Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Description
Penetrator and Use of a Penetrator
The invention relates to a penetrator for a projectile, in particular a
subcaliber kinetic energy
penetrator, also referred to as a long-rod penetrator or KE penetrator,
comprising a tail unit
and a main core. The main core comprises at least one front part and at least
one rear part.
The tail unit is arranged on the rear part of the penetrator. The invention
further relates to a
projectile including the penetrator and a sabot, as well as a cartridge
munition comprising a
projectile of this type. The invention also relates to the use of such a
penetrator or projectile
for engaging an armored target having armoring, in particular a tank having
preferably
reactive armoring.
DE 22 34 219 Cl describes an armor-piercing projectile having a core of high
specific
weight, which is arranged in a casing of softer material. The core is
essentially connected to
the casing surrounding it in a form- and force-fitting manner along its entire
length, by which
means a bursting of the core in the target during penetration is avoided.
In practice, it has been demonstrated that, when the penetrator strikes a pre-
target, for
example a plate of a reactive armoring, this plate is penetrated and passed
through in a first
phase of the penetration. During this pass-through, however, the tail unit of
the penetrator is
a hindrance and generates an additional resistance. A variety of approaches
address this
topic.
A subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator having a great length/diameter ratio is
known from DE
40 22 821 Al, which is used to penetrate targets having multiple armorings,
even at great
angles of inclination of the targets. The projectile is made up of a lower-
mass pre-core and a
rear main core as a cylindrical body. The two cores form a cohesive one-part
projectile body.
In their joining region, a predetermined breaking point is provided in the
region of the tip,
which is formed in that the front end of the main core is a forward-tapering
frustrum, which
has a rounded area in the transition region to the pre-core.
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A subcaliber projectile is known from the document DE 40 28 409 Al, which
includes a
penetrator and a tail unit coaxially surrounding the penetrator in a partial
region of its length.
A partial region of the penetrator is designed in a conical manner on its rear
side. The tail unit
is connected to the penetrator in a form-fitting manner. The penetrator has a
predetermined
breaking point in the form of a notch, which ensures that, upon striking a
target, the tail unit
breaks off, and the remaining penetrator passes through with less hindrance.
A penetrator is known from DE 10 2015 117 018 Al, which has an interface in
the front
region, to which different penetrator tips may be attached. A basic penetrator
is created via
this geometric interface, which may be provided with different penetrator tips
and augmented
to form individual KE penetrators. This makes it possible to react to
different reactive targets
with the aid of different penetrator tips. The basic penetrator may also be
made from a
different material than the different penetrator tips.
A removable tail unit for a full-caliber projectile is known from DE 10 2019
117 496.1. The tail
unit is connected to the projectile via a bayonet joint. It is proposed that
the entire rear part,
including the tail unit, is separated from the projectile head. When the
projectile strikes the
target, the tail unit wings of a folding tail unit are swung out. If the tail
unit part is a rigid tail
unit, the diameter thereof is larger than the projectile diameter. After or
upon the penetration
of the target, the solid tail unit part is axially separated from the
projectile head. The rear part
remains stuck in the target or follows the warhead later on. A newly created
interface takes
on the task of separation. The interface may be provided between the tail unit
part and the
projectile head and is preferably also implemented with the aid of a locking
mechanism. In
one simple design, the interface may be incorporated or integrated into a
joining region
between the tail unit and the casing of the projectile head. For this purpose,
a transfer part
may be provided, which is accommodated between the casing of the projectile
head and a
rear part of the tail unit part.
Although the aforementioned approaches have already proven to be successful,
the object of
the invention is to provide a further penetrator, which easily implements a
reliable penetration
of a main target having, in particular, a reactive armoring. This object is
achieved by the
features of Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and refinements are the subject
of the
subclaims.
The idea underlying the invention is to provide a penetrator for a projectile,
in particular a
subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, which comprises a tail unit and a main
core. The main
core comprises at least one front part and at least one rear part. The tail
unit is arranged on
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the rear part of the main core. At least one predetermined breaking point is
provided between
the at least one front part and the at least one rear part.
Similarly to DE 10 2019 117 496.1, this created predetermined breaking point
achieves the
fact that, at the predetermined breaking point, the tail unit together with
the rear part of the
main core is separated during the penetration of the front part of the main
core from the rear
part of the main core of the penetrator.
According to the invention, a projectile is further provided, which comprises
a penetrator of
this type or a refined penetrator as described below, and a sabot.
According to the invention, a cartridge munition is also provided, which
comprises a projectile
of this type and a cartridge casing.
According to the invention, a use of a penetrator of this type or a refined
penetrator as
described below is also provided for engaging an armored target having an, in
particular,
reactive armor, in particular a tank having reactive armoring.
