Abstract: A firing pin assembly for mechanically igniting a warhead detonator of a projectile by being accelerated in a forward direction by inertia upon impact, includes a firing pin having a rearward firing pin part and a frontal firing pin part arranged in series with the rearward firing pin part as viewed in the forward direction. The assembly further has a firing pin spring urging the firing pin in a direction opposite to the forward direction, and a mechanical device positioned between the rearward firing pin part and the frontal firing pin part. The mechanical device includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a forward motion of the rearward firing pin part to the frontal firing pin part with a stepped up transmission ratio whereby a forward motion of the rearward firing pin part through a first distance results in a forward motion of the frontal firing pin part, against the force of the firing pin spring, through a second distance which is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A method of making a cartridge ammunition includes the following steps: providing a cartridge case having a longitudinal axis; introducing bulk propellant powder into the cartridge case; and oscillating the cartridge case about its longitudinal axis for compacting the bulk propellant powder therein.

Abstract: A weapon includes a weapon barrel having a longitudinal axis and a magazine positioned behind the weapon barrel and formed of two spaced, facing partial magazines situated on either side of the barrel axis. Each partial magazine has at least one tier accommodating a series of ammunition in a side-by-side relationship. A loading tray is positioned behind the weapon barrel and between the partial magazines for receiving ammunition therefrom to be loaded by the loading tray into the weapon barrel. A displacing mechanism shifts the ammunition in each tier onto the loading tray. At least two spaced guide rails are positioned in each tier and extend perpendicularly to the barrel axis. Each ammunition has a frontal region, a rearward region and at least two guide portions releasably secured to the ammunition in the frontal and rearward regions, respectively. The guide portions engage into respective guide rails.

Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile adapted to be fired from a weapon barrel, includes a projectile body having a length dimension, a rear length portion, an ogive-shaped front length portion and an intermediate length portion situated between the rear and front length portions; a metal guide band circumferentially mounted on the projectile body; and an undercut provided circumferentially in the intermediate length portion to define an annular chamber with an inner surface of the weapon barrel during travel of the projectile in the weapon barrel upon firing for effecting a pressure equalization of propellant gases flowing past the metal guide band to center the projectile within the weapon barrel.

Abstract: A firing system for a large-caliber weapon includes a firing pin displaceable into a position of rest, an armed position and a firing position; a spring urging the firing pin into the firing position; a follower affixed to the firing pin; and a rotatably supported control cam having a cam track. The spring urges the follower toward the cam track. The cam track has first, second and third consecutive cam track portions. The first cam track portion is shaped such that upon rotation of the control cam the firing pin is moved into the armed position by a cooperation between the follower and the first cam track portion. The second cam track portion is shaped such that upon continuing rotation of the control cam the firing pin is allowed to be accelerated by the spring into the firing position.

Abstract: A weapon includes a barrel; a breech ring attached to a rearward end of the barrel; a groove provided in the breech ring; a movable breechblock mounted in the breech ring and having open and closed positions; a slide mounted in the breech ring and being guided by the breech ring groove for displacements relative to the breech ring; a connecting element for coupling the slide to the breechblock for causing motion of the breechblock between the open and closed positions by the displacements of the slide; and a control cam rotatably supported in the breech ring. The control cam has a cam track coupled to the slide for effecting displacements of the slide upon rotation of the control cam Further, an external drive is provided for rotating the control cam.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for introducing a coolant fluid into a weapon barrel through a breech end thereof for cooling internal wall faces of a loading chamber of the barrel. The cooling apparatus includes a bellows having a circumference provided with a plurality of holes. The bellows has a retracted state and an elongated, tubular expanded state and is introducible into the weapon barrel in the retracted state. The cooling apparatus further has a coolant driving arrangement coupled to the bellows for introducing the coolant into the bellows to place the bellows into the expanded state and to force the coolant out of the bellows through the holes.

Abstract: A rifled weapon tube (1), from which spin-stabilized projectiles (8) with driving bands (9) are fired. In order to reduce manifestations of wear on a driving band (9), it is known to stabilize a spin angle (&dgr;) occurring during the firing or to cut deeper rifling grooves (3) into an inside wall (2) of the weapon tube (1). Both options can be realized only within limits as the compatibility between weapon tube (1) and projectile (8) must be ensured. The invention provides for another option of reducing the wear on the driving band (9). Increasing the number of rifling grooves (3) on the tube inside wall (2) reduces the frictional stress that occurs on the driving band (9). This new type of design for the rifling groove flanks (5), formed between a groove bottom (7) of rifling groove (3) and a lands (4) between the rifling grooves (3), reduces the total wear volume on the driving band (9). In this case, the rifling flanks (5) extend nearly perpendicular to the rifling groove bottom (7).

Abstract: A method of frictionally bonding a liner to a length portion of an outer tube of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: Cooling the liner to a temperature of less than -50.degree. C.; heating the length portion of the outer tube to a temperature such that the inner diameter of the outer tube becomes greater than the outer diameter of the liner; introducing the liner into the outer tube while maintaining the temperature of the outer tube constant; and discontinuing the heating of the outer tube and cooling the outer tube such that shrinkage of the outer tube onto the liner first occurs along a central length portion of the liner, followed, after a predetermined period, by a shrinkage of the outer tube onto the liner along terminal length portions of the liner which flank its central length portion.

Abstract: A gas generator adapted to be disposed in a rear part of a projectile for increasing the flight range thereof, includes a housing defining a combustion chamber and having a bottom and a longitudinal axis; a fuel accommodated in the combustion chamber; an outlet opening provided in the housing bottom for passage of combustion gases generated in the combustion chamber upon combustion of the fuel; and a plastic fuel-supporting tube extending axially from the outlet opening into the combustion chamber. The plastic material of the fuel-supporting tube is selected such that upon combustion of the fuel aided by a gas pressure of a projectile propellant and by a drag effect, the fuel-supporting tube is deformed and driven out of the outlet opening.

