectile with self-aiming combat elements (SPBE) for the Smerch MLRS was created in Russia. The main components of the SPBE are the target sensor - an optical-electronic detector with a narrow field of view - and the associated warhead of the "shock core" type. Such a warhead is similar to a cumulative one, but has a lining in the form of a spherical segment of small curvature. When detonated, a high-speed compact kinetic action element is formed from the lining, falling into the area observed by the target sensor.
Further development of high-precision artillery ammunition is in the following directions:
- creating homing projectiles and combat elements with autonomous homing heads;
- increasing the noise immunity of autonomous target sensors and homing heads by increasing the number of detection channels of different physical nature - visible range, thermal, radiometric and radar, laser ranging, etc.;
- creating combined semi-active-passive guidance systems capable of aiming ammunition at laser-illuminated targets and switching to an autonomous (passive) mode during the guidance process or operating in only one of the modes;
- equipping long-range high-precision projectiles with control systems in the middle part of the trajectory, operating according to data from space radio navigation systems.
ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILES (ATGM)
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Anti-tank weapons occupy a special place in the missile and artillery weapons system. missile systems. ATGM continue to remain the most effective means of units of the Ground Forces in confrontation with tanks and combat armored vehicles.
At the end of the 60s, to replace the first generation ATGM with manual system“Malyutka” controls were developed by the “Fagot” and “Metis” ATGMs with a semi-automatic control system, in which the operator’s task is to point and hold the sight mark on the target. The missile is guided automatically using a direction finder located in the ground control equipment.
Further development of wearable ATGMs followed the path of ensuring firing at night without target illumination, increasing armor penetration and reducing weight and size characteristics.
Based on the experience of numerous local wars, armed conflicts and tactical exercises, the first generation ATGMs and their improved versions with a semi-automatic control system - the domestic complexes "Phalanga-M" ("Phalanga-P"), "Malyutka-M" ("Malyutka-P") ") - were put into service as part of the Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters, respectively, which were the most dangerous enemy for tanks due to their high maneuverability and the inability of tank fire control systems to combat air targets.
The main areas for improving ATGMs are:
- expanding the range of combat use conditions (night, precipitation, fog);
- increasing the firing range and ensuring shooting from closed firing positions;
- increasing the combat rate of fire of the complexes;
- increased noise immunity;
- the use of unconventional trajectories for approaching ATGMs to the target and methods of hitting them;
- development of multi-purpose complexes.
SPECIAL ARTILLERY AMMUNITION
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During combat operations, in addition to the destruction or suppression of enemy targets, other tasks arise that are not directly related to the destruction of personnel and equipment. To perform such tasks they are used special purpose ammunition: smoke, smoking, lighting, etc.
Smoke and smoke-smoking shells (mines) are used to camouflage the maneuvers of friendly troops or to blind enemy troops. Such ammunition is used in systems of almost all calibers of artillery of the Ground Forces: from 82 to 152 mm. These shells (mines) are especially effective in calm weather, when the smoke cloud does not dissipate for a long time.
When conducting combat operations at night, illumination ammunition is used to illuminate enemy targets. They, like smoke ones, were developed and adopted for service with artillery systems of caliber from 82 to 152 mm.
The burning time of a torch of illuminating ammunition descending by parachute ranges from 25 to 90 seconds, and when they are sequentially “hung” by artillery, the illumination zone can be maintained throughout the entire duration of the combat mission. In addition, the massive use of illumination ammunition at night has a strong psychological impact on enemy personnel.
AMMUNITION FOR TANK GUNS
As is known, the basis of the striking force of combined arms units and formations are units and units that include armored vehicles. The main armament of modern Russian tanks (125-mm D-81 cannon) includes the following types of ammunition: armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation rounds, tank guided missiles.
For 125-mm guns, separate-case-loading shots are used. The main propellant charge is the same for all types of projectiles, which ensures the unification of tank loading mechanisms and safety when fired.
Armor-piercing sabot shells (APS) are one of the main means of destroying highly protected objects. With all the variety of methods for accelerating a projectile, the principle of hitting an armored target remains unchanged - penetration of armor and the formation of damaging fragments in the space behind the armor due to the mechanical impact of a high-density body at a high impact speed. The dynamics of the increase in the armor penetration of BPS practically corresponded to the increase in the resistance of tank protection. The increase in the armor-piercing effect of BPS was mainly due to an increase in overall weight characteristics and improvement in the design of projectiles: the use of cores and bodies made of materials with increased physical and mechanical properties, the transition to long-body projectiles.
Action cumulative shells is based on breaking through the external defense - the target - due to the cumulative effect and hitting vulnerable elements beyond the barrier with a fragmentation stream. The constant confrontation between increasing the armor penetration of cumulative weapons and increasing target protection has shaped the appearance of modern cumulative ammunition as a high-tech product with a tandem construction scheme. The use of new design solutions made it possible to raise the main characteristic of cumulative ammunition (armor penetration) to the level of penetration of homogeneous armor over one meter.
HAND ANTI-TANK GRENADE LAUNCHES
Intensive saturation of armies with armored vehicles various countries and its use in almost all types of combined arms combat created conditions under which artillery could not everywhere accompany and provide fire support to the infantry. There was a need to equip it with powerful anti-tank weapons, which would provide it with the ability to successfully fight tanks in close combat. The first anti-tank weapons - anti-tank rifles - appeared already in the First World War. Subsequently, the improvement of armored weapons and anti-tank weapons occurred constantly.
Today, an important role in the fight against tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, along with anti-tank artillery and ATGMs, is played by the so-called melee anti-tank weapons (PTS)- grenade launchers.
Anti-tank grenade launchers were first used during World War II. In the Soviet Army, the first hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher RPG-2 was put into service in 1948. Combat operations in local wars and armed conflicts during special operations once again confirmed that in the fight against tanks and other armored targets, anti-tank grenade launchers - light and maneuverable, with powerful cumulative ammunition - are a highly effective and indispensable element of the anti-tank weapons system of the armies of most states.
Currently in service Russian army(RA) consist of rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades with disposable grenade launchers (RPG-18, RPG-22, RPG-26, RPG-27) and reusable anti-tank grenade launchers - hand-held (RPG-7, RPG-29) and mounted (SPG-9M ), with shots for various purposes.
Subsequently, on the basis of RPG-26 and RPG-27 rocket-propelled grenades, samples of assault weapons RShG-1 and RShG-2 were developed, equipped with new warheads of multi-factor lethality, capable of effectively hitting not only manpower (especially when the ammunition hits the premises ), but also unarmored or lightly armored vehicles.
Military conflicts in which formations of our Armed Forces participated in the 80s - 90s of the 20th century showed the high effectiveness of this type of weapon, especially with a thermobaric warhead.
Modern close combat weapons are superior in reliability, ease of maintenance and operation, and maneuverability, and in terms of effectiveness of combat use they are at the level of the best foreign analogues.
Thus, the RA currently has a large number of different types of ammunition in its arsenal, ensuring the fulfillment of the entire volume of fire missions assigned to missile weapons and artillery.
In these conditions, the technical policy of the GRAU of the RF Ministry of Defense for the improvement and development of domestic artillery ammunition is based on ensuring the requirements for increasing the efficiency and reliability of action, increasing the shelf life of combat and operational characteristics, safety in operation, manufacturability of production using domestic raw materials and industrial base.
The content of this page was prepared for the portal " Modern army"Based on materials from the article by Colonel General N. Svertilov, “Weapons and Ammunition.” When copying content, please remember to include a link to the original page.
Reducing collateral damage, simplifying logistics, and reducing the time to strike a target are just three of the many advantages of guided munitions.
Ceremony for the presentation by Nammo of its 155-mm Extreme Range projectile, equipped with a ramjet engine that increases the flight range to 100 km. This round could be a game-changer in artillery
If we add here the long range, then it is clear how valuable this type of projectile is for artillerymen and commanders. The main disadvantage is the cost of guided munitions compared to unguided ones. However, it is not entirely correct to make a comparative assessment of individual shells. It is necessary to calculate the total cost of impact on the target, since in some situations it may be necessary to fire significantly more shots with standard projectiles, not to mention the fact that the fire task may not be feasible in principle with unguided or shorter-range projectiles.
