Plural piece flechettes affording enhanced penetration

A flechette is disclosed comprising a rod-shaped steel body having a blunt generally conical penetrating point, a separate resinous plastic fin component securely mounted on the rear end portion of the body, and a generally conical gradually tapering resinous plastic nose piece securely mounted on the penetrating point for reducing air drag when the flechette is fired at high velocity. Interlocking annular flanges are formed on the penetrating point and the nose piece for securing the nose piece to the body. The fin component has an axial sleeve received around a rear pin portion of the body and securely retained thereon by annular flange and groove members on the sleeve and the rear pin portion. A modified flechette is disclosed having a separate, hardened steel penetrator component securely mounted on a reduced front pin member on the body by a press fit between the front pin member and a rearwardly opening bore in the penetrator component. A blunt conical penetrating point is formed on the penetrating component. Preferably, a gradually tapering, generally conical nose piece is securely mounted on the point of the penetrator component for reducing air drag. Interlocking annular flanges are provided on the nose piece and the penetrating point for securing them together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to military flechettes which generally take the form 
of small dart-like projectiles adapted to be fired at high velocity from a 
gun or warhead. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The U.S. Army currently uses two standard flechettes, comprising the 
60-grain flechette and the 120-grain flechette. These flechettes are 
loaded into rocket warheads and are intended for use against personnel, 
material, equipment and aircraft. Flechettes carried by rocket warheads 
are especially advantageous when used by friendly aircraft against enemy 
aircraft. However, enemy aircraft are generally provided with light armor 
for protecting vital spots. Standard flechettes will not penetrate the 
armor, because the standard flechettes break into several pieces when the 
flechettes strike the hardened surface of the armor. The standard 
flechette construction utilizes a sharp nose point to achieve low air drag 
when the flechette is fired at a high velocity. However, the impact of the 
sharp nose point with hardened armor causes the point to break and 
initiates shock waves that break up the rest of the flechette, so that 
penetration is not achieved. 
The standard flechette is also very expensive to fabricate. The standard 
flechette is generally made in one piece from tough hard medium carbon 
steel in the form of rod stock. The flechette has fins which are cold 
formed in a press at high pressure by very expensive dies which wear 
quickly. The sharply pointed nose is then machined by a separate 
operation. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved 
flechette which achieves enhanced penetration in that the flechette does 
not break up upon impact with surface-hardened armor but rather penetrates 
considerable thicknesses of the armor. 
A further object is to provide a new and improved flechette of the 
foregoing character which also achieves low air drag. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved 
flechette of the foregoing character which is easy and inexpensive to 
fabricate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve these and other objects, the present invention preferably 
provides a flechette for use as a military projectile, comprising an 
elongated, generally rod-shaped body made of a tough metallic material and 
having front and rear end portions, fin means forming a plurality of guide 
fins on the rear end portion, point means forming a blunt penetrating 
point on the front end portion, an elongated, generally conical nose piece 
made of resinous plastic material and mounted on the front portion for 
reducing air drag on the flechette, and connecting means for securing the 
nose piece to the point means. 
Preferably, the body is generally cylindrical in shape. 
The connecting means preferably comprise first and second interlocking 
annular flanges on the penetrating point and the nose piece, respectively. 
Preferably, each of the interlocking flanges is generally barb-shaped in 
cross section for snapping together when the nose piece is pushed into 
place on the penetrating point. 
The blunt penetrating point preferably has a blunt, forwardly projecting, 
generally conical end surface, the first annular flange being formed on 
such end surface. The nose piece preferably has a rearwardly-facing recess 
formed with an internal, generally conical surface for engaging the 
external, generally conical surface on the penetrating point, the second 
annular flange being formed on the internal, generally conical surface on 
the nose piece. 
The blunt penetrating point preferably has an abruptly tapering, generally 
conical front end surface, the nose piece having an external, generally 
conical surface tapering substantially more gradually than the generally 
conical surface of the penetrating point for reducing air drag on the 
flechette. 
In an alternative embodiment, the point means comprise a separate 
penetrator component securely mounted on the front end portion of the 
body, the blunt penetrating point being formed on the penetrator 
component, the nose piece being mounted on the penetrator component. 