According to the invention, the predetermined breaking point is designed in
areas in such a
way that it is mechanically less resilient than the front part or the rear
part of the main core.
This means that the material in the region of the predetermined breaking
point(s) has lower
strength values or a lower modulus of elasticity than in the front part and/or
the rear part of
the main core.
It is provided that the predetermined breaking point is, on the one hand,
manufactured by
primary forming and/or forming. A predetermined breaking point of this type
may be
produced, for example, by inducing residual stresses and/or by means of
inhomogeneities in
the material in the region of the predetermined breaking point. On the other
hand, a material
for the predetermined breaking point may be provided, which has lower strength
values or a
lower modulus of elasticity than in the front part and/or the rear part of the
main core. It is not
provided to produce the predetermined breaking point(s) by purely machining
the penetrator,
so that a groove structure, etc. results from cutting.
Due to the at least one predetermined breaking point, it is achieved that the
penetration
effect is not reduced by the tail unit. When the penetrator strikes the pre-
target, an easier
penetration is possible, since the remaining front part of the main core,
excluding the tail unit
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and rear part of the main core, no longer offers resistance during
penetration, and
consequently there is less deflection of the front part of the main core or
the penetrator.
After the rear part of the main core, together with the tail unit, is broken
off, the remaining
part of the penetrator, i.e., the front part of the main core, is decoupled
from the reactive pre-
target. As a result, there is less deflection of the front part of the main
core, and the final
ballistic power in the subsequent main target is significantly increased. The
front part of the
main core of the penetrator according to the invention may consequently
develop a better
effect in the main target.
Due to the design of the penetrator according to the invention, it is possible
to easily engage
targets having an, in particular, reactive armoring.
It is furthermore advantageous that the front part of the main core may be
optimally adapted
to the reactive targets to be engaged for the purpose of improving the
engagement therewith.
The penetrator is preferably used to engage an armored target, in particular,
a tank having
reactive armoring.
In one advantageous refinement of the penetrator, it may be provided that the
predetermined
breaking point is configured to allow the rear part of the main core, together
with the tail unit,
to break off of the front part of the main core when striking a target, in
particular a pre-target.
In one embodiment, it may be provided that the length of the front part of the
main core is at
least 50%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, further
preferably at least 90% of
the length of the main core¨viewed from the tip.
It may further be provided that the predetermined breaking point is
manufactured by primary
forming and/or by forming. A predetermined breaking point of this type may be
produced, for
example, by inducing residual stresses or by means of inhomogeneities in the
material.
In one particular embodiment, the main core may be provided with a one-piece
design in
such a way that the at least one front part and the at least one rear part of
the main core are
formed from a single piece. This has the advantage that a good ballistic
effect and low
tolerances are achievable. In addition, the main core therefore does not have
any moving
parts, such as screw connections. The penetrator according to the invention
thus does not
have any moving parts. The weakening of the material in the region of the
predetermined
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breaking point may be achieved, for example, by inducing residual stresses
and/or by means
of in homogeneities in the material.
In one particular embodiment, it may furthermore be provided that the main
core has a two-
piece or two-part design. This achieves the fact that the rear region or the
at least one rear
part of the main core may be selected independently of the front region or the
at least one
front part of the main core. Combinations of different materials for the front
part of the hard
core and for the rear part of the hard core are thus possible. For example, a
heavy material is
used for the front region of the main core and a lighter-weight material for
the rear region of
the main core, so that a preferably high weight is maintained for effective
momentum after
the break-off at the predetermined breaking point. The effect at the main
target is increased
hereby. However, it is also possible to design the main core in two pieces
made from the
same materials.
In the embodiment of a two-part version of the main core, it may also be
provided that the
predetermined breaking point is an material connection made from a
mechanically less
resilient material than the main core. This achieves the fact that a reliable
break-through of
the predetermined breaking point of the main core is implemented.
In one refinement, it may also be provided that the penetrator is
manufactured, in particular
sintered, from a tungsten heavy metal material, and the predetermined breaking
point has a
lower density than the rest of the main core. This achieves the fact that a
main core
manufactured from one material has different material properties in regions
and/or in
sections, in particular in the region of the predetermined breaking point(s).
Alternatively, the main core as well as the predetermined breaking point may
also be
manufactured, in particular sintered, from other heavy metals or other
suitable high-density
materials.
It may furthermore be provided that the penetrator is inert. The penetrator
thus does not have
any explosive material, i.e., the penetrator preferably does not comprise any
active media in
this embodiment.
The main core preferably has a solid design. "Solid" includes the formation
from a sintering
material. Alternatively, the penetrator may also be provided with a hollow
design. This makes
it possible to integrate active media in one particular specific embodiment.
