Patent GB-625333-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to projectiles
IPC: F42B12/10
Filed: 1947-02-05
Abstract: 625,333. Projectiles. ANSTALT FUR DIE ENTWICKLUNG VON ERFINDUNGEN UND GEWERBLICHEN ANWENDUNGEN ENERGA. Feb. 5, 1947, No. 3483. Convention date, Nov. 9, 1946. [Class 9 (i)] Relates to a " hollow-charge " projectile for use against tanks and comprising an explosive charge decreasing in thickness from the apex to the base of a lined recess in the charge. According to the invention the charge is shaped externally to be conical for two-thirds of its axial length, with the remainder cylindrical, and the axial length of the conical portion is approximately equal to the axial length of the recess. A projectile having a body 1, a conical head 2 and a tail 3 carrying a vane assembly 4 has within the casing 5 a compressed or cast high explosive 6 and a compressed pulverulent explosive 7, the total weight of the charge being half that of the projectile. The high explosive 6 has a conical cavity 8 with a lining hood or cone 9 of mild steel held in position by a collar 10, with an oblique face 11 of length equal to the thickness of the collar. A support member 13 placed above the collar 10 carries the conical head 2 in which is a nose-fuze 14 which initiates by detonation waves a detonator 15 housed in the explosive 7. A safety device 17 may be integral with the detonator or separate and permanently mounted in the explosive 6. The safety device may be as described in Specification 620,875. The apex of the hood 9 and the centre of gravity of the projectile are about mid-way of the length of the projectile. In the base 18 of the projectile is a recess 19 in which is placed a domed washer 20, flattened during assembly of the base 18 to the casing 5. The vane assembly consists of vanes 21 embedded in the wall 22 of the tail 3, the axial 'length of the vanes being less than their overall diameter. The detonator may be detachable (not shown) and housed in a cake of compressed explosive inserted into a cavity in the pulverulent explosive. 7 through an aperture in the base 18, the aperture being closed by a stopper held in place by the tail 3. The safety device may be integral with the detonator or permanently mounted in the projectile. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also various tail assemblies. (1) The tail unit may be tubular to fit a launching attachment placed on a rifle barrel so that the projectile may be fired as a grenade. (2) The outer wall of the tail may be reinforced and a propellant cartridge placed within the tail so that the projectile may be launched from a smooth bore barrel. (3) A tubular case filled with propellant may enclose the rear part of the projectile or the tail assembly may constitute a rocket motor for firing from a launching tube. (4) For use as an anti-tank aerial bomb the vanes may be adapted to unfold after release of the bomb and may cause gyration of the bomb and arming of the safety device. In one construction the tail has a countersunk portion with a re-entrant bevelled rim. The vanes are formed in pairs with a segmental portion joining the members of each pair, the segmental portion fitting within the countersunk portion of the tail. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.