In the alternative embodiment, the point means preferably comprise a 
separate penetrator component securely mounted on the front end portion of 
the body, the blunt penetrating point being formed on the penetrator 
component and having a generally conical surface tapering abruptly in a 
forward direction, the nose piece being mounted on the penetrator 
component and having a generally conical surface tapering in a forward 
direction and substantially more gradually than the generally conical 
surface of the penetrating point to reduce air drag on the flechette. 
Preferably, the penetrator component is made of a tough hard metallic 
material, which preferably takes the form of a tough hard alloy steel. 
The penetrator component is preferably in the form of a cap having a rear 
portion with a bore therein for receiving the front end portion of the 
body with a press fit. 
The front end portion of the body preferably has a reduced, generally 
cylindrical pin portion, the penetrator component preferably being in the 
form of a cap having a rear portion with an axial bore therein for 
receiving the pin portion with a press fit. 
Preferably, the fin means comprise a fin component securely mounted on the 
rear end portion of the body, the fin component being made of a moldable 
resinous plastic material. 
The fin component preferably comprises an axial sleeve member having an 
axial opening therein for receiving the rear end portion of the body, the 
guide fins being formed in one piece with the sleeve member. 
The flechette preferably includes interlocking elements on the sleeve 
member and the body for securely retaining the fin component on the body. 
The rear end portion of the body is preferably formed with a reduced rear 
pin portion for secure retention in the opening in the sleeve member. 
Interlocking flange and groove elements are preferably provided on the 
sleeve member and on the reduced rear pin portion of the body for securely 
retaining the fin component on the body. 
In another aspect, the present invention may provide a flechette for use as 
a military projectile, comprising an elongated, generally rod-shaped body 
made of a tough metallic material and having front and rear end portions, 
point means forming a penetrating point on the front end portion of the 
body, and fin means forming a plurality of guide fins on the rear end 
portion of the body, the fin means comprising a fin component securely 
mounted on the rear end portion of the body, the fin component being made 
of a moldable resinous plastic material. 
The fin component preferably comprises an axial sleeve member having an 
axial opening therein for receiving the rear end portion of the body, the 
guide fins being formed in one piece with the sleeve member. 
Interlocking elements are preferably provided on the sleeve member and the 
body for securely retaining the fin component on the body. 
The rear end portion of the body is formed with a reduced rear pin portion 
for secure reception in the opening in the sleeve member. 
Preferably, interlocking flange and groove elements are provided on the 
sleeve member and on the reduced rear pin portion of the body for securely 
retaining the fin component on the body. 
In still another aspect, the present invention preferably provides a 
flechette for use as a military projectile, comprising an elongated, 
generally rod-shaped body made of a tough metallic material and having 
front and rear end portions, fin means forming a plurality of guide fins 
on the rear end portion, and point means forming a blunt penetrating point 
on the front end portion of the body, the point means comprising a 
separate penetrator component securely mounted on the front end portion of 
the body, the blunt penetrating point being formed on the penetrator 
component. 
Preferably, the penetrator component is made of a tough hard metallic 
material having a hardness exceeding the hardness of the body material. 
More specifically, the penetrator component is preferably made of a tough 
hard alloy steel having a hardness exceeding the hardness of the material 
of the body. 
The penetrator component is preferably in the form of a cap having a rear 
portion with an axial bore therein for securely receiving the front end 
portion of the body. 
Preferably, the penetrator component is in the form of a cap having a rear 
portion with an axial bore therein for securely receiving the front end 
portion of the body with a press fit. 
The front end portion of the body preferably has a reduced generally 
cylindrical pin portion, the penetrator component being in the form of a 
cap having a rear portion with an axial bore therein for securely 
receiving the pin portion with a press fit. 
The fin means preferably comprises a fin component securely mounted on the 
rear end portion of the body, the fin component being made of a moldable 
resinous plastic material, the guide fins being formed in one piece with 
the fin component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a 
flechette 10 to be described as a first illustrative embodiment of the 
present invention. The flechette 10 is dart-like in shape and is intended 
for use as a military projectile, adapted to be fired at a high velocity 
from a gun or a warhead. The flechette 10 has a plural piece construction, 
comprising an elongated, generally rod-shaped body 12 which is illustrated 
as being generally cylindrical in shape. The body 12 is made of a tough 
metallic material, preferably a tough medium or high carbon steel, such as 
standard flechette stock. The body 12 has front and rear end portions 14 
and 16, respectively. 
