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.

Abstract: A subcaliber projectile, comprising a penetrator (4) and a propelling cage (5, 5') that surrounds at least a midportion of the penetrator, wherein the base region (8) of a cap (7, 7', 7") that is tapered toward the penetrator point (6) is arranged on the propelling cage (8). To achieve, on the one hand, a good and secure feeding during the firing of the projectile with automatic weapons, and, on the other hand, a good hit capability, the inertial forces of the cap (7, 7', 7") during the acceleration of the projectile (2) inside the weapon tube (1) are used to cause a defined disintegration of the cap (7, 7', 7") into segments.

Abstract: A subcaliber projectile with a penetrator (4) and a cap (7) that surrounds the front of the penetrator (4) to form an air space therebetween and is tapered toward the penetrator point (6). The cap surface has at least two groove-shaped predetermined break locations (10-12) that extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis (9) of projectile (2). To achieve a secure feeding of the projectile during the firing with automatic weapons on the one hand, and a good strike capability on the other hand, at least one radial recess (15-18) is arranged in each of the groove-shaped predetermined break locations (10-12) in the region of the base half of cap (7), and extends completely through the jacket (14) of cap (7).

Abstract: A subcaliber kinetic energy projectile includes a cylindrical penetrator core of tungsten heavy metal; a solid conical projectile tip of light metal adjoining a front end of the penetrator core in a butt joint; and a friction weld bonding the penetrator core to the projectile tip at the butt joint.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a subcaliber projectile as well as a projectile (1) which is formed according to the method and which comprises a penetrator (2), a propelling cage (3) surrounding the central or mid-portion of the penetrator, and a plastic cap (5) that is arranged on the front of the propelling cage (3) and is conically tapered toward the penetrator point (4). For an easy and cost-effective way of manufacturing the connection between the plastic cap (5) and the propelling cage (3), according to the invention a thermoplastic synthetic material is used as the material for the cap (5), and the plastic cap (5) is attached by ultrasonic welding to the propelling cage (3).

Abstract: A sub-caliber, spin stabilized multi-purpose projectile (FAPDS) made of a liquid phase sintered heavy metal sintered material composed essentially of metallic tungsten powder with additives of cobalt and nickel. To attain the highest final ballistic performance in lightly armored air and ground targets (e.g. aircraft, helicopters, armored personnel carriers) the present invention provides that the tungsten percentage of the projectile body lies between 90 and 99.5 weight percent, the density of the sintered material lies between 17.5 and 19.2 g/cm.sup.3 and the ratio of cobalt to nickel in the binder phase lies between 1:0.5 and 1:2.3, preferably 1:1.5. The projectile body according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is made of one piece and includes in its front portion a cylindrical pin for fastening of a projectile tip made of heat treatable steel.

Abstract: A weapon for firing practice ammunition includes a barrel having a frontal length portion terminating in a muzzle; an ammunition loading chamber at a barrel end opposite the muzzle; and a plurality of first gas outlet bores provided in the frontal length portion. The first gas outlet bores are arranged in a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows. There is further provided a muzzle brake sleeve coaxially surrounding the frontal length portion and having a frontal end situated close to the muzzle. The muzzle brake sleeve includes a plurality of second gas outlet bores arranged in a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows. The first gas outlet bores are staggered with respect to the second gas outlet bores as viewed along the barrel. The frontal end of the muzzle brake sleeve is closed off by a plug.

Abstract: A method of closing the forward portion or region (u) of a cylindrical sleeve body (3) of a practice cartridge (1), wherein a predetermined number of inside and outside radial folds (8, 7, respectively) are created in the forward region (4) of the sleeve body (3) in two work cycles, and wherein circular arc-shaped inside folds (8) of predetermined depth are created during the first work cycle by the application of radial pressure using correspondingly shaped profiling tools. To achieve secure closing of the sleeve body (3) through folding in a simple and cost-effective manner and without predetermined fracture points resulting in the region of the inside folds (8) during closing, the inside folds (8) are created in the forward region of the projectile body (3) during the first work cycle so that a first, central opening having a diameter of at least 2 mm remains between the inside folds (8) after completion of this work cycle.

Abstract: A unitary ammunition unit comprising a propellant charge. An explosive sub-caliber projectile having a pull-drive type of sabot is mounted on the propellant charge. The sub-caliber projectile is at least partially formed of a heavy-metal-sinter alloy of high density.

Abstract: A spin stabilized projectile unit includes a sub-caliber projectile having a cylindrical section connected to a conical tail section including an external circumferential holding groove. A propelling cage casing encloses the projectile. A propelling base includes a receptacle holding the projectile and connected with the projectile and the propelling cage casing. The receptacle includes inwardly projecting axial webs presenting an inner diameter of the receptacle in a region of the cylindrical section of the projectile which corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical section. The inner diameter of the receptacle formed by the webs becomes increasingly larger than the respective outer diameter of the conical section beginning in the transition region between the cylindrical and conical sections to form an annular gap extending to a bottom region of the bottom of the receptacle.