The Excalibur IB guided projectile is widely used in modern military operations. On this moment more than 14,000 such shells were fired
Increasing accuracy
Currently, the main consumer of guided munitions is the US armed forces. The Army has fired thousands of these rounds in combat operations, and the Navy is also seeking similar capabilities. Although some programs were closed due to cost problems, for example, the 155-mm LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectile) projectile, designed specifically for firing from the Mk51 AGS (Advanced Gun System) gun mount mounted on destroyer DDG 1000 class Zumwalt, the US Navy, however, did not give up trying to find a guided projectile for the AGS itself, as well as for its 127 mm Mk45 guns.
BAE Systems is working on numerous artillery programs. Among them is the High Velocity Projectile, which can be fired from rail guns and standard guns
The US Marine Corps is ready to launch the MTAR (Moving Target Artillery Round) program, which may begin in 2019, with the goal of deploying munitions capable of hitting moving targets in the absence of a GPS signal at ranges from 65 to 95 km. In the future, extended-range guided projectiles will also remain in the sphere of interests of the US Army, which is starting the ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) program without replacing existing systems 39-caliber barrels to 52-caliber barrels, which in combination with extended-range projectiles will double their current range.
Meanwhile, Europe is also following these trends and, while numerous companies are developing guided and extended range projectiles, European armies are eyeing these munitions with interest, and some expect to adopt them in the near future.
It would be right to start with the most widely used 155-mm Excalibur projectile, because over 14,000 of them were fired in combat. According to Raytheon, the Excalibur IB, now in mass production, retains the performance of the original projectile while reducing the number of components and cost and has demonstrated reliability in excess of 96%, even in difficult urban terrain, providing an accuracy of 4 meters at maximum ranges of almost 40 km when fired from guns 39 calibers long. In the 2019 budget, the Army requested money to purchase 1,150 Excalibur rounds.
The PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) high-precision guidance kit developed by Orbital ATK is screwed onto a 155-mm artillery shell instead of a fuse; the GPS system and bow rudders allow it to be aimed with high accuracy
Dual-mode homing heads
Although the current variant is a bestseller, Raytheon is far from resting on its laurels. By improving its systems, the company is close to identifying new solutions that can cope with more complex scenarios and new threats. GPS signal jamming was tested in several areas, resulting in a new version of the projectile with improved anti-jamming capabilities and dual-mode guidance. The new Excalibur S ammunition will be guided both by GPS signals and using a homing head (GOS) with semi-active laser homing. The company is discussing its final configuration with potential customers, but specific completion dates have not yet been announced.
Another dual-mode version with guidance at the final part of the trajectory is being developed. It doesn't have a name yet, but according to Raytheon, it's not far behind the S variant in terms of development. An option with a multi-mode seeker is also being considered. Guidance isn't the only component that can evolve. The Army has set out to dramatically increase the range of its cannon artillery, and Raytheon is working on advanced propulsion systems, including bottom gas generators; In addition, new combat units, such as anti-tank, are on the agenda. This may be a response to the already mentioned Marine Corps MTAR project. As for the US Navy, in the summer of 2018 another demonstration firing was carried out with the 127-mm version of the Excalibur N5, compatible with the Mk45 gun. The fleet requires a range of 26 nautical miles (48 km), but the company is confident it can reach or even exceed this figure.
Raytheon is looking at the export market with interest, although possible orders here will be significantly smaller than in the United States. Excalibur is currently being tested with several 155mm artillery systems: PzH200, Arthur, G6, M109L47 and K9. In addition, Raytheon is working on its compatibility with the Caesar and Krab self-propelled guns.
Nexter's Spacido programmable airbrake has recently completed qualification to significantly improve precision.
There is no available data on the number of 155-mm ammunition equipped with the M1156 PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) developed by Orbital ATK (currently Northrop Grumman) and used in combat. Although the first production batch was released in February of this year, over 25,000 of these screw-on GPS-based systems have been manufactured. Two months later, the Department of Defense awarded Orbital ATK a $146 million projectile development contract that extends PGK production until April 2021.
The PGK is screwed onto the projectile instead of a standard fuse, a GPS antenna (SAASM - Selectively Available Anti-Spoofing Module) is built into the nose, followed by four small fixed inclined nose stabilizers and a remote fuse behind them. Programming is done using a hand-held EPIAFS (Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuse-Setter), the same device that is connected to the computer when programming the Excalibur projectile.
Using its experience in developing PGK and sniper ammunition, Orbital ATK is developing a 127 mm PGK-Aft naval projectile, as the guidance element is installed in its tail (English, Aft)
The shells are bigger and better
Based on its experience with the PGK kit, Orbital ATK is currently developing a 127mm projectile aimed at the Navy's guided munitions program for the Mk45 gun. The company proactively wants to demonstrate to the fleet the capabilities of the new PKG-Aft projectile in terms of accuracy and range.
Few details are known about this device, but the name, for example, suggests that it is installed not in the nose, but in the tail part (aft - tail part) of the projectile, while the technology for overcoming overloads in the gun barrel is taken directly from the PGK system. This solution with a tail guidance device is based on a study conducted by ATK together with DARPA on the 12.7 x 99 mm EXASTO (Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance) cartridge. The tail element will also have a rocket motor, which will increase the range to the required 26 nautical miles, and the seeker with terminal guidance will provide accuracy of less than one meter. There is no information on the type of seeker, but the company said that “PGK-Aft supports various advanced seekers and fire missions for direct and indirect fire in all calibers without major modifications to the gun system.” The new projectile is also equipped with an advanced warhead with ready-made submunitions. Orbital ATK successfully live-fired 155mm PGK-Aft prototypes in December 2017 and is currently developing a 127mm precision projectile with the PGK-Aft kit.
BAE Systems is working on the PGK-M (Precision Guidance Kit-Modernised) kit, aiming to improve maneuverability while improving anti-jamming capabilities. The latter is achieved through GPS-based navigation in combination with a rotation-stabilized guidance unit and antenna system. According to the company, the circular probable deviation (CPD) is less than 10 meters, the projectile can hit targets at high angles of attack. After completing over 200 tests, the projectile is now at the subsystem development stage. In January 2018, BAE Systems received a contract to develop this kit into a production model. The PGK-M kit is fully compatible with 155 mm M795 and M549A1 ammunition and M109A7 and M777A2 artillery systems.
In the future, Nexter's Katana family will have a second member, the Katana Mk2a, equipped with wings that will double its range; in this case, the laser-guided version will be developed only after the military submits an application
On board American cruisers
After the decision to close the project on the LRLAP (Long Range Land Attack Projectile) projectile, created for the 155-mm AGS (Advanced Gun System) gun mount, it turned out that not a single projectile was suitable for this weapon without modification. In June 2017, BAE Systems and Leonardo announced cooperation in the field of new high precision systems based on new modifications of the Vulcano family for various gun systems, including AGS and Mk45 ship guns. The memorandum of understanding between the two companies provides for the development of all artillery systems, but each under a separate agreement. At the moment, an agreement has been signed on two naval guns, but in the future, ground-based systems, for example, M109 and M777, may become part of the agreement. This summer, the BAE-Leonardo team fired the Mk45 gun with the Vulcano GLR GPS/IMU projectile to demonstrate their compatibility. The US Navy has a need for precision-guided munitions and is very interested in extended range projectiles, and the Vulcano family of projectiles meet both of these requirements.
The Vulcano family is close to completing the qualification process, which is being carried out in parallel for ship-based and ground-based ammunition, respectively in caliber 127 mm and 155 mm. In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between Germany and Italy on the guided version and the decision to integrate the laser semi-active seeker from Diehl Defense, the qualification process for the GLR (Guided Long Range) variant is financed equally by the two companies, while the unguided BER (Ballistic Extended Range) variant is financed entirely by Italy. All operational tests have been successfully completed and the Vulcano ammunition is currently undergoing safety testing, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, Leonardo has begun production of a pilot batch, which will allow it to prepare for mass production and accept the final configuration of the projectiles. The launch of full-scale production is planned for early 2019.
Leonardo has developed the Vulcano family of extended-range guided ammunition for 127 mm and 155 mm guns, which are in the final stage of qualification
In 2017, live firing of a 127 mm Vulcano GLR shell from a modified 127/54 gun was carried out on board an Italian ship; and at the beginning of 2018, a shell was fired from the new 127/64 LW gun installed on the FREMM frigate. For the first time, this projectile was fed into a gun mount from a ship's revolver-type magazine, programmed by an induction coil built into the gun, to which data was supplied from the ship's combat control system; thus, complete system integration was demonstrated. As for the ground version, these shells were fired from self-propelled howitzer PzH2000, programming was carried out using a portable unit. At the moment, Germany is not seeking to integrate this system into the PzH2000 howitzer, since some modifications to the semi-automatic loading system will be required. In Italy, the shells were also tested with the FH-70 155/39 towed howitzer.
