Abstract: A directional mine for combatting armored vehicles includes a projectile having a propelling device and a warhead; a support structure positioning the projectile prior to launching the projectile therefrom and electric circuitry for serving the projectile. There is further provided an arming unit including a battery, and an igniter accommodated in a housing insertable into and removable from the support structure; an ejector for pushing the housing out of the support structure; a locking device for retaining the housing in the inserted position and for preventing the ejector from becoming effective; a timer for placing the locking device in a releasing state after a predetermined period for allowing the ejector to push the housing outwardly; and electrical contacts mounted in the support structure and on the housing. Respective contacts are in engagement with one another in the inserted position of the housing.

Abstract: A spin stabilized carrier projectile having a longitudinal axis comprising: a projectile body; and at least two submunition bodies disposed in, and ejectable from, the projectile body, the submunition bodies being spaced along the axis, each submunition body having a folded, expandable deceleration means for reducing the velocity and spin of the submunition body upon ejection from the projectile body, the deceleration means including a sheet of material for producing air resistance, and the deceleration means having different dimensions for respectively different submunition bodies so that each respective submunition body is decelerated less than the submunition body disposed behind the respective submunition body.

Abstract: A spin stabilized carrier projectile comprising: a projectile body having a rear end; at least one submunition projectile disposed in, and ejectable from, the projectile body; and a projectile bottom disposed at, and ejectable from, the rear end of the projectile body, the projectile bottom having a side surface facing the submunition projectile and containing a recess, and a folded, expandable deceleration element for reducing the velocity and spin of the projectile bottom upon ejection from the projectile body, the deceleration element including a sheet of material fastened in the recess for producing air resistance, and the deceleration element being deployable from a folded condition to an expanded condition with the aid of rotation of the projectile bottom.

Abstract: A propelling cage sabot is provided with longitudinal slits and its front region is provided with centering holding elements which are oriented inwardly toward the projectile while its rear region has a centering face associated with the projectile. A rear opening in the propelling cage sabot is provided with an internal thread to accommodate a screw-in element which at its front serves as a seat for a tail surface of the projectile. Compressible band-shaped elements disposed around the circumferential region of the propelling cage sabot may be provided. Conical surfaces of the propelling cage sabot facilitate insertion of the arrangement at a cadence customary in automatic equipment, with any possibly occurring insertion shock not resulting in relative axial movement of the projectile with respect to the propelling cage sabot due to a frontal holding region and the centering surface.

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 active munition element for combatting a target provided with a jamming device, the element including: a front charge; a rear charge mounted behind the front charge and having a hollow charge element; components connected for actuating each charge, the front charge being operative for developing kinetic energy in the target so as to neutralize the jamming device and the rear charge being actuated after the front charge to be effective against the target without interference; and a tube defining a narrow longitudinal channel having a smaller diameter than, and coaxial with, the rear charge, the channel extending forwardly from the rear charge and having a front end region housing the front charge.

Abstract: A device for storing and loading unbelted ammunition in a turret equipped with a tubular weapon, the tubular weapon being equipped with one shaft magazine on either side, with a ring magazine to receive ammunition disposed in the turret basket. Each respective shaft magazine can be supplied with ammunition by way of an associated lifting device. A ring magazine is disposed in a turret basket so as to be rotatable about its axis by means of a drive.

Abstract: A turret gun assembly includes a turret, a gun having a barrel being adjustable in inclination about a trunnion axis, a magazine for accommodating rounds of ammunition, and a loading device for advancing rounds of ammunition from the magazine into a position behind the barrel in a longitudinal alignment therewith. The improvement wherein the loading device has a cam drive having a cam track mounted at an ammunition discharge location of the magazine and a follower guided in the cam track; a transfer arm mounted for pivotal motion about the trunnion axis; an ammunition-gripping holding clamp articulated to the transfer arm by a hinge connection and being arranged for gripping said ammunition.

Abstract: A magazine arrangement for a tank turret having a crew chamber and, a tubular weapon, particularly a howitzer, in its front portion, and two magazine units in its rear portion, with the two magazine units being disposed respectively to the right and left of the bore axis of the tubular weapon, and with one magazine unit accommodating propelling charges and the other magazine unit accommodating projectiles.

Abstract: A loading device for a tubular weapon includes two adjacent belt magazines; a separate loading tray cooperating with each magazine and being arranged for pivotal motion about 90.degree. from a cartridge-receiving position into a loading position in alignment with the tubular weapon; a common partition wall forming part of the two magazines and being arranged between the discharge sides of the magazines and the tubular weapon; at least one partition door provided in the partition wall; separate drive chains supported along the discharge side of each magazine and being connected to a respective loading tray for displacing the loading tray; a separate linear guide being in guiding engagement with each loading tray; and a separate curved guide extending generally along the discharge side of the respective magazine and being bent theretoward. The linear guide and the curved guide together guiding the respective loading tray from one of its positions to the other of its positions when displaced by the drive chain.

Abstract: A gas transport laser with longitudinal gas flow and complete integration of the components, having at least one laser tube, wherein the laser gas is drawn off in the center of the respective laser tube, fed through a radial blower, a cooling system and a gas supply system and then supplied to the respective two ends of the laser tube. The laser tube is disposed in general perpendicularly to the direction of the gas flow in the cooling system and the gas supply system extends in the direction of the lesser dimension of the laser system, so as to optimize the use of space. The laser gas is subjected simultaneously to a high frequency and a high voltage discharge to achieve a high degree of efficiency.

