Abstract: A dual purpose armor piercing and antipersonnel round for battlefield use s a penetrator core surrounded by multiple wedge-shaped blades which disperse radially outward upon impact of the round against a target. The penetrator maintains a uniform path of travel to punch through armor, while the multiple blades tumble at high speed laterally to defeat massed troops around the area of impact.

Abstract: A cartridge containing a propellant charge, and a separate projectile are dividually loaded into two independently operable sections of a gun breech assembly. The automatic loading operation is facilitated by separating the two sections during recoil movement, loading each component, and re-aligning both sections with the gun barrel in the battery position at the conclusion of counter-recoil movement.

Abstract: An automatic gun for firing a projectile by means of a separately loaded pellant case has a receiving frame in which an elongated barrel can reciprocate. The barrel, which has an axial bore from its breech to its muzzle, has a chamber member slidably mounted on its breech end. This chamber member, having a concavity shaped to hold the propellant case, is transversely displaced from alignment with the barrel to an unlocked position by an actuating means, in response to barrel recoil.

Abstract: A spherical convex pusher plate member is positioned intermediate the rear end of a subcaliber tubular projectile and the forward section of a cup shaped sabot carrier to improve the ballistic performance of the projectile by reduction of a parasitic weight and faster separation of the carrier after launch. Propellant gas pressures acting on the convex spherical section of the pusher plate causes deflection thereof sufficient to force the sabot to loosen from the projectile to provide an improvement in projectile velocity.

Abstract: A self supporting ammunition cartridge which need not be inserted into a mber for firing, but is simply lined up with the aft end of the weapon's barrel and fired. The cartridge case is a hollow cylinder of composite non-metallic construction with a primer at its aft end and a projectile recessed into its forward end, with propellant filling the remainder of the hollow cylinder. The cartridge case is sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of firing without being inserted into a firing chamber. The weapon for firing this cartridge comprises a gap equal in length to the cartridge where the chamber would be located.