The flechette 10 comprises fin means 18 forming a plurality of guide fins 
20 on the rear end portion 16 of the body 12. Four of the fins 20 are 
provided, as shown to best advantage in FIG. 4, but a different number of 
fins may be employed, if desired. 
In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the fin means 18 
preferably take the form of a separate fin component 22, which may also be 
referred to as a tail piece, securely mounted on the rear end portion 16 
of the body 12. Preferably, the fin component 22 is made of a moldable 
resinous plastic material, such as glass filled nylon or some other sturdy 
plastic material, preferably filled with glass fibers. 
The illustrated fin component 22 comprises an axial sleeve member 24. The 
fins 20 are molded in one piece with the sleeve member 24. 
The rear end portion 16 of the body 12 is preferably formed with a reduced 
rear pin portion 26. The sleeve member 24 is formed with an axial opening 
28 for receiving the reduced rear pin portion 26, which may also be 
referred to as a reduced tail boom on the rear end of the body 12. 
Interconnecting elements are provided on the sleeve member 24 and the 
reduced pin portion 26, whereby the fin component 22 is securely mounted 
on the rear portion 16 of the body 12. Such interconnecting elements are 
illustrated as interlocking annular flange and groove elements 30 and 32. 
As shown to best advantage in FIG. 2, the annular flange element 32 
projects inwardly on the axial sleeve 24, near the rear end of the axial 
opening 28. The annular groove element 32 is formed in the reduced pin 
portion 26, near the rear end thereof. The formation of the annular groove 
32 produces a circular flange or knob 34 at the rear end of the reduced 
pin portion 26. The annular flange element 32 is formed with an internal 
annular ramp 36, adapted to be engaged by a smoothly rounded rear portion 
38 of the knob 34. The resinous plastic material of the sleeve member 24 
is sufficiently elastic to provide for the assembly of the fin component 
22 and the body 12 by exerting axial pressure between the body 12 and the 
fin component 22, so as to force the knob 34 to slide rearwardly along the 
annular ramp 36, whereby the rear portion of the sleeve member 24 is 
elastically expanded to allow the knob 34 to move rearwardly past the 
internal annular flange element 30, until the knob 34 is positioned to the 
rear of the flange element 30, while the flange element is received in the 
annular groove element 32, formed in the reduced pin portion 26, as shown 
in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fin component 22 is very securely retained on the 
rear portion 16 of the body 12 by the interlocking engagement between the 
internal annular flange element 30 and the combination of the annular 
groove element 32 and the knob 34 on the reduced rear pin portion 26 of 
the body 12. 
When the fin component 22 is fully assembled on the reduced pin portion 26, 
the knob 34 is received in a rearwardly facing axial recess 40, formed in 
the sleeve member 24 to the rear of the internal annular flange element 
30. The axial depth of the recess 40 is greater than the axial length of 
the knob 34 so that the knob 34 is fully contained within the recess 40, 
when the fin component 22 is fully assembled on the rear portion 16 of the 
body 12. Thus, the knob 34 cannot interfere with the application of the 
necessary pressure to the fin component 22, in order to bring about the 
full assembly of the fin component on the reduced rear pin portion 26 of 
the body 12. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the reduced rear pin portion 26 is formed with a 
rearwardly tapering external frustoconical surface 42 which is engagable 
with the internal annular ramp 36 on the fin component 22, so as to secure 
the fin component 22 against forward movement when the fin component is 
fully assembled on the reduced rear pin portion 26. Thus, any looseness of 
the fin component 22 is avoided. 
The flechette 10 is also provided with point means 44 forming a blunt 
penetrating point 46 on the front end portion 14 of the body 12. The blunt 
penetrating point 46 comprises an external, generally conical surface 48 
which tapers abruptly. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conical surface 48 
has an apex angle of approximately 90.degree., but this angle may be 
varied. Due to its bluntness, the penetrating point 46 is adequately 
supported by the body 12, so that the penetrating point 46 is able to 
penetrate light armor, such as that employed in aircraft to protect vital 
components. Because of the bluntness of the point 46, the impact of the 
point with armor or other hard material does not cause the point 46 or the 
body 12 to shatter. Such shattering is often experienced by the sharply 
pointed flechettes of the prior art. 