Abstract: A subcaliber, spin stabilized, discarding sabot projectile of the type including a projectile body, with a conically tapered tip, and a discardable sabot which completely encloses said projectile body and includes a base portion and a plastic hood portion connected to the base portion, and with the hood portion having an inner conical surface which contacts at least a portion of the conically tapered tip of the projectile body and being provided, on its circumferential surface, with a plurality of symmetrically disposed grooves which extend in the longitudinal direction of said projectile and form desired break locations along which the hood portion tears open into a plurality of segments after firing from a weapon and after the projectile has left the weapon muzzle.

Abstract: Ammunition preferaqbly for use in high-angle fire to be fired from a cannon suitable for flat trajectory ammunition and with direct participation of the cannon barrel, the ammunition being made of one piece as an ammunition unit having the same outer dimensions as a comparable ammunition unit which is intended to be fired from the same cannon exclusively with an essentially flat trajectory, the ammunition unit including a propellant charge and a payload projectile having a rear portion occupying a region corresponding to that occupied by a portion of the propellant charge of the comparable unit.

Abstract: An improved inertial projectile arrangement including a subcaliber projectile penetrator which is composed of a prepenetrator portion with a nose point and a main penetrator portion. The penetrator has a large length/diameter ratio and a high density. A sabot, composed of at least two segments, encompasses a part of the prepenetrator portion. The periphery of the encompassed prepenetrator and the sabot being joined to each other by form-locking means. The sabot segments separate from the penetrator upon exiting from the muzzle of the gun barrel from which the projectile is fired. The form-locking means are at least partially formed of irregularities or unevenesses on the periphery of the encompassed prepenetrator portion and the interior periphery of the sabot. A plurality of fracture zones and a transfer frusto-conical portion are disposed on the prepenetrator. The fracture zones achieve an intended breakup of the prepenetrator upon impact.

Abstract: A sub-caliber projectile having a large length to diameter ratio. The projectile includes in coaxial alignment a main body, an intermediate body and a head penetrator. At least the main body consists of a tough material having a high density which is achieved by means of a high content of tungsten or depleted uranium. The intermediate body consists of a macroscopic homogeneous material having a relatively high brittleness. The main body, intermediate body and head penetrator have abutting end faces by means of which they are joined.

Abstract: An improved armor-piercing inertial penetrator projectile having a prepenetrator which has a substantially uniform flight diameter D, over substantially its entire length. A prepenetrator assembly is formed by a plurality of elements which are adapted to interact with the material of the corresponding target upon inpact so as to form an effective surface which has a diameter larger by a predetermined amount than the flight diameter D of the prepenetrator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a kinetic energy type projectile having an armor piercing head which is intended to penetrate multi-shell targets, and even sharply angled targets. The piercing head is provided with favorably discriminated shearing regions which are axially spaced apart by distances corresponding to the thicknesses of the shells which are to be pierced by the piercing head. The shearing regions are provided by external or internal localized transverse weakenings e.g. grooves, or heat treatments by electronic bombardment, applied to the external surface of the piercing head and/or in a central bore in the piercing head. Additionally, the localized weakenings may be provided by bound collars on the piercing head.The shearing regions are progressively stronger in a direction from the front of the piercing head so that they will shear consecutively as the head pierces successive shells of a multi-shell target.

Abstract: A sabot arrangement is produced in accordance with an improved manufacturing method. The sabot arrangement includes a rotational symmetrical sabot body having a central axial bore and radial separating grooves or slots. The radial grooves or slots divide the sabot body into a plurality of equal segments. These slots nearly sever the sabot body into separate segments, so that a material bridge remains near a forward edge and a material bridge remains near a rear edge of the sabot body, which material bridges function as fracture zones.

Abstract: A subcaliber projectile has a small-diameter projectile body extending along and centered on an axis, having a radially outwardly directed outer surface, and adapted to move in a predetermined axial back-to-front direction, and a sabot formed of a plurality of similar segments annularly surrounding at least a portion of the body, the segments forming an inner surface generally on the outer surface of the body and having an extreme front end and an extreme rear end. This projectile is formed on one of these surfaces at the extreme rear end of the sabot with a radially projecting ridge of generally semicircular shape having a center of curvature. The other of the surfaces is formed at the extreme rear end of each segment of the sabot with a radially open recess complementary to and receiving the ridge.

Abstract: An improved inertial armor-piercing penetrator projectile wherein the axial length of the projectile is a relatively large multiple of its diameter. The projectile includes a pre-penetrator and a main penetrator with a nose and a tail. The forward portion of the main penetrator is operatively connected to the tail of the pre-penetrator. The pre-penetrator comprises a plurality of partial cores which are axially arranged one behind the other and are operatively connected to each other at mutual coupling regions so as to form a stack. The stack of partial cores includes centering and/or fixing means which may take various forms and can be selectively exchanged. The cover and the centering and/or fixing means are adapted to achieve a predetermined fracturing or separation upon the application of a predetermined load. Thus, the centering and/or fixing means include a weakened portion where the fracturing or separation occurs.

Abstract: An armor piercing breaking projectile using a stack of prepenetrating partial cores with interfitting centering bosses and respective cutting edges for piercing successive layers of armor.