Patent ID: 7373884

Claim:
In a weapon, in particular a rapid-fire weapon, having a barrel with a projectile insertable into the barrel, which comprises several sub-projectiles disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the barrel and supporting each other, a propellant charge being provided behind each sub-projectile, and an ignition means for the sequential ignition of the propellant charges so that the sub-projectiles are successively ejected from the barrel, the improvement wherein: the sub-projectiles are firmly connected with each other in the area of the propellant charges in each case by means of a mechanical connection; the connections have in each case at least one break point which is broken after the ignition of the respective propellant charge, when the propellant gases reach a predetermined pressure; the ignition means comprises for each propellant charge a pyrotechnical charge located outside the barrel, whose propellant gases enter in each case an ignition duct penetrating the wall of the barrel and ending in the area of the propellant charge and ignite the respective propellant charge; each propellant charge is disposed within a casing on the rear of each sub-projectile, the propellant charge having a housing which is centrally connected within the casing both with the appertaining sub-projectile and with the subsequent sub-projectile; the break point is located in the connection with the subsequent sub-projectile; and the casing of the propellant charge comprises lateral outflow openings which end in a pressure chamber delimited by the housing of the propellant charge, the casing and the head of the subsequent sub-projectile.