The penetrating point 46 and the adjacent front portion 14 of the body 12 
is preferably case hardened or hardened by heat treatment or otherwise, so 
as to enhance the ability of the point 46 to penetrate armor and other 
hard targets. The conical surface 48 of the penetrating point 46 may be 
machined by automatic machinery, such as an automatic screw machine, prior 
to the hardening of the point 46. The body 12 may be made of cylindrical 
rod stock. The reduced rear pin portion 26 of the body 12 may also be 
machined by automatic machinery, such as an automatic screw machine. 
The flechette 10 may be used as a military projectile in the form as 
already described, without the addition of any component, but the 
bluntness of the penetrating point 46 increases the air drag or friction 
experienced by the flechette when it is fired at a high velocity. The air 
drag produced by the blunt penetrating point 46 is significantly greater 
than the air drag produced by the comparatively sharper point of a 
conventional flechette. 
To reduce the air drag, the front end portion 14 of the flechette 10 is 
provided with an elongated, generally conical nose piece 50 which is 
substantially more sharply pointed than is the blunt penetrating point 46. 
The nose piece 50 is made of a sturdy lightweight material, such as glass 
filled nylon or some other suitable resinous plastic material. The nose 
piece 50 has an external generally conical surface 52 which is 
substantially more gradually tapered than is the external generally 
conical surface 48 of the blunt penetrating point 46. The sharply pointed 
shape of the nose piece is comparable to the shape of the nose portion of 
a conventional flechette made in one piece of steel. As shown, the 
external generally conical surface 52 has an apex angle of approximately 
20.degree., but such angle may be varied while still achieving the desired 
reduction in air drag. 
The flechette 10 is provided with connecting means 54 for securing the nose 
piece 50 to the front end portion 14 of the body 12. As shown, the 
connecting means 54 comprise first and second interlocking annular flanges 
56 and 58 on the penetrating point 46 and the nose piece 50, respectively. 
Each of the illustrated flanges 56 and 58 is generally barb-shaped in 
cross section so that the flanges will snap together when the nose piece 
50 is pushed into place on the penetrating point 46. The flange 58 and the 
adjacent portions of the nose piece 50 are sufficiently flexible and 
elastic to enable the flange 58 to flex outwardly and then to spring 
inwardly behind the flange 56 when the nose piece 50 is pushed rearwardly 
against the penetrating point 46. As shown, the first annular flange 56 is 
formed on the external generally conical surface 48 of the blunt 
penetrating point 46. The nose piece 50 is formed with a rearwardly facing 
recess 60 having an internal, generally conical surface 62 for engaging 
the external, generally conical surface 48 of the penetrating point 46. 
The second annular flange 58 is formed on the internal, generally conical 
surface 62 and is molded in one piece with the nose piece 50. 
When the flechette 10 is fired at a high velocity against a target, the 
nose piece 50 strikes the target and shatters easily so that the nose 
piece does not interfere with the direct impact of the penetrating point 
46 with the target. The blunt penetrating point 46 is adequately supported 
by the body 12 so that the impact causes the blunt penetrating point 46 to 
penetrate the target, without causing the body 12 to break up. 
As illustrated to best advantage in FIG. 2, the external generally conical 
surface 48 on the blunt penetrating point 46 is stepped slightly because 
of the provision of the external annular flange 56 on the point 46. 
Similarly, the internal generally conical surface 62 in the rearwardly 
facing recess 60 in the nose piece 50 is slightly stepped, because of the 
provision of the second annular flange 58. When the nose piece 50 is fully 
assembled on the front end portion 14 of the body 12, the external 
generally conical surface 48 is fully engaged with the internal generally 
conical surface 62, and the first and second flanges 56 and 58 are in full 
interlocking engagement. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified flechette 70 to be described as a 
second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The modified 
flechette 70 has a generally cylindrical, rod-shaped body 72 having front 
and rear end portions 74 and 76, respectively. The rear end portion 76 is 
substantially the same as the rear end portion 16 of the flechette 10 
already described and illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Moreover, all of the 
components on and associated with the rear end portion 16 are the same as 
previously described and illustrated. To avoid a repetitive description, 
the same reference characters, previously applied to FIGS. 1-4, have been 
applied to FIGS. 5 and 6, so that the previous description will be fully 
applicable to such components. 