Abstract: A loading system for containers holding ammunition in an armored vehicle having a tubular weapon composed of a gun cradle and a barrel having a bore axis, the weapon being mounted in a top gun mount which is rotatable about an azimuth axis, which system includes a first transporting device for transporting a container from a magazine holding a plurality of containers and disposed in a rear section of the armored vehicle into a loading position behind the top gun mount. The system further includes a plurality of such containers, each composed of at least two cells, each cell accommodating a respective cartridge, and connecting elements for connecting the cells in a form and force locking manner for transport to the loading position.

Abstract: A rocket engine according to the invention has a body generally extending along an axis and adapted to move through the air in a predetermined axial back-to-front direction. This body is formed with axially spaced front and rear fuel-containing combustion chambers. A nozzle centered on the axis and extending axially backward in the body from the front chamber has a rear nozzle end directed axially backward so that gases generated in the front chamber by combustion of the fuel therein form a fan-shaped jet extending axially backward from the rear nozzle end.

Abstract: An improved ammunition feed and guide mechanism for an automatic gun barrel weapon such as an automatic machine cannon. This mechanism includes a breech mechanism mounted in a housing. The breech mechanism includes a breech body driven by a pair of rollers rotatably mounted in the housing parallel to the middle longitudinal axis of the housing. Each roller has a driving ramp disposed on its periphery and the breech body is provided with a pair of roller bearings respectively engaging the driving ramps of the rollers so that the breech body is linearly reciprocated between loading and firing positions via the rotation of the rollers and the engagement of the roller bearings in the driving ramps thereof. The pair of rollers are driven by means independent of the propulsion energy of the fired projectiles.

Abstract: A bomblet has a casing and a targeting device provided with a reflector swingably secured to the casing. The reflector has a position of rest in which it is situated within a cross-sectional outline of the casing and a working position in which it is in a deployed state externally of the casing. A first guide arm is articulated to the reflector to provide for a relative pivotal motion about a first pivotal axis, and to the casing to provide for a relative pivotal motion about a second pivotal axis. A second guide arm is articulated to the reflector to provide for a relative pivotal motion about a third pivotal axis, and to the casing to provide for a relative pivotal motion about a fourth pivotal axis. All the pivotal axes are parallel to and spaced from one another and are perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the bomblet. The guide arms guide the reflector in a swinging motion from the position of rest into the working position.

Abstract: A device for the limitation of gas pressure in a projectile having an outer shell by the production of a control stream comprises a combustion chamber disposed inside the projectile; the combustion chamber having a combustion chamber lid; control lines connected to be changed by gas from the combustion chamber for transferring the gas pressure from the combustion chamber; monostable fluidic elements being arranged in the control lines in a region of the combustion chamber lid for assisting in confining the control stream; branching lines disposed in the lid and connected with the monostable fluidic elements, the branching lines including vent openings in the outer shell for releasing gas to the atmosphere and an overpressure element for permitting gas to be expelled from the combustion chamber when an overpressure exists therein, whereby gas expelled via the overpressure element assists in the production of the control stream.

Abstract: A projectile for firing from a gun barrel which comprises a projectile body having a radial and longitudinal directions; a rotating band disposed on the projectile body and having at least one material receiving groove to accommodate rotating band material sheared off during passage of the projectile through the gun barrel, and at least one pressure relief groove located in a region of the rotating band where the projectile body is subjected to maximum stress in the radial direction.

Abstract: A method of applying a metallic guide band to the body of a projectile having particularly thin walls comprises making fine particles plastically deformable by heating thereof, and spraying said heated particles at high speed onto a surface section of the projectile body until a desired layer thickness of the guide band is attained. A projectile body having a circumferential guide band is produced by the method of the invention. The thin-walled projectile body has a boundary layer region on its exterior which may be roughened and/or deoxidized. The boundary layer region is formed by an intermediate layer which may be composed of molybdenum, nickel aluminide or nickel oxide and itself has a roughened boundary layer region on its exterior. This results in a particularly intimate physical bond with the particles of alloy of the guide band. The alloy is preferably of a CuZn85/15 type and has a porosity of up to 5 volume percent.

Abstract: An externally driven automatic weapon in which the breechblock and the function of supplying cartridges into the cartridge chamber are effected or controlled by means of a rotatably mounted control cylinder which is provided with a camming path on its circumference and which is driven by an external drive arrangement including a motor and gears for connecting the output of the motor to the control cylinder. The motor and the gears for the control cylinder are disposed within the control cylinder, with the motor being connected to a first nonrotatable stub shaft on which one end of the control cylinder is rotatably supported and with a gear housing or gear block for the gears being connected either to the control cylinder or to a further nonrotatable stub shaft on which the other end of the control cylinder is rotatably mounted. Alternatively, the control cylinder itself may be configured as part of an electric motor which serves as the primary drive, e.g., in the form of a barrel-type engine.

Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile includes a casing, a plurality of bomblets accommodated in the casing, filler pieces inserted between the casing and the bomblets, and a device for ejecting the bomblets by explosive force from the projectile at a predetermined point along a trajectory thereof. The filler pieces are of steel or tungsten and are distributed in the casing such that the projectile flies stably up to the point of ejection of the bomblets.