The increase in the range of Vulcano projectiles was achieved through a sub-caliber solution; a pallet was used to seal the projectile in the barrel. The fuse can be set in four modes: impact, delayed, timed and air detonation. BER shells can be fired at a range of more than 60 km, while GLR shells can fly 85 km when fired from a 127 mm gun and 70 km when fired from 155 mm/52 caliber guns (55 km from 155/39). A fuse is installed in the nose of the GLR projectile, then there are four control surfaces that correct the trajectory of the projectile, and behind them is a GPS/IMU unit. Shells for naval guns can be equipped with an infrared seeker, while shells fired at ground targets are equipped with a semi-active laser seeker. These heads slightly increase aerodynamic drag, reducing range to a minimal extent. Although the configuration has now been effectively adopted and testing has confirmed the predicted range and accuracy, Leonardo is working to reduce the KBO of the laser-guided variant under an additional contract and is confident that it will cope with the new requirements. This modification will be adopted for all Vulcano projectiles; the company expects to produce one version of the projectile with a semi-active seeker.
In addition to Italy and Germany, the Netherlands has observer status in the Vulcano family of projectiles program, and the possibility of purchasing them is being considered by several other potential customers, including South Korea and Australia. Recently, the Slovak firm Konstrukta-Defence signed a cooperation agreement with Leonardo to promote Vulcano ammunition and integrate it with its artillery systems, such as the Zuzana 2 155/52.
TopGun high-precision artillery fuze developed by Israel Aerospace Industries
Nexter enters the 3D world
Nexter Ammunition has begun an evolutionary program in the field of 155 mm ammunition, which involves the development of 3D printed ammunition elements. The first step was the high-precision Bonus projectile. The Spacido trajectory correction kit was the next step. This summer, the company announced that all shooting was carried out successfully, qualifications were completed and all that remained was to issue certification documents.
Screw-on instead of a fuze, the Spacido is an air brake that reduces range error. A small Doppler radar checks the initial speed and monitors the first part of the trajectory, an RF link provides data transmission to Spacido, whose computer decides when the brake should deploy, reducing dispersion by a factor of three. Essentially, although the jammer-resistant Spacido device costs twice as much, it can significantly reduce the consumption of projectiles and engage targets in close proximity to friendly forces.
At Eurosatory 2018, Nexter announced a new family of extended-range precision 155mm artillery shells called Katana. The development of new projectiles was carried out as part of the Menhir program, which was announced in June 2016. It was launched in response to customer needs for increased accuracy and range. Above all, the French army requires precision for what it calls "urban artillery." The projectile, designated Katana Mk1, has four rigidly fixed wings in the nose, followed by four corrective rudders connected to an IMU-GPS guidance unit. All wings, including the tail rudders, open after the projectile leaves the barrel. Currently, the projectile is at the technological development stage. The first firing was carried out under the supervision of the Defense Acquisition Directorate. The goal of this program is to provide the army with a guided projectile with a CEP of less than 10 meters and a range of 30 km when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. According to the schedule, the Katana Mk1 projectile should appear on the market in two years. The second step will be to increase the range to 60 km, this will be achieved by adding a set of folding wings, the arrangement of which could be seen in the mock-up displayed at Eurosatory. They will provide lift during the descent phase, which will double the flight range. Nexter intends to surpass the capabilities of other competitors' projectiles in terms of range and warhead combination, but at a lower cost, set at 60 thousand euros. The projectile, designated Katana Mk2a, will be available around 2022. In two years, when the need arises, Nexter will be able to develop a 155-mm Katana Mk2b laser-guided projectile with a meter CEP.
In addition to increasing range and targeting, Nexter is also developing new warheads using new materials and 3D printing
Nexter is also working on warhead technology using 3D printing and aluminium, a material made from nylon filled with aluminum dust. This will allow you to control the damage radius in the event of shelling of a target in close proximity to your forces. The company today began researching opto-pyrotechnic technologies to control the initiation of an explosion using optical fiber; all of this research is still at an early stage and will not be included in the Katana projectile program.
Israel Aerospace Industries is ready to complete the development of its TopGun artillery fuze. The screw-on system, which performs trajectory correction along two coordinates, reduces the CEP of a conventional projectile to less than 20 meters. The range with such a fuse is 40 km when fired from a gun with a 52-caliber barrel, guidance is carried out by the INS-GPS unit. The program is currently at the qualification stage.
Nammo has qualified its expanded family of ammunition. The first customer was Finland, which will soon begin testing them on its K9 Thunder 155/52 self-propelled guns
On the Norwegian side
The Norwegian company Nammo recently awarded the first contract for its 155mm extended range artillery ammunition. Based on their rich experience, they developed a special module - a bottom gas generator. Small-caliber precision-guided munition manufacturing processes were used to minimize material and shape variations, which consequently minimizes changes in airflow and mass distribution.
The program was partially financed by the Norwegian Defense Property Agency, but the first customer was Finland, which signed a contract in August 2017, the result of which will be firing tests scheduled for 2019. Compared to standard projectiles, the 155mm long-range low-sensitivity high-explosive fragmentation projectile can travel 40 km when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. Nammo is waiting for an order from the Norwegian army.
A close-up of a 155mm projectile powered by Nammo's Extreme Range ramjet engine. The key component in it is the aerodynamic propulsion system and therefore not a single sensor is installed in the nose of the projectile
Nammo decided to use radical new technology, integrating a ramjet engine into a 155-mm projectile under the Extreme Range program. The ramjet engine, or ramjet, is the simplest airbreathing engine because it uses forward motion to compress incoming air without the use of an axial or centrifugal compressor, and there are no moving parts. The required minimum muzzle velocity is Mach 2.5-2.6, and a standard 155mm projectile leaves a 52-caliber barrel at approximately Mach 3. A ramjet is by nature a self-regulating engine, maintaining a constant speed regardless of flight altitude. A speed of about Mach 3 is maintained for about 50 seconds, and thrust is provided by NTR3 fuel (concentrated hydrogen peroxide) with additives. Thus, the flight range of a ramjet projectile increases to more than 100 km, which turns artillery piece into a much more flexible and versatile system. Nammo plans to conduct the first ballistic tests in late 2019 or early 2020. Since an increase in range results in a 10-fold increase in COE, Nammo, together with a partner company, is working in parallel on a guidance system for this projectile based on a GPS/INS module. In this case, no seeker can be installed in the bow; the operating principle of a ramjet engine is aerodynamic and, therefore, an air intake device is simply necessary for its operation. The projectile is compatible with the protocol for 155-mm JBMOU L52 projectiles (Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding). It defines a typical nose air intake with a central cone, four forward stabilizers and four curved tail wings that deploy as the projectile leaves the barrel. The warhead of the projectile is high-explosive fragmentation, and the amount of explosives will be reduced compared to a standard 155-mm projectile. Nammo said that the explosive mass “will be approximately the same as in a 120-mm projectile.” The projectile will be used for stationary targets, for ground-based air defense facilities, radars, command posts, etc., the flight time will be on the order of several minutes. In accordance with the requirements of the Norwegian armed forces, Nammo plans to begin mass production of this projectile in 2024-2025.
Expal's 155 ER02A1 projectile has been adopted by the Spanish Army. It can be equipped with either a tapered tail section or a bottom gas generator, providing a flight range of 30 and 40 km, respectively, when fired from a 52-caliber barrel
At the Eurosatory exhibition, Expal Systems confirmed the signing of an agreement for the supply of 155 mm extended range ammunition. The 155-mm ER02A1 projectile can be equipped with either a tapered tail module or a bottom gas generator, which provide a flight range of 30 and 40 km, respectively, when fired from a 52-caliber barrel. The high-explosive variant, developed jointly with the Spanish Army, has passed qualification, unlike the illumination and smoke variants, which have yet to qualify. The agreement also includes the newly developed EC-102 electronic fuze with three modes: impact, timer and delay. In accordance with the operational needs of the Spanish army, Expal will supply new projectiles and fuses for them over the next five years.