The components of the modified flechette 70 which are the same as 
previously described include the fin means 18, the guide fins 20, the fin 
component 22, the axial sleeve member 24, the reduced rear pin portion 26, 
the axial opening 28 in the sleeve member 24, the interlocking annular 
flange and groove elements 30 and 32, the circular flange or knob 26, the 
internal annular ramp 36, the smoothly rounded rear portion 38 of the 
flange 34, the rearwardly facing axial recess 40, and the rearwardly 
tapering external frustoconical surface 42 on the reduced rear pin portion 
26. 
The modified flechette 70 of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes modified point means 78 
comprising a separate penetrator component 80 securely mounted on the 
front end portion 74 of the body 72. The penetrator component 80 has a 
blunt penetrating point 82, illustrated as comprising a generally conical 
surface 84 on the front end of the penetrator component 80. The conical 
surface 84 is shown as having an apex angle of approximately 90.degree., 
but this angle may be varied while still achieving the desired penetrating 
action. 
The modified body 72 may be made of a tough metallic material of medium 
hardness, preferably standard flechette stock, generally comprising a 
tough medium carbon steel. 
The penetrator component 80 may be made of a tough hard metallic material 
having a hardness exceeding the hardness of the body material. Preferably, 
the penetrator component is made of a tough very high alloy hardenable 
steel having an ultimate hardness greatly exceeding the hardness of the 
body material, after the penetrator component 80 is hardened by a known or 
suitable heat treatment procedure. 
As illustrated, the penetrator component 80 is in the form of a cap having 
a rear portion 86 with an axial rearwardly opening bore 88 therein for 
receiving a reduced front pin member 90 projecting axially and forwardly 
on the front end portion 74 of the body 72. Preferably, the reduced front 
pin member 90 is securely received in the rearwardly opening bore 88 with 
a press fit. The reduced front pin member 90 may be roughened, knurled or 
formed with peripheral nicks to enhance the retention of the penetrator 
component on the pin member 90. Other means may be employed for securely 
mounting a separate penetrator component or cap 80 on the front end 
portion 74 of the body 72. 
As shown, the penetrator component or cap 80 has a diameter greater than 
the diameter of the body 72, whereby the mass of the penetrator component 
80 is increased to afford enhanced penetration. The increased mass of the 
penetrator component 80 also enhances the flight stability of the 
flechette 70. The lightness of the plastic fin component 22 also 
contributes to the flight stability of the flechette 70. 
Typically, the flechette 70 has a greater weight and size than the 
flechette 10. For example, the flechette 10 may have a weight of 55 
grains, while the flechette 70 may have a weight of approximately 120 
grains. However, the weight and size of both flechettes 10 and 70 can be 
varied. 
The reduced front pin member 90 on the body 72 may be machined by automatic 
machinery, such as an automatic screw machine. The penetrator component 80 
may be machined from substantially cylindrical rod or bar stock. The blunt 
penetrating point 82 and the axial bore 88 may be machined by automatic 
machinery, such as an automatic screw machine. Subsequent to the machining 
operations, the penetrator component 80 may be hardened by known or 
suitable heat treatment procedures. 
Due to the bluntness of the penetrating point 82, the full diameter of the 
penetrator component 80 is quickly engaged with a target whereby the point 
82 is adequately supported by the penetrator component 80 so that 
shattering of the penetrator component 80 will not be at all likely to 
occur when the penetrating point 82 strikes the target at a high velocity. 
The bluntness of the penetrating point 82 enables the penetrator component 
82 to penetrate a hard target, such as surface hardened armor used on 
aircraft to protect vital components. 
However, the bluntness of the penetrating point 82 increases the air drag 
or friction on the flechette 70 when the flechette is fired at a high 
velocity. 
FIG. 7 shows a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention in 
the form of a third modified flechette 100 having a sharply pointed nose 
piece 102 for reducing the air drag on the flechette 100. In all respects, 
the construction of the nose piece 102 is the same as that of the 
elongated generally conical nose piece 50, previously described in 
connection with FIGS. 1-3, so that the previous description is fully 
applicable to the nose piece 102. The components associated with the nose 
piece 102 are also the same as previously described. 
