Patent GB-614320-A (GB)
Title: Armour piercing explosive projectile
IPC: F42C15/34
Filed: 1945-07-25
Abstract: 614,320. Projectiles; fuzes. ANSTALT FUR DIE ENTWICKLUNG VON ERFINDUNGEN UND GEWERBLICHEN ANWENDUNGEN ENERGA. July 25, 1945, No. 19101. Convention date, Feb. 10, 1944. [Classes 9 (i) and 119] In a projectile more particularly for piercing armour plate, and comprising explosive 4 having a cavity in its forward face covered by a metal conical liner 6, the head 1 deforming on impact and the explosive causing the liner 6 to close upon itself to form a solid perforating core and having a fuze 9 and detonator 12, a safety device 43 is provided between the fuze 9 and the detonator 12. The safety device comprises obturating balls 44 held in a socket 43 by lugs 46 on a slidable ring 45. When the projectile commences to decelerate after firing, the balls, due to their momentum, move forward out of the socket, shearing the lugs 46 and providing a passage for fire transmission from the fuze 9 to the detonator 12. The explosive charge consists of an upper cast charge 4 and a lower powdered and compressed charge 5. The liner 6 is held in place by a ring 7 carried by the head 1. The base 38 has a central thickening to deflect the propellent gases outwards. The fuze 9 is carried by an inside wall 41. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 states that the base of the liner 6 is of substantially smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the casing so as to provide a great thickness of explosive at this point. The weight of the explosive and hood is at least as great as that of the remainder of the projectile. Inside the cone 6, Fig. 1 (Cancelled), is a cone 8 of magnesium to produce incendiary effects or it may be smoke producing, poisonous, &c. A tube 11 transmits fire from the fuze 9 to the detonator 12 in the priming explosive powder 5. The projectile of Fig. 1 (Cancelled), is propelled from a barrel by a charge 17 in a perforated casing 16 fixed to the base of the projectile. The collar 7 assists in retaining the explosive gases for the collapsing and ejection of the hood 6. Modifications are shown having stabilizing tails for firing from mortars or to be used as grenades or aircraft bombs and in which the tube 11 is omitted and a powerful primer transmits ignition from the fuze to the detonator. In another modification the fuze 9 is at the rear of the hood 6 and is operated by a pushrod from the nose of the projectile. The pushrod may be operated by a diaphragm 30, Fig. 15 (Cancelled), depressed by compression of air when the head 1 is flattened on the target. In a modification adapted to be fired from a rifle the projectile is provided with a tail comprising a tube 20, Fig. 8 (Cancelled), fitting over or in the adaptor 23a fitted on the end of the rifle barrel. The adaptor may be provided with rifling in which engage teeth 241 on the projectile tail. The tail may have a rocket charge 25 having an axial channel 26 and a primer 28 and discharging through a nozzle 27 which may have inclined blading or nozzles used to produce directional stability by rotation of the projectile. The projectile may be exploded by a delay fuze ignited by the discharge of the rifle, or a time fuze. A cushioning wall, 36, Fig. 15 (Cancelled), which may be double with an intermediate space protects the projectile from shock on firing. To increase the priming effect of the primary charge 5 the wall 38a of the base is curved to reflect the waves of explosion. The outside surface of the hood 6 may be provided with rifling on which the explosive gases' act to produce rotation of the hood and thus directional stability. The walls of the casing may be lined internally with insulation. The forward face of the explosive 4 and the hood 6 may be of curved or stepwise shape. The adaptor 50, Fig. 19 (Cancelled), for firing the projectiles from a rifle is clamped to the rifle barrel 52 by levers 53 having cams 58 engaging the barrel and fingers 55 which lock behind the rifle sight. An oval split-ring 59 frictionally holds the projectile on the adaptor. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.