Based on materials from sites:
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
www.baesystems.com
www.raytheon.com
www.leonardocompany.com
www.nexter-group.fr
www.nammo.com
www.imisystems.com
www.orbitalatk.com
www.maxam.net
www.milmag.pl
www.doppeladler.com
pinterest.com
fas.org
armyman.info
Artillery ammunition includes shells fired from cannons and howitzers, mortar shells, and rockets.
It is very problematic to classify in any way the artillery ammunition used on the fronts during the war.
The most common classification is by caliber, purpose and design.
USSR: 20, 23, 37, 45, 57, 76, 86 (unitary), 100, 107, 122, 130, 152, 203 mm, etc. (separate charging)
However, there are cartridges for the DShK-12.7 mm machine gun, the bullet of which is a high-explosive impact projectile. Even a rifle bullet of 7.62 mm caliber (the so-called sighting-incendiary) PBZ model 1932 is essentially a very dangerous explosive projectile.
Germany and allies: 20, 37, 47, 50, 75, 88, 105, 150, 170, 210, 211, 238, 240, 280, 305, 420 mm, etc.
According to their purpose, artillery ammunition can be divided into: high-explosive, fragmentation, high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing, armor-piercing (cumulative), concrete-piercing incendiary, buckshot, shrapnel, special purpose (smoke, lighting, tracer, propaganda, chemical, etc.)
It is extremely difficult to separate ammunition according to the national characteristics of the warring parties. The USSR's arsenal used British and American ammunition supplied under Lend-Lease, reserves tsarist army, suitable for trophy caliber. The Wehrmacht and allies used ammunition from all European countries, including captured ones.
Near Spasskaya Polist, at a German howitzer position 105 mm, a warehouse (field) was discovered, and in it: German cartridges, Yugoslav shells, fuses produced by the Czech Skoda plant.
In the Luga area, at the German position in July 1941, the Nazis shot at our tanks from 75 mm guns with armor-piercing shells, the casings of which were equipped with Soviet KV-4 primer bushings manufactured in 1931. Finnish army in 1939-40. and in 1941-44, which officially did not have medium and large caliber artillery, widely used captured Soviet guns and ammunition. Swedish, English, American, Japanese, from the stocks of the Principality of Finland before 1917, are often found.
It is also impossible to separate the shells used by the fuses installed on them.
Most Soviet fuses (RGM, KTM, D-1), developed back in the early thirties and, by the way, still in service today, were very advanced, easy to manufacture and had broad unification - they were used in shells and mines of various calibers. Probably, a classification should be made according to the degree of danger at the present time, but unfortunately statistics on accidents are not kept anywhere, and people are often maimed and killed because of their own curiosity, recklessness and basic ignorance of safety precautions.
Most of the shells used were set to impact; fuses were used in the head and bottom. According to army rules, a projectile dropped from a height of 1 meter is not allowed to be fired and must be destroyed. What then to do with shells that have lain in the ground for 50 years, often with decomposed explosives, abandoned due to the impossibility of using them in battle, scattered by explosions, fallen from carts.
Worthy special attention shells and mines of unitary loading, i.e. projectiles combined with a case like a rifle cartridge, but lying separately, without a case. This happens, as a rule, as a result of mechanical action and in most cases such VPs are on alert.
Shells and mines that have been fired but not exploded are extremely dangerous. In places where fighting were carried out in winter, they fell into soft snow, into a swamp and did not explode. They can be distinguished by the traces of an artillery shell that passed through the bore (a distinctive feature is traces of depressed rifling on the copper driving belt,
and mines - by the pinned blasting charge primer on the back. Particularly dangerous are ammunition with a deformed body, and especially with a deformed fuse, especially with dried explosive salts protruding on the surface of the fuse or at the site of its threaded connection.
Even ammunition carefully stored in combat positions requires special care - it is possible to install tension and unloading mines, and explosive decomposition due to time and moisture. A projectile sticking out of the ground, bottom up, can be either one that has passed through the bore and unexploded, or one that has been installed as a mine.
Armor-piercing tracer shells for 45 mm and 57 mm guns (USSR)
An armor-piercing tracer projectile is designed for direct fire at tanks, armored vehicles, embrasures and other targets covered with armor.
Infamous due to numerous accidents that occurred due to careless handling. Has the official name " Unitary cartridge with an armor-piercing blunt-headed tracer projectile with a BR-243 ballistic tip."
The unitary cartridge index is applied to the cartridge case - UBR-243. The BR-243K sharp-headed projectile is occasionally found. The projectiles are identical in design and degree of danger. The tetryl bomb weighs 20 g. The power of the explosion is explained by the thick walls of the projectile, made of alloy steel, and the use of powerful explosives. The explosive charge and fuse with an aluminum tracer are located in the bottom of the projectile. An MD-5 combined with a tracer is used as a fuse.
The so-called “blank” was also in service - outwardly almost indistinguishable from the above-mentioned ones, but practically safe. In particular, a similar ammunition for the 57 mm cannon was called “Unitary cartridge with armor-piercing tracer solid projectile BR-271 SP.” It is not always possible to read the markings on a rusted projectile. It's better not to tempt fate. Armor-piercing shells found separately from the cartridges, and especially those that have passed through the bore, are especially dangerous. Even breathing on them should be done carefully.
Perhaps, the requirements for handling the “forty-five armor-piercing shell” are applicable to all armor-piercing shells, both ours and German.
Ammunition for 37mm German anti-tank guns
They are found as often as domestic 45 mm armor-piercing shells and pose no less danger. They were used for firing from a 3.7 cm Pak anti-tank gun and are colloquially called “Pak” shells. The projectile is an armor-piercing tracer 3.7 cm Pzgr. In the bottom part it has a chamber with an explosive charge (heating element) and a bottom fuse Vd.Z.(5103*)d. inertial action with gas-dynamic deceleration. Shells with this fuse often did not fire when they hit soft ground, but the fired shells were extremely dangerous to handle. Except armor-piercing projectile The ammunition load of the 37 mm anti-tank gun included fragmentation tracer shells with an AZ 39 head fuse. These shells are also very dangerous - the directive of the GAU of the Red Army prohibits firing such shells from captured guns. Similar fragmentation tracer rounds were used for 37 mm anti-aircraft guns(3.7 cm Flak.) - “Flak” shells.
Mortar shots
At battlefields, the most common calibers found are mortar mines: 50 mm (USSR and Germany), 81.4 mm (Germany), 82 mm (USSR), 120 mm (USSR and Germany). Occasionally there are 160 mm (USSR and Germany), 37 mm, 47 mm. When removing from the ground, the same safety precautions must be followed as with artillery shells. Avoid impacts and sudden movements along the axis of the mine.
Most dangerous all types of mines that have passed through the bore (a distinctive feature is the pinned primer of the main propellant charge). The German 81.4 mm model 1942 jumping mine is extremely dangerous. It can explode even when trying to remove it from the ground. Distinctive features - the body, unlike ordinary fragmentation mines, is brick red, painted gray, sometimes there is a black (70 mm) stripe across the body, the head of the mine above the sealing belts is removable, with 3 fixing screws.
Soviet 82 and 50 mm mines with an M-1 fuse are very dangerous, even if they have not gone through the barrel, for some reason they find themselves in a combat platoon. Distinctive feature- under the cap there is an aluminum cylinder. If a red stripe is visible on it - mine on alert!
Let's give performance characteristics some mortars and ammunition for them.
1. The 50 mm mortar was in service with the Red Army in initial period war. Six-finned mines with a solid and split body and four-finned mines were used. The following fuses were used: M-1, MP-K, M-50 (39).
2. 82 mm battalion mortar model 1937, 1941, 1943. The radius of continuous destruction by fragments is 12 m.
Mine designations: 0-832 - six-feather fragmentation mine; 0-832D - ten-feather fragmentation mine; D832 - ten-feather smoke mine. The weight of the mine is about 3.1-3.3 kg, the explosive charge is 400 g. M1, M4, MP-82 fuses were used. There was a propaganda mine in service, but not included in the ammunition load. Mines were delivered to the troops in boxes of 10 pieces.
3. 107 mm mountain-pack regimental mortar. It was armed with high-explosive fragmentation mines.
4. 120 mm regimental mortar of the 1938 and 1943 model. High-explosive cast iron mine OF-843A. Fuzes GVM, GVMZ, GVMZ-1, M-4. The weight of the bursting charge is 1.58 kg.