The flechette 100 has a separate penetrator component or cap 104 which is 
the same as the penetrator component 80 of FIGS. 5 and 6, except that 
provision is made for securing the nose piece 102 to the penetrator 
component 104. Thus, the penetrator component 104 has point means 106 
comprising a blunt penetrating point 108 with an external generally 
conical surface 110. Connecting means 112 are provided for securely 
mounting the nose piece 102 on the penetrator component 104. As before, 
the generally conical nose piece 102 is formed with a rearwardly facing 
axial recess 114 having an internal generally conical surface 116 which is 
fully engageable with the external generally conical surface 110 of the 
penetrating point 108. As illustrated, the connecting means 112 comprise 
first and second interlocking annular flanges on the external generally 
conical surface 110 of the penetrating point 108 and the internal 
generally conical surface 116 of the rearwardly facing recess 114 in the 
nose piece 102. The annular flanges 118 and 120 are generally barb-shaped 
in cross section and are adapted to snap together in interlocking 
engagement when the nose piece 102 is pressed rearwardly against the blunt 
penetrating point 108 on the penetrator component 104. The nose piece 102 
is preferably made of glass filled nylon or some other suitable resinous 
plastic material which is sufficiently elastic to allow the second annular 
flange 120 and the adjacent portions of the nose piece 102 to expand and 
contract resiliently, as the flange 120 on the nose piece 102 is pressed 
rearwardly past the flange 118 on the penetrating point 108. Other means 
could be provided to secure the nose piece 102 to the penetrator component 
104. 
As before, the nose piece 102 has an external generally conical surface 122 
which tapers much more gradually than does the blunt generally conical 
surface 110 of the penetrating point 108. Thus, the provision of the nose 
piece 102 reduces the air drag on the flechette 100, compared with the air 
drag that would be produced by the blunt, abruptly tapering conical 
surface 110 of the penetrating point 108. Due to the reduced air drag, the 
flechette 100 strikes a target with a greater velocity after the flechette 
has been fired at high velocity from a gun or warhead. 
When the nose piece 102 strikes a target, the nose piece shatters or 
disintegrates immediately, because of its resinous plastic material. The 
blunt penetrating point 108 strikes the target with virtually no reduction 
in velocity due to the shattering of the nose piece 102. The blunt 
penetrating point 108 is adequately supported by the penetrator component 
104 and the body 72 so that the impact of the penetrator component 104 
causes the blunt point 108 to penetrate the target, without causing the 
penetrator component 104 or the body 72 to shatter or break up. 
The provision of the heavy penetrator component 104 and the gradually 
tapered conical nose piece 102 improves the flight stability of the 
flechette 100. It will be understood that the flechette 100 includes the 
same fin component 22 and the associated components at the rear end of the 
body 72, as described and illustrated in connection with the flechettes 10 
and 70 of FIGS. 1-6. For convenience of illustration, FIG. 7 shows only 
the front end portion 74 of the body 72 as well as the penetrator 
component 104 and the nose piece 102. Otherwise, the flechette 100 is the 
same as the flechette 70 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The previous 
description is fully applicable to the flechette 100. 
The preferred and most advantageous application of the flechettes of the 
present invention is believed to reside in the provision of multiple small 
flechettes, ranging in weight from 55 to 120 grains. The multiple small 
flechettes are carried in a warhead intended for aircraft engagement. 
Enough flechettes are included in each warhead to provide a virtual cloud 
of flechettes, thereby insuring that at least some of the flechettes will 
hit the target aircraft. Such small flechettes, constructed in accordance 
with the present invention, weigh enough to penetrate the target armor. 
The flechettes in this range of weights are also very effective against 
personnel, material, structures, equipment, boats, other vehicles and the 
like. 
The flechettes of the present invention can be fabricated very easily and 
inexpensively. Such flechettes can be made at least as small as 20 grains 
in weight. The flechettes can be made much larger and virtually as large 
as desired, with no upper limit in size. Flechettes several feet in length 
and having a body diameter of at least one inch are entirely feasible for 
larger warheads and higher velocity rockets. The construction of the 
larger flechettes may be the same as described herein. The components are 
simply scaled upwardly in size, without any change in the configuration of 
the components or the materials employed. 
Other modifications, alternatives and equivalents may be employed without 
departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as 
described herein and as defined in the following claims.