Patent GB-1500483-A (GB)
Title: Missile or warhead for ground attack
IPC: F42B23/16
Filed: 1970-11-26
Abstract: 1500483 Warheads MESSERSCHMITT BOLKOW-BLOHM GmbH 26 Nov 1970 [10 Dec 1969] 56306/70 Heading F3A A warhead, Figs. 1, 2, for connection at base 4 to a carrier rocket (not shown) comprises a casing 2 enclosing a plurality of missiles 3 arranged in seven stacks each stack consisting of eight missiles. Dispersal of the missiles is determined by a timing device in the nose cone 1 which energizes three longitudinal fuses 5a and an annular fuse 5b which break up the casing 2, adjacent missiles in a stack being separated from one another by interposed springs 44, Fig. 3. Each missile 3 comprises a casing 38 having upper and lower ends 41, 42, respectively, the end 42 of one missile locating inside the end 41 of the missile below it in the stack with the interposition of the spring 44. Slots 43 in the casing end 41 stabilize the flight of the missile to the ground. The casing 38 encloses an envelope 14 receiving an explosive charge 10, the envelope having on its outer surface a fragmentation casing 17 comprising spherical fragments 15 embedded in a filler 16. A central bore 18 in the explosive charge 10 receives a frictional detonation cap 54 connected to one end of a pull cable 53, the remainder of the cable being in a coil 52 and the other end of the cable being fixed to the casing 38. The upper end of the charge 10 has a rectangular opening 19 receiving a block 28 biased for sliding movement by a spring 29 but prevented from moving by a pin 30 extending through a plate 36 attached to the casing 38. The block 28 receives a flame-type detonator cap 25 connected by a tube 27 to a flamesensitive detonator 26. The charge 10 also receives an intensifier charge 24. The lower end of the missile casing 38 has an impact bracket 45 surmounted by three foils 48, 49, 50 which are normally electrically separated. If the missile impacts on soft ground the bracket 45 causes the lowermost foil 48 to contact the middle foil 49 represented in Fig. 7 by closure of contact 62. If the missile impacts on hard ground the middle foil 49 also contacts the upper foil 50 represented in Fig. 7 by closure of both contacts 62, 63. Closure of contact 62 alone causes delayed action of a detonator 47 by a storage condenser 56 due to the effect of a condenser 58 and resistor 57, the length of the delay being determined by the value of the resistor 57. Closure of both contacts 62, 63 causes immediate action of the detonator 47 since components 57, 58 are ineffective. The several components of the circuit of Fig. 7 are mounted in the upper end of the envelope 13 as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 (not shown). The detonator 47 is embedded in a propulsive charge 46 so that on impact the charge causes removal of the plate 36 as the missile is driven upwardly out of the casing 38, the spring 29 moving the block 28 so that detonator cap 25 coincides with frictional detonation cap 54 and flame sensitive detector 26 coincides with intensifier charge 24. When the missile reaches a height equal to the length of the cable 53 the cap 54 is ignited and subsequently cap 25 is ignited so that detonator 26 is fired to fire the charge 10 via charge 24. Thus over soft ground the missiles 3 may function with a time delay since they remain substantially upright in such ground after impact and will rise to the required height above ground, determined by the length of the cable 53, upon firing of the charge 46. However, on hard ground the missiles would fall over and not remain upright and hence the charge 46 must operate immediately on impact.