Smoke cast iron mine D-843A. The fuses are the same. Contains explosives and smoke-forming substances. It differs by the index and by the black ring stripe on the body under the centering thickening.
Incendiary cast iron mine TRZ-843A. Fuzes M-1, M-4. Mine weight - 17.2 kg. Differs in index and red ring stripe.
German mine 12 cm.Wgr.42. Fuse WgrZ38Stb WgrZ38C, AZ-41. Weight - 16.8 kg. Very similar to the domestic one. The difference is that the head part is sharper. On the head of the mine are marked: place and date of equipment, equipment code, weight category, place and date of final equipment. The AZ-41 fuse was set to instantaneous "O.V." and slow "m.V."
Study questions
Question No. 1 “Definition of an artillery shot.
Elements of a shot. Classification of artillery
shots according to purpose and loading method"
Question No. 2 “Classification of artillery shells,
requirements placed on them. Ammunition."
Question No. 3 “Basic, special and auxiliary
types of projectiles, their design characteristics.”
Question No. 4 “Fuses for shells, their purpose
and device."
Question No. 5 “Marking on the closure, branding on
charges, shells, cartridges and fuses."
Educational and educational goals:
Educational and educational goals:
Explore:
1. Classification of shells and artillery rounds.
2.Elements of an artillery shot.
3. Types of projectiles, their design.
Requirements for projectiles.
4. Fuses, design and principle of operation
5.Instill in students responsibility for
in-depth study of artillery design
weapons.
Question No. 1 “Definition of an artillery shot. Elements of a shot. Classification of artillery rounds by purpose and method
Question No. 1 “Definition of artilleryshot. Elements of a shot. Classification
artillery rounds according to their intended purpose and
loading method"
An artillery shot is a collection
elements needed for production
one shot from a gun.
Siberian Federal University Siberian Federal University
Artillery shots are classified:
1. By purpose:
- combat (for live firing);
- practical (for conducting combat training
shooting) ;
- blanks (for simulating combat
firing during exercises, for signals and fireworks. He
consists of a powder charge, a cartridge case, a wad and means
ignition);
- educational (for training gun crew
actions with a gun, handling shots,
preparation of warheads);
- special (for conducting experimental shooting at
polygons). 2. By loading method:
- cartridge (unitary) loading
(all elements of the shot are combined into one
whole);
- separate cartridge loading
(the projectile is not connected to the warhead in
sleeve);
- separate cap loading
(different from separate shots
sleeve
loading
lack of
sleeves, i.e. projectile + combat charge in
cap made of special fabric + product
ignition
(drum
or
electric tube). 3. According to the degree of readiness for combat use:
- ready (prepared for shooting, which can
be fully equipped (to the point of the projectile
fuse or tube screwed in) or incompletely
equipped
form
(V
point
projectile
screwed in
plastic plug));
- complete (unassembled shots, the elements of which
stored separately in one warehouse).
In artillery units, shots are stored only
ready, with shells in final or
incompletely equipped form.
Elements of an artillery shot:
-Projectile with fuse- Combat propellant charge in the case
-IGNITER
-DIMENSIONER
-PHLEGMATIZER
-FLAME EXHAUSTERS
-SEALING (obturating)
device
10.
Siberian Federal UniversityQuestion No. 2
"Classification of artillery
shells, requirements for them.
Ammunition"
Artillery shell - the main element
artillery round intended for:
suppression and destruction of enemy personnel and
his fire weapons,
defeating tanks and other armored targets,
destruction of defensive structures,
suppression of artillery and mortar batteries,
performing other artillery fire missions.
11.
Siberian Federal UniversityIn order to correct use shells and
providing troops with them, as well as facilitating accounting
artillery shells vary:
1. according to purpose (basic, special,
auxiliary purpose)
2 gauge (small up to 70mm, medium from 70-152mm,
large ones more than 152mm)
3. the ratio of the caliber of the projectile to the caliber of the gun
(caliber and sub-caliber)
4.outdoor
outline
(long-range
And
short-range).
5.method of stabilization in flight (rotating and
non-rotating).
12.
Siberian Federal UniversityRequirements for artillery
shells.
Artillery shells are presented
tactical, technical and production-economic requirements.
The tactical and technical requirements are:
power, range or height,
accuracy of combat, safety when shooting and
durability of projectiles during long-term storage.
To production and economic requirements
include: simplicity of design and production,
unification of shells and their bodies, low cost and
non-scarcity of raw materials.
13.
Siberian Federal UniversityCombat kit - set quantity
ammunition per weapon unit (pistol,
rifle, carbine, machine gun, machine gun, mortar,
gun, BM MLRS, etc.).
Table 4.1.
Dependence of ammunition composition on gun caliber
Table 4.1.
Gun caliber
57-85
100-130
152-180 203-240
Number of shots per
one BC, pcs.
120
80
60
40
14.
Question No. 3 “Basic, special andauxiliary types of projectiles, their
design characteristics"
Main purpose projectiles are used for
suppression, destruction and destruction of various
goals. These include fragmentation, high-explosive,
high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing tracer,
cumulative, concrete-piercing and incendiary
shells. The vast majority of projectiles
to their device are a collection
metal shell (solid or
national team) and equipment appropriate for the purpose
projectile.
15.
16.
Siberian Federal UniversitySpecial-purpose projectiles are used
for illuminating the area, setting up smoke
curtains, target designation, target sighting and delivery
to the disposition of the enemy propaganda
material. These include lighting,
smoke, propaganda and sighting projectiles.
Smoke steel projectile D4 consists of body 4
(Fig. 4) with an iron-ceramic driving belt 6,
ignition cup 2, bursting charge 3,
placed in the ignition glass, and
smoke-forming substance 5 placed in
chamber of the projectile body, sealing plug
7 with gasket 5 and fuse /.
17.
Siberian Federal UniversityAuxiliary projectiles
used for combat training of troops and
carrying out various testing grounds
tests. These include practical,
training monitors and slab tests
shells.
18. Question No. 4 “Fuses for shells, their purpose and design.”
Fuses, explosivesdevices and tubes are called
special mechanisms designed
to call the action of the projectile in the required
trajectory point or after an impact at
obstacle.
19.
Fuzes and fusesare equipped with projectiles with high explosive equipment, and
tubes for projectiles having an expelling charge of gunpowder.
Detonation fuze chain and fire chain
remote tubes are shown in Fig. 1.
The detonation pulse in the fuses produces
detonation chain, which consists of an igniter primer, a powder retarder, a detonator primer, a transfer charge and a detonator. Ray
the impulse of the tubes is generated by the fire circuit,
consisting of an igniter primer, a moderator and
amplifier (firecrackers).
20.
21.
Shooting setupDesired projectile action
team
Travel (main) installation
cap
tap
Shrapnel
"Fragmentation"
Removed
On "O"
High explosive
"High Explosive"
Wearing
On "O"
High explosive with deceleration
"Delayed"
Wearing
On "Z"
Ricochet (for B-429)
"Ricochet"
Removed
On "Z"
Shrapnel
High explosive
High explosive
Fig.7. Installation of fuses according to the type of action
Fig.8. Operational (installation) tool
for RGM fuses (V-429)
The cap is on
Tap on "O"
Ricochet
22.
Siberian Federal UniversityQuestion No. 5
“Marking on the closure,
branding on charges, shells, cartridges and
fuses"
23.
Siberian Federal UniversityAmmunition coloring may be
protective and distinctive.
Protective painting is applied to the entire
surface painted gray (KV-124) for
with the exception of centering thickenings and
leading belts; distinctive paint - in
in the form of rings of different colors on a cylindrical
parts of shells, on casings and some
fuses. The remaining elements of the shot are not
are painted.
The propaganda shell is painted red
paint, and the bodies of practical shells
painted black with white markings
24.
BRANDINGBrands are marks that are embossed or embossed on
outer surface of projectiles, fuses (tubes), cartridge cases
and capsule bushings. Artillery shells have basic
and duplicate marks.
Main stamps - signs showing the plant number, number
batch and year of manufacture of the shell (bottom) of the projectile, heat number
metal, marks of Quality Control Department and military representative of GRAU and imprint
samples.
Duplicate terminals are applied at factories producing
equipment of shells and serve in case of loss of markings. To them
relate:
explosive code (smoke-producing substance) and signs
mass deviations.