Abstract: A tubular weapon with a weapon tube (1) guided inside a cradle tube (2) which is mounted stationary in axial direction. In order to provide such a tubular weapon with a cooling system (12) between the weapon tube and the cradle tube (1, 2) and to avoid the occurrence of sealing problems in the transition region between the weapon tube and the cradle tube, the cooling system (12) has at least one cooling line (11), which is positioned spirally around the weapon tube (1), and which is connected rigidly to the cradle tube (2).

Abstract: A method for the autonomous guidance of a spin-stabilized artillery projectile (2; 25) toward a target (12). To ensure that an autonomously guided, spin-stabilized artillery projectile (2; 25) hits a target (12) with high precision, even at distances of .gtoreq.35 km, previously determined target data are transmitted to the projectile (2; 25) and stored therein before it is fired, and, following the firing of the projectile (2; 25), these stored data are compared with projectile position data, detected with the aid of a satellite navigational receiving station (23). The correction data resulting from this comparison are then used for the projectile (2; 25) guidance.

Abstract: A propellant case includes a case sleeve having a longitudinal axis; a case bottom including a case bottom base; and an axially extending case bottom dome having a socket for supporting a primer therein. The case bottom base is releasably attached to the case bottom dome, while the case bottom dome is permanently attached to the case sleeve, whereby upon removing the case bottom from the case bottom dome, a connection between the case bottom dome and the case sleeve is preserved.

Abstract: A weapon system includes a weapon having a chamber; a data input device; an aiming mechanism; and an ammunition unit that can be fired with the weapon. The ammunition unit includes a data memory for storing ammunition-specific data; and a microcontroller arranged on or in the ammunition unit and being connected, when the ammunition unit is inside the chamber of weapon, to the data input device, the aiming mechanism and the data memory. The microcontroller determines aiming signals necessary to control the aiming mechanism as a function of ammunition-specific, target-specific, and weapon-specific data transmitted to the microcontroller. The microcontroller transmits the aiming signals to the aiming mechanism.

Abstract: A weapon system (1) having a weapon (2) with a weapon tube (3) and having an electronic system (4) for generating aiming signals for an aiming system (7) connected to the weapon (2). To ensure that the current weapon properties or tube properties are also considered in a simple manner for the determination of the aiming signals, the respective weapon-specific data are stored on a chip card (13) associated with the weapon (2) and are transferred via a chip card reader (11) to the corresponding electronic system (4) required for the determination of the aiming signals. During this process, the weapon-specific data are updated on the chip card at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A practice projectile includes a projectile jacket having a frontal end, a rearward end including a base, a length and a longitudinal axis; a fuze igniting on impact and being disposed in the projectile jacket; a component defining an axial tubular cavity extending throughout a preponderant portion of jacket length; a plurality of axially spaced explosive charges disposed in the cavity; and a transfer charge disposed between adjoining explosive charges for coupling the explosive charges to one another.

Abstract: A method for aiming the weapon (4) of a weapon system (1) with an aiming system (5) and a heat imaging device (6) while considering external influences acting on the projectiles to be fired into a target region (3). In order to accomplish that influences acting on the projectiles (2) during their flight into the target region (3) are considered in a simple manner for the aiming of the weapon (4), the amount of lateral deviation (13) of the point of impact (11) of the projectile from a predetermined point of aim (12) of the weapon (4)is determined by measuring or tracking the tracer (10) of the projectile (2) by the heat imaging device (6). The amount of lateral deviation (13) thus determined is then compensated for in the subsequent firing by a corresponding lateral aiming correction of the weapon (4). A weapon system (1) for implementing the method is likewise disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for hardening the inside contour of a gun barrel (1) with laser radiation, which apparatus includes a laser, a laser head (10) that can be disposed to be displaced along the bore axis (4) of the gun barrel (1), and beam-deflecting optics (17) disposed in the laser head so that the laser radiation can be coupled into the muzzle of the gun barrel (1) and guided perpendicularly to the inside surface (5) of the gun barrel (1) by the beam-deflecting optics (17). To harden the gun barrel (1) with high precision and homogeneity, and make available a processing space that is relatively large in comparison to known apparatuses, an ND:YAG laser is used as the laser, and, due to the shorter wavelength in comparison to CO.sub.2 lasers, a glass or optical fiber (11) is used for transmitting the laser beam to the laser head. Moreover, the laser head (10) is secured to a drawing rod (3) that can be centered within the gun barrel (1) and displaced in the direction of the bore axis (4) of the gun barrel (1).

Abstract: For an exact vectoring of active or combat projectiles, a GPS-supported pilot projectile is provided with a satellite navigation system or GPS receiver and continuously detects its own position and speed during the complete operational (firing) sequence--and thus also the ballistic interference variables--and transmits this information via a transmitter to the ordnance unit for evaluation and correction of the firing parameter of a subsequently fired active or combat projectile. If the active or combat ammunition or projectile to be vectored is equipped with submunitions, then the GPS receiver and the transmitter are located in the pilot submunition, so that the ballistic interference variables affecting the submunition can be recorded as well.

Abstract: A method of making a subcaliber kinetic energy projectile includes the following consecutive steps: friction-welding a light-metal blank to a frontal end face of a tungsten heavy metal penetrator core, wherein the blank is overdimensioned relative to the penetrator core; and forming a conical projectile tip from the blank.