UNIVERSAL KE PROJECTILE, IN PARTICULAR FOR MEDIUM-CALIBRE MUNITIONS

PROJECTILE KE UNIVERSEL DESTINE NOTAMMENT A DES MUNITIONS DE MOYEN CALIBRE

English Abstract

The aim of the invention is to combine the cascade effect of frangible pellets
(25) with
sub-projectiles (27, 28, 30) consisting of a ductile heavy metal and thus to
create
ammunition (10) that combines the advantages of, for example, frangible
pellets (25) of a
central penetrator (24) with the advantages of the ductile heavy metals (27,
28) of an
external penetrator (26). This permits an improved performance to be achieved
for
different targets even at low impact velocities. The external penetrator is
arc-shaped or
banana-shaped.

French Abstract

L'invention vise à associer l'effet cascade des pastilles désintégrantes (25) avec des sous-projectiles (27, 28, 30) réalisés en métal lourd ductile, c'est-à-dire à créer une munition (10) qui allie l'avantage, par exemple, des pastilles désintégrantes (25) d'un pénétrateur central (24) aux avantages des métaux lourds ductiles (27, 28) d'un pénétrateur externe (26). Cela permet d'obtenir une puissance améliorée dans différents objectifs même pour des vitesses d'impact profondes. Le pénétrateur externe est réalisé en forme d'arc ou de banane.

Claims

Claims
Universal KE projectile (1) with a projectile tip (20), a projectile jacket
(21) and a
projectile base (22), which includes a central penetrator (24), an outer
penetrator
(26) being attached around the central penetrator (24), said outer penetrator
containing spherical (27) and/or cylindrical (28) ductile heavy metals, and
being
arc-shaped or banana-shaped (28).
2. Universal KE projectile as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the
central
penetrator (24) is composed of frangible pellets (25).
3. Universal KE projectile as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the
outer
penetrator (24) is formed in one piece.
4. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the Claims 1 to 3,
characterized in
that an end penetrator (29) in the rear part of the central penetrator (24)
features
spherical and/or cylindrical heavy metals (30).
5. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the projectile tip (20) and the projectile jacket (21)
that
surrounds the outer penetrator (26) and the central penetrator (24) can be of
aluminum.
6. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the projectile tip (20) is formed from injected or
injectable
material such as plastic.
7. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the projectile jacket (21) that surrounds the outer
penetrator
(26) and the central penetrator (24) can be of plastic or a combination of
plastic
and steel or aluminum.
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8. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the plastic is a fibre reinforced thermoplastic that is
resistant
to high temperatures.
9. Universal KE projectile as defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that the ductile heavy metals (27, 28) are fixed in position
within
the outer penetrator (26) by plastic.
10. Method for producing the projectile as defined in one of the preceding
Claims 1 to
9, which includes the following steps:
- centering the central penetrator (24) with or without the end penetrator
(29)
and its sub-projectiles (30);
- attaching the outer penetrator (26) with the sub-projectiles (28, 29) around
the
central penetrator (24);
- fixing the sub-projectiles (28, 29) of the outer penetrator (26) with
plastic;
- creating a projectile jacket (21) that is thin, at least in the area of the
outer
penetrator.
11. Method as defined in Claim 10, characterized in that the plastic used to
fix the
sub-projectiles (27, 28) within the outer penetrator (26) is injected from the
projectile tip (20).
12. Method as defined in Claim 10, characterized in that the plastic can also
be
injected from the base end.
13. Munition (10) consisting of a cartridge case (4), a propellant charge (5),
and a
projectile (1) as defined in one of the Claims 1 to 8.
14. Munition as defined in Claim 13, characterized in that the munition (10)
is a
medium-calibre munition.
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Description