25.
FULLname of the charge; Zh463M - charge index (in
sleeve or in a bundle); 122 38 - short name
guns; 9/7 1/0 00 - brand
gunpowder
additional
bunches, batch number,
year of manufacture of gunpowder and
designation
gunpowder
factory; 4/1 1/0 00 - brand
main beam powder
number
parties,
year
manufacturing
gunpowder
And
designation
gunpowder
factory; 8-0-00 - number
parties,
year
assemblies
shot and base number,
collected the shot. Letter
“F” at the end of the marking
indicates the presence in
phlegmatizer charge.
26.
Markingon
shells
applied
on
head
And
cylindrical
parts
projectile
black paint.
00 - equipment factory number
; 1-0 - batch number and year
projectile equipment;
122 - projectile caliber (in mm); H sign of mass deviation; T designation of explosive;
OF-461 - projectile index
On smoke shells instead
BB code is set to
smoke-forming substance.
On armor-piercing tracers
shells also coded as explosives
apply the brand of this fuse,
by which the projectile is brought into
oxnarvid.
27. Self-study task
Siberian Federal UniversitySelf-study assignment
Explore:
Material for this lesson
Main literature:
1.Textbook. "Ground Artillery Ammunition."
pp.3-10,65-90.
Purpose and types of fuses. General device and the principle of operation of fuses RGM-2, V-90, T-7, DTM, AR-30 (AR-5).
Fuzes, fuse devices and tubes are special mechanisms designed to trigger the action of a projectile after being fired at the required point of the trajectory or after hitting an obstacle.
Unlike fuses, fuses usually consist of several parts located in different places on the projectile (missile warheads).
The difference between fuses and tubes lies in the nature of the initial impulse created by them: the former produce a detonation pulse, the latter a beam pulse.
Fuses and fuse devices are fitted to projectiles with high explosives, and tubes - to projectiles with a propelling charge of gunpowder.
The detonation pulse in the fuses generates a detonation chain, which general case consists of an igniter primer, a powder moderator, a detonator primer, a transfer charge and a detonator. The beam pulse of the tubes is generated by a fire chain consisting of an igniter primer, a moderator and an amplifier (firecracker).
An igniter capsule is an element of a detonation (fire) chain that is triggered when pricked with a sting to form a beam of fire.
The powder retarder is intended to provide a time delay during the transmission of a beam of fire from the igniter primer to the detonator primer. It is made from black powder in the form of pressed elements (cylinders), the dimensions of which are selected in accordance with the required deceleration time.
In the tubes, the moderator is a remote composition, the burning time of which ensures the flight of the projectile up to given point trajectories.
To increase the reliability of fuses, moderators are sometimes duplicated.
A detonator capsule is the main element of the detonation chain, triggered by a sting or a beam of fire to form a detonation pulse.
The transfer charge is a pressed block of high explosive (tetryl, PETN, hexogen); it is used in fuses where the detonator capsule is isolated from the detonator.
A detonator - a pressed block of tetryl, PETN or hexogen - is intended to enhance the impulse of the detonator capsule in order to ensure failure-free initiation of detonation in the explosive charge of the projectile.
In the tubes, the beam pulse is amplified by a black powder firecracker.
Fuze classification
The classification of fuses is based on their division according to their meaning, type of action, place of connection with the projectile, method of excitation, detonation chain, nature of the insulation of the primers and cocking location.
According to their purpose, fuses are divided into fuses for cannon artillery shells, mortar mines, tactical missiles and close combat weapons.
According to the type of action, fuses are divided:
· for drums;
· for remote;
· for remote drums;
· to non-contact.
Impact fuses are triggered when they encounter an obstacle. Based on their duration of action, they are divided into instantaneous (fragmentation), inertial (high-explosive) and delayed fuses.
The action time is the time from the start of the projectile touching the barrier until it breaks. For instantaneous fuses it does not exceed 0.001 sec; inertial action – ranging from 0.001 to 0.01 sec, delayed action – 0.01 – 0.1 sec.
There are fuses with constant deceleration time and with automatically controlled deceleration. In the latter case, the duration of action is set automatically when the projectile hits an obstacle and depends on its thickness and strength.
The most extensive group of impact fuses consists of fuses with several, most often two or three, installations.
Remote fuses are triggered along a trajectory in accordance with the setting made before the shot. They can be pyrotechnic, mechanical, electrical and electromechanical. Most widespread received fuses with a clock mechanism (mechanical).
Remote-impact fuses are a combination of two mechanisms: remote and impact.
Proximity fuses cause a projectile to explode as it approaches a target, triggered by some energy or field reflected or emitted by it.
Proximity fuses that sense the energy emitted by the target are called passive fuses; fuses that emit energy and react to it after reflection from a target (obstacle) are called active fuses.
Based on the point of connection with the projectile, fuses are divided into head, bottom and head fuses. The latter are considered to be fuses in which the detonation chain is located in the bottom, and the element that perceives the reaction of the obstacle (striker or impact contacts - contactors) is in the head of the projectile.
Based on the method of exciting the detonation chain, fuses are divided into mechanical and electrical.
In mechanical fuses, excitation is carried out as a result of the movement of a moving part that triggers the capsules, in electric fuses - by electrical energy.
Based on this criterion, non-contact fuses are divided into radio fuses, optical fuses, acoustic fuses, infrared fuses, etc.
Requirements for fuses.
Fuses, as well as shells and other elements of artillery rounds, are subject to a number of tactical, technical, production and economic requirements.
Tactical and technical requirements include:
· safety in official handling, when firing and in flight;
· reliability of operation;
· ease of handling before loading;
· stability during long-term storage.
Safety is understood as the absence of premature explosions of shells due to premature operation of fuses. Elimination of premature action of fuses is ensured by careful development and adherence to the manufacturing process, detailed testing of each developed sample, the use of mechanisms proven in practice, comprehensive testing of newly introduced components, and strict adherence to established rules of handling and operation.
Reliable operation is achieved by using sufficiently sensitive impact mechanisms and reliable arming of safety devices, careful checking of the quality of the fuses before firing, and the use of backup mechanisms (assemblies).
Ease of handling before loading comes down to reducing the time required to produce a commanded installation when preparing the fuse for firing.
Durability during long-term storage should ensure that the fuse remains unchanged in its combat properties.
Production and economic requirements provide for:
· simplicity of design;
· Possibly lower production costs;
· maximum use of non-scarce materials;
· unification of parts and mechanisms through the use of operationally proven units in newly designed fuses;
· possibility of using progressive processing methods.
The RGM-2 fuse is a head fuse, with three settings (for instantaneous, inertial and delayed action) of a safety type.
It applies to 122mm howitzer, fragmentation, high-explosive, incendiary and smoke iron projectiles, 152mm fragmentation and high-explosive fragmentation grenades.
Device. The fuse consists of a body, a head bushing, impact, retarding and rotary-safety mechanisms and a bottom bushing with a tetryl detonator.
Fuze RGM-2:
/ - cap; 2 - membrane; 3 - limiter ring; 4 - head; 5 - sting; 6 - fuse ball; 7 - stopper ball; 8 - sleeve; 9 - tap; 10 - seal ring; 11 - body; 12 - settling bushing; 13 - stopper spring; 14 - safety spring; 15 – stopper; /6 – bottom bushing; 17 - detonator; 18 - cap; 19- washer; 20 - detonator sleeve; 21 - shirt; 22 - rotary sleeve; 23 - cover; 24 - rotary spring; 25 - hairpin; 26 - sleeve with igniter primer; 27 - drummer; 48 - counter-safety spring; 29 - safety ring; 30 - safety spring; 31 - charging spring; 32 - settling sleeve; 33 - impact rod; 34 - fungus; 35 - bushing with retarder; 36 - axis; 37 - transfer charge; 38 - detonator capsule; 39- dived; 40 - counter fuse, 41 - ball; 42 - check
The impact mechanism is placed in the fuse head 4. It consists of a lower inertial striker 27 with an igniter capsule in the sleeve 26 of an upper instantaneous striker, including an impact rod 33, a mushroom 34, a sting 5 and a limiter ring 5; balls 6, safety ring 29, settling sleeve 32 with claws; safety 30 and charging 31 springs, counter-safety spring 28 and claw counter-fuse 40. Diaphragm 2 is rolled over head 4 and cap 1 is screwed on.