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It may furthermore be provided that the predetermined breaking point may be
formed by a
thermal heat treatment of the main core. For example, the region of the
predetermined
breaking point may be deliberately weakened by heat treatment. The region of
the
predetermined breaking point may also be recessed, so that only the rest of
the main core is
designed to be more mechanically resilient with respect to its material
properties due to the
heat treatment.
In the embodiment of a two-part main core, it may be further provided that the
front part of
the main core and the rear part of the main core each have a thread, and the
front part and
the rear part of the main core may be connected by a mechanically less
resilient connecting
element to form the predetermined breaking point.
A predetermined breaking point between a front part and a rear part may be
cost-effectively
created hereby. This also makes it possible for the front part of the main
core and the rear
part of the main core to have different material properties.
In one embodiment, for example, the front part of the main core and the rear
part of the main
core may each have an inner thread, and the connecting element has one or two
outer
thread(s) matched thereto.
It is equally possible that the front part of the main core and the rear part
of the main core
each have an outer thread, and the connecting element has one or two inter
thread(s)
matched thereto.
In addition, it may be provided that the predetermined breaking point has a
structural weak
point, in particular, a notch or a milled recess. The effect of the
predetermined breaking point
may be increased thereby, so that the front and rear parts of the main core
may be even
more easily separated from each other.
In one refinement of the cartridge munition, it may be provided that the
predetermined
breaking point is arranged within the cartridge casing. This achieves the fact
that the
predetermined breaking point is not exposed to external influences.
A penetrator for a projectile is proposed, in particular a subcaliber kinetic
energy penetrator,
comprising a tail unit and a main core, which has at least one front part and
at least one rear
part. A tail unit is arranged on the rear part of the main core. A
predetermined breaking point
is formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, and the
material of the
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predetermined breaking point is designed to be mechanically less resilient
that the rest of the
main core. This achieves the fact that, after or upon the penetration of the
target, the solid tail
unit part, including the at least one rear part, is preferably axially
separated from the at least
one front part. The back part or the at least one rear part, including the
tail unit, is thus firmly
seated in the target thereby, or it follows the at least one front part of the
main core of the
penetrator.
Further details and advantages of the invention are derived from the following
exemplary
embodiment, which is explained on the basis of figures.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one specific embodiment
according to
the invention of a penetrator according to the invention; and
Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a further specific
embodiment
of a penetrator according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one specific embodiment according
to the
invention of a penetrator 10 according to the invention.
Penetrator 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is a penetrator for a projectile 1. This
projectile 1 is
preferably a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator including a sabot, which is
not illustrated in
greater detail.
Penetrator 10 includes a tail unit 3 and a main core 2. Main core 2 comprises
at least one
front part 21 and at least one rear part 22. Tail unit 3 is arranged on rear
part 22 of main core
2.
A predetermined breaking point 7 is formed between front part 21 and rear part
22 of main
core 2. Predetermined breaking point 7 is designed to be mechanically less
resilient than the
rest of main core 2.
Predetermined breaking point 7 is configured to allow rear part 22 of main
core 10, together
with tail unit 3, to break off from the at least one front part 21 of main
core 2 upon striking a
target, in particular a pre-target.
Length L of the at least one front part 21 of main core 2 is at least 50%,
preferably 70%,
preferably 80%, further preferably 90% of the length of main core 2.
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Predetermined breaking point 7 may be manufactured, for example, by primary
forming
and/or forming manufacturing methods.
Penetrator 10 illustrated in Figure 1 includes a main core 2 having a one-
piece design.
Predetermined breaking point 7 may be, for example, an integral connection,
which is formed
from a mechanically less resilient material than main core 2.
Main core 2 of penetrator 10 is preferably provided with a solid design.
Penetrator 10 is manufactured, for example, from a tungsten heavy metal
material. This
material may be a sintering material. To design predetermined breaking point 7
to be
mechanically less resilient, the latter may have a lower density in the case
of a sintering
material than the rest of main core 2.
Penetrator 10 is preferably an inert penetrator 10.
Predetermined breaking point 7 is formed by a thermal heat treatment of main
core 2.
Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a further specific
embodiment of a
penetrator 10 according to the invention. The specific embodiment according to
Figure 2 is
based on the specific embodiment according to Figure 1, only the differences
with respect to
the specific embodiment according to Figure 1 being explained below.
Main core 2 of penetrator 10 according to Figure 2 is provided with a two-
piece design.
Front part 21 of main core 2 and rear part 22 of main core 2 each have a
thread, and front
part 21 and rear part 22 of main core 2 are connected by a mechanically less
resilient
connecting element 25 to form predetermined breaking point 7.
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List of Reference Numerals
1 projectile
2 main core
3 tail unit
7 predetermined breaking point
penetrator
21 front part of the main core
22 rear part of the main core
25 connecting element
length
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