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Universal KE Projectile, in particular for Medium-Calibre Munitions
The present invention relates to a universal kinetic-energy (KE) projectile, --
to a method for manufacturing said projectile, and its use.
Known types of munitions frequently have no penetrative effect when used
against
modern targets, so that there is a need for a type of munition that has a
powerful
destructive effect at the target. This is achieved by means of a great
fragmentation effect
around and into the target. In addition, this destructive effect is enhanced
by the blast
that is generated.
EP 0 853 228 B 1 describes a projectile of this kind as well as a method for
producing it.
By using this method it is possible to manufacture projectiles with a single
or multi-part
projectile body (penetrator or penetrator parts) of various shapes and sizes,
and do so
simply and rapidly. The projectile casing comprises a projectile tip that is
attached
rigidly to the jacket of the projectile; the projectile tip has an internal
centering device
within which the projectile is guided and held. The rear of the projectile
jacket is closed
off by a seal that partially encloses the projectile body. In such
projectiles, which are
referred to as full-calibre KE projectiles, the projectile jacket has a rear
that is frequently
of aluminum, but which may also be of steel. The ballistic tip of the
projectile is also of
aluminum, although it may also be of plastic.
Because of their kinetic energy, Frangible Armour Piercing (FAP) projectiles
are
effective against various targets. These projectiles have a core that is of
frangible
material that, according to EP 0 853 228 B1, can be made up of different
frangible
pellets. Both frangible and ductile heavy metals have been proposed as
materials for
these parts of the projectile bodies. The core can, for example, be covered
with plastic by
injection moulding. .
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As is known, in the case of FAP projectiles performance at the target depends
on their
impact velocity. First, the tip of the projectile must break away from the
projectile jacket
in order that the frangible core can become effective. Energy is also needed
for the
frangible core to break away. Very often, at low impact velocities (for
example at long
ranges), the energy is so slight that the core does not fragment sufficiently,
with the result
that there is less dispersal in the target. In addition, it is characteristic
of a core of this
kind that-for example, during tests to simulate different targets-in a stacked
target it
shatters into a number of fragments. These fragments break up even more at the
next
plate in what is referred to as the cascade effect. These fragments can become
so small
that they do not have enough energy to enable them to penetrate the next
plate, which is
to say that the desired dispersal effect collapses after a few plates (at
greater target
depths).
The Internet address http://www.wehrtechnik.net/ wehrtechnik/frap.htmi sets
out the
advantages of a fragmenting payload (FRAP). Among their other features, such
munitions, which are known as munitions for on-board cannon, no longer have
high-
explosive fillings and impact detonators. More details about FRAP munitions
and pre-
fragmented tungsten masses are provided in the paper titled "Fragmenting
Payload
Ammunition FRAP" that was presented by Allan Buckley and Pierre Freymond at
the
NDIA 37~' Gun & Ammo Symposium, 15 - 18 April 2002, in Panama City
(http ://www. dtic.mil/ndia/2002 aun/buckley.pdf ).
It is the objective of the present invention to enhance the dispersal effect
at the target.
Additionally, it is intended to achieve the greatest possible penetrative
effect against a
monobloc target.
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According to an aspect of the invention, there is
provided universal KE projectile with a projectile tip, a
projectile jacket and a projectile base, which includes a
central penetrator, an outer penetrator being attached
around the central penetrator, said outer penetrator
containing spherical and/or cylindrical ductile heavy
metals, and being arc-shaped or banana-shaped.
The underlying concept of the present invention is
to combine the cascade effect of the frangible pellets with
sub-projectiles of ductile heavy metals, which is to say, to
create a
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munition in which the advantages of a central penetrator of, for example,
frangible pellets
are combined with the advantages of the heavy metals of an outer penetrator.
One
property of ductile heavy metal is that it does not break up when it strikes
the target plate,
so that a good cone of fragmentation can develop.
DE 40 16 051 C2 describes a jacketed penetrator for a KE projectile that
protects the
pressure-sensitive penetrator as a ductile coating. This coating is secured to
the
penetrator in such a manner that it is rigid when fired, thereby permitting
economical
series production. In contrast to this, the outer penetrator, which is
preferably arc-shaped
and made up of individual sub-projectiles, is meant to trigger a buckling
effect so that the
projectile jacket that is positioned around the outer penetrator bursts
immediately and the
sub-projectiles are released. After assembly, these sub-projectiles are fixed
within the
outer penetrator by injected plastic; this entails the advantage that the
projectile jacket
surrounding the outer penetrator can be very thin. This thin jacket then
simply opens in
the target.
The central penetrator of frangible pellets is effective mainly in a monobloc
target, and
this makes this a universal projectile.
An FAP projectile with a fragmenting payload concept is also created.
The present invention is described in greater detail below on the basis of an
embodiment
shown in the drawings appended hereto. These drawings show the following:
Figure 1: a complete munition, in cross section;
Figure 2: a cross section through the front part of the projectile shown in
Figure 1;
Figure 3: a variant of a cross section of the front part shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4: a further variant of Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a munition 10 that fundamentally includes a projectile 1, a
guide band 2,
grooves 3, a cartridge case 4, and a propellant charge 5.
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In order to show it with greater clarity, the projectile 2 is shown in cross
section in Figure
2, this Figure 2 incorporating a first embodiment.
The projectile 2-a universal KE projectile-comprises a projectile tip 20, a
projectile
jacket 21, and a projectile base 22. A central penetrator is numbered 24; it
is preferred
that this be made up of frangible pellets 25, although in can consist of one
piece. In many
instances it is referred to as the projectile core. An outer penetrator,
numbered 26,
consists of spherical 27, cylindrica128 (cylinder-like or similar, and/or
cuboid or barrel-
shaped) ductile heavy metals (Figure 3) that are referred to here as sub-
projectiles 27, 28.
In a further variant shown in Figure 4, an end penetrator 29, preferably the
end of the
frangible central penetrator 24, has spherical or cylindrical ductile heavy
metals 30 that
are similarly referred to as sub-projectiles.
In all the variants, the outer penetrator 26 preferably consists of an arc-
shaped or banana-
shaped form or arrangement in order to initiate the buckling effect, so that
the projectile
jacket 21 ruptures and the sub-projectiles 27, 28 are liberated. When the
munition 10
strikes a target (not shown in greater detail herein), in addition to the
projectile tip 20, the
projectile jacket 21 is also destroyed with the help of the outer penetrator
26. In their
turn, the sub-projectiles 27, 28 that are liberated assist the central
penetrator 24 or the
pellets 25 as they penetrate the target. A further improvement (of the
fragment
distribution) can be achieved by the use of the end penetrator 29. The sub-
projectiles 30
play a supporting role in this, too.
The projectile tip 20 as well as the projectile jacket 21 can be of aluminum.
As an
alternative, the projectile tip 20 can be of injection-moulded material,
preferably of a
plastic. It is preferred that this plastic be a highly heat resistant, fibre
reinforced thermo-
plastic. This also applies to the projectile jacket, which can also be of
plastic; a
combination of plastic and steel is recommended.
In order to override the tolerances when the projectile is being assembled,
and in order to
keep the sub-projectiles 27, 28 outside, in one preferred embodiment plastic
is injected
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from the projectile tip 20. It is also possible to inject the plastic from the
base end. This
variant requires only a small hole that is preferably made centrally in the
base area. The
use of plastic permits the use of a very thin projectile jacket 21. The method
that is
associated with this is simple and permits cost effective fabrication.

Representative Drawing