The retarding mechanism consists of a bushing 35 with a powder retarder, an installation tap 9, a pin 25, two brass bushings 8 and a lead ring 10. At the outer end of the tap there are cutouts for the setting key and arrow, and on the surface of the fuse body there are two marks with marks “O” " and "3", corresponding to the crane settings.
The rotary-safety mechanism is placed in the housing 11. It consists of two bushings: a detonator 20, fixedly connected to the housing 11, and a rotary 22, located on the axis 36. The rotary bushing has two sockets: in one there is a detonator capsule 38, and in the other is a locking mechanism consisting of a stopper 15 with a spring 13, a settling bushing 12 with a spring 14 and a ball 41.
The lower end of the stopper fits into the socket of the detonator sleeve, holding the sleeve 22 in the idle position, in which the detonator capsule is offset relative to the transfer charge 37 and is separated from the detonator 17 by the detonator sleeve. In this case, in the event of a premature explosion of the detonator capsule, the impulse will not be transferred to the transfer charge and the detonator.
A cover 23 is attached to the top of the sleeve 22, and the sleeve itself is enclosed in a cylindrical jacket 21, tightly fastened to the sleeve 20. The rotation of the sleeve 22 from the idle position to the combat position is carried out by a flat rotary spring 24, one end of which is attached to the cover 23, and the other to the jacket 21.
To protect the fuse from premature action when set to “3” in the event of spontaneous ignition of the igniter cap, use a diving pin 39 with a copper pin 42, which is designed so that at the moment of the shot it remains intact, but is easily cut off by the force of the gases formed when the igniter primer is ignited . In this case, the plunger descends into the slot of the cover 23 and keeps the sleeve 22 from rotating into the firing position.
The detonator capsule remains in the displaced (idle) position, and its explosion is localized by the detonator sleeve without being transmitted to the detonator.
The factory setting of the fuse is for inertial action (the cap is on, the tap is open). To set it to instant action, unscrew the cap, and to set it to delayed action, close the tap. In the latter case, the effect of the projectile will be the same both with the cap on and with the fuse removed from the fuse.
Action of the fuse. When fired under the influence of inertia forces from linear acceleration, the sleeve 32, overcoming the resistance of the springs 30 and 31, settles down and engages with the safety ring 29 with its claws. At the same time, the settling sleeve 12 compresses the spring 14 and releases the ball 41, which is shifted to the side by centrifugal force, giving way to lift stopper 15.
After the projectile leaves the muzzle, the spring 31 moves forward the settling sleeve 32 with the safety ring 29.
Balls 6, falling into the cavity of the head bushing, release the instantaneous and inertial action strikers. In the rotary sleeve, spring 13 lifts stopper 15, releasing sleeve 22, which is rotated by spring 24 into the firing position. The fuse is cocked. During flight, the instantaneous and inertial strikers are kept from moving by a counter-safety spring 28 and a claw-type counter-fuse 40.
When a projectile meets an obstacle when the fuse is set to instantaneous (fragmentation) action, the upper striker, by reaction of the obstacle, moves back and punctures the igniter primer. The beam of fire is transmitted through the hole in the tap to the detonator capsule, and the explosion of the latter is transmitted to the detonator through the transfer charge.
When set to high-explosive action, the lower hammer moves forward by inertia and impales the igniter primer on the sting. The fire beam is transmitted to the detonator capsule through a hole in the tap, and the detonation pulse is transmitted to the transfer charge and the detonator.
When set to delayed action (high explosive with delay), depending on the presence or absence of a cap on the fuse, the upper or lower striker excites the igniter primer. The fire beam ignites the powder moderator, and after it burns out, it is transferred to the detonator capsule. The detonation pulse is then transmitted to the transfer charge and the detonator.
Tube T-7 is a head tube, remote-operating, with a uniform scale of 165 divisions on the lower distance ring.
The total operating time of the tube is 74.4 seconds. It applies to 122 mm illumination and propaganda shells.
Device. The T-7 tube consists of a body, a remote device, a bottom bushing with a powder firecracker and a safety cap.
The tube body 24 is made of aluminum alloy and consists of a head, a bowl and a tail.
The head and plate serve as the basis for placing the remote device. A bottom bushing with a powder firecracker is placed in the tail section.
The remote device consists of three spacer rings (upper 7, middle 26 and lower 25), an ignition mechanism, a clamping ring 29, a pressure nut 4 and a ballistic cap 3.
Remote tube T-7:
1 - connecting bracket; 2 - safety cap; 3 - ballistic cap; 4 - pressure nut; 5 - locking screw; 6 - leather gasket; 7 - upper spacer ring; 8 - parchment circle; 9 - asbestos and tin mugs; 10 - transfer column in the spacer ring; 11 - powder columns in the body; 12 - hairpin; 13 - cloth circle; 15 - bottom bushing; 16 - brass circle; 18 - powder firecracker; 24 - body; 25 - lower spacer ring; 26 - middle spacer ring; 27 - pooh-shaped pressing in the spacer ring; 28 - igniter primer with bushing; 29-clamp ring; 30 - hammer spring; 31 - drummer; 32 - screw plug
The spacer rings are made of aluminum alloy. On the lower base they have an annular channel with a jumper in which slow-burning gunpowder is pressed.
The lower and middle rings at the beginning of the channel have transfer and gas outlet openings. Powder columns 10 are placed in the transfer holes, which serve to transmit the beam of fire to the remote composition, and small powder charges are placed in the gas outlet holes, sealed on the outside with asbestos and foil circles 9.
There is a pilot hole in the upper ring at the beginning of the channel.
Parchment circles 8 are glued to the lower bases of the rings, and circles made of special tubular cloth are glued to the upper bases and to the plane of the body plate, ensuring a tighter fit of the rings to each other and to the plate and preventing the passage of fire along the surface of the spacer composition.
The upper and lower spacer rings are connected to each other by bracket 1 and can rotate freely when installing the tube.
The ignition mechanism is placed inside the housing head. It includes a remote striker 31 with a sting, an igniter capsule 28, a spring 30 and a threaded plug 32. To transmit a beam of fire from the igniter capsule to the ignition window of the upper distance ring 7, there are four symmetrically located inclined holes in the housing head.
The clamping ring 29 and the pressure nut 4 are intended to fix the installation of the spacer rings and press them tightly against the plate.
The ballistic cap gives the tube a streamlined shape and improves the combustion mode of the spacer composition. For this purpose, it has an axial (discharge) and four lateral gas outlet openings.
To prepare the tube for firing and set it to a given division, it is necessary to unscrew the safety cap and use a key to align the commanded division of the distance scale with the red adjustment mark on the side surface of the housing plate.
Action of the tube. When fired, under the influence of inertial force, the clamping ring 29 and the pressure nut 4 with the ballistic cap 3 settle down and, tightly pressing the spacer rings, secure the installation of the tube. The remote striker 31 compresses the spring 30 and punctures the igniter capsule. A beam of fire from the primer through the ignition window ignites the spacer composition of the upper spacer ring 7.
During flight, after the gunpowder in the upper ring burns out to the transfer hole, the powder column ignites and the gunpowder in the middle spacer ring ignites. The gas pressure knocks out the asbestos and foil mugs 9, and the powder gases escape through the holes of the pressure nut under the ballistic cap. Then the beam of fire is transmitted to the lower ring and through the powder columns 11 in the inclined and vertical transfer holes ignites the powder firecracker. Gases from a powder firecracker knock out the brass
2.2.2 Purpose of the propellant charge, requirements for its design. Types of charges, their structure and action.
Combat charge is called a part of an artillery shot, consisting of a sample of gunpowder of one or more grades and auxiliary elements, assembled in a certain order and designed to impart to the projectile the required initial velocity at a certain pressure of the powder gases in the barrel bore.
Artillery charges are classified according to the type of shots in which they are used, by design and by the number of grades of gunpowder.
Based on the type of shots, combat charges are divided into the following types:
– charges for cartridge loading shots;
– charges for shots of separate cartridge loading;
– charges for shots of separate cap loading.
By design, combat charges are either constant or variable.
Constant combat charges represent a weighed amount of gunpowder, the value of which is strictly established, and changing it before loading is impossible or prohibited. They allow one to obtain only one table initial velocity, and therefore predetermine the nature of the projectile trajectory.
Variable warheads consist of several separate attachments (the main attachment, called a package, and additional beams), which allows you to change the weight of the charge when firing, and therefore change the initial speed of the projectile, the nature of the trajectories and the range of the projectile.
The design of the combat charge primarily depends on the type of shot for which it is intended.
The combat charges for cartridge-loading shots are constant. They are used for firing cannons and can be full or reduced. The former have an extremely large amount of gunpowder for a given type of gun, while the latter have a reduced weight. Reduced combat charges help to increase the survivability of the gun barrel when firing at medium ranges and provide a more elevated trajectory.
Shots of separate cartridge loading in most cases are equipped with variable combat charges and much less often - with constant ones.
Variable warheads are used in two varieties: full variable and reduced variable.
A full variable combat charge is a charge consisting of a main package and additional beams and providing the highest initial velocity for a given type of gun. Intermediate combat charges, obtained by removing a certain number of additional beams from the cartridge case, have numbers assigned to each of them and are reduced in relation to the full one. For some guns, in order to expand the velocity scale, both full variable and reduced variable warheads are used. The numbering of charges in a full and reduced combat charge is common.
Shots of separate cap loading are equipped only with variable combat charges. They can be either full variables or reduced variables.
The following basic tactical and technical requirements are imposed on combat charges: uniformity of action when firing, possibly less impact on the barrel, flamelessness of the shot, simplicity of techniques for composing combat charges and durability during long-term storage.
The uniformity of the action of warheads during firing is assessed by dispersion initial speeds. To fulfill this requirement, for each sample gun the nature and composition of the gunpowder, the shape and size of the powder elements, and the size and design of the igniter are carefully selected.
To ensure uniformity of gunpowder combustion, and, consequently, uniformity of initial projectile velocities, strict adherence to the amount of gunpowder weighed within the established standards is required.
The design of the charge, i.e., the specific location of the gunpowder and auxiliary elements, providing, to one degree or another, favorable conditions for the ignition and combustion of gunpowder. Experience has established that for normal operation of a combat charge, it is necessary that the gunpowder load occupy at least 2/3 of the length of the chamber or cartridge case and have a relatively rigid attachment.
The uniformity of the action of combat charges during firing also largely depends on strict adherence to the rules for handling combat charges both during storage and during firing.
The requirement for less influence of powder gases on the barrel opening is aimed at increasing the service life of the barrels. This requirement is ensured by the use of gunpowders with a relatively low calorie content in combat charges. In cases where the use of low-calorie powders is irrational, a phlegmatizer is placed in the combat charge, which reduces the thermal effect of powder gases on the barrel metal.
The requirement for a flameless shot is ensured by the use of flameless powders or special additives to the charge, called flame arresters.
The simplicity and uniformity of techniques for preparing combat charges helps to increase the rate of fire of guns and prevent errors when performing this operation during shooting.
The durability of warheads during long-term storage is ensured by reliable sealing of warheads and the use of storage-stable powders.
General principles warhead devices
The combat charge consists of a sample of gunpowder and auxiliary elements. A sample of gunpowder is a source of a certain amount of energy, which provides the desired propelling effect. However, combat charges may include auxiliary elements in addition to gunpowder to fulfill a number of tactical, technical and operational requirements. These include: igniter, decoupler, phlegmatizer, flame arrester and sealing (obturating) device. The presence of all the listed auxiliary elements in the combat charge is not necessary. The use of each of them depends on the properties of gunpowder, the design and purpose of the combat charge, and shooting conditions.
The weight of gunpowder is the main element of any combat charge. The weight and grade of gunpowder are determined by ballistic calculation based on the condition of the most advantageous use of the energy of the combat charge to achieve the required initial velocity at a given pressure of the powder gases.
The amount of weight for each batch of gunpowder is established by control shooting at the range. Gunpowder, even of the same brand, but from different production batches, inevitably differs in its properties. The weight of gunpowder, both full constant and full alternating warheads, should ensure that the highest initial velocity of the projectile is obtained at a pressure of powder gases that does not exceed the strength of the gun barrel. When determining the weight of gunpowder for reduced charges, one proceeds from the conditions for obtaining a given initial velocity. The maximum permissible minimum weight of gunpowder for the main package of variable charges, as well as reduced constant charges, is determined from the conditions for obtaining a given minimum initial velocity with a pressure of powder gases on the bottom of the projectile sufficient to ensure cocking of the fuse mechanisms.
To expand the speed scale when developing variable warheads, they very often resort to using two grades of gunpowder: for the main packages - with a smaller thickness of the burning arch, for additional beams - with a larger thickness of the burning arch. This choice of powder grades makes it possible, with a lighter weight of powder in the main package, to ensure cocking of the fuse mechanisms, as well as reliable ignition and complete combustion of the combat charge.
The contradictory requirements for the smallest and full warheads sometimes cannot be resolved satisfactorily in a single variable warhead system. In this case, two variable charges are made:
a) reduced variable, consisting of thin gunpowder and allowing one to obtain a range of initial velocity values from the lowest to the highest (according to the scale);
b) full variable, consisting of thicker gunpowder and allowing one to obtain a range of initial velocity values from highest to lowest.
When firing at full and reduced variable charges, the requirements for the entire velocity scale established for a given artillery system are met.
Depending on the shape of the powder elements, the type of shots, as well as the design of the charging chamber, the combat charge is given one form or another. A sample of gunpowder can be placed in a cartridge case in bulk or in a cap made of cotton fabric (calico) in cartridge and separate cartridge-loading shots, or only in a cap - in separate cartridge-loading shots. Caps in this case are made of silk fabric (amiantin). Silk fabric burns completely when fired, leaving no smoldering residues in the gun chamber that could prematurely ignite the next charge during loading.
Igniter. The ballistic uniformity of shots largely depends on the uniformity of ignition of the propellant of the combat charge. Uniformity in the initial velocities of projectiles and maximum pressures of powder gases can be obtained by simultaneous and short-term ignition of all powder elements of the charge. The means of igniting the shots themselves in many cases do not have sufficient power to ignite the warhead. Therefore, an igniter is used to enhance the ignition pulse.
The igniter is a sample of black powder placed in a calico cap. The weight of the igniter is set based on the failure-free and rapid ignition of the warhead. As the weight of the igniter increases, in addition to the increase in the power of the ignition pulse, the initial pressure increases, which leads to an increase in the rate of ignition and combustion of the charge as a whole.
For reliable and rapid ignition of a warhead, a certain minimum pressure is required, developed by the gases of the ignition means and the igniter, equal to 50–125 kg/cm 2 . Experimental data confirm that at a pressure of less than 50 kg/cm 2 it is difficult to obtain reliable ignition of a warhead. If the power of the ignition pulse is insufficient and the pressure is low, failure to ignite the charge and prolonged shots may occur.
The weight of the igniter, which ensures reliable ignition, is selected experimentally and is, depending on the caliber of the gun, within 0.5-3.0% of the powder weight.
By design, igniters can be inserted, sewn or tethered and are usually located between the igniter and the base of the warhead. If the combat charge has dimensions that do not ensure simultaneous ignition of the entire powder charge with one igniter, a second igniter is used, which is located in the middle of the charge.
For variable warheads of shots of separate cartridge loading, both pyroxylin granular or tubular and nitroglycerin tubular powders are used.
In Fig. a full variable charge is given for the 122-mm howitzer mod. 1938. The charge consists of a main packet of 4/1 grade gunpowder and six additional bundles of 9/7 grade gunpowder. Additional beams are arranged in two rows: two beams in the bottom row and four in the top. Additional bundles in each row are in equilibrium with each other, but unevenly weighted among the rows.
The cap of the main package (Fig. 73, a) is a rectangular bag with a central hole. To increase rigidity, it is divided into four equal sections by stitching. An additional igniter and a backfire flame arrester made of VTX-10 flame-extinguishing powder are sewn to the base of the package cap. Two lower additional bundles made in the shape of half rings, when laid on top of the main package in the sleeve, form a hole with a diameter of 20 mm. On top of additional beams top row decoupler, normal and reinforced covers are installed.
The design of this charge with a hole along the axis of the main package and additional bundles bottom row ensures simultaneous ignition of the powder of all elements that make up the charge.
Firing is carried out both at a full charge and at six intermediate charges, obtained at the firing position by removing a certain number of additional beams in accordance with the shooting tables. The numbers of intermediate charges correspond to the number of additional bundles removed from the cartridge case.