Abstract: A bomblet carrier projectile for delivering training bomblets to a target area. A plurality of training bomblets are supported in layers within the projectile body, with each training bomblet having a housing made of at least one of paper and plastic. A plurality of supporting elements are disposed within the projectile body and stackable in the axial direction of the projectile body for supporting the training bomblet housings in the layers. A detonator is arranged in a frontal region of the projectile body. A gas passage channel is formed along the longitudinal axis of the projectile body. An ejector unit is disposed behind the detonator and includes an ejection charge for emitting ignition gases when ignited by the detonator that are passed through the gas passage channel for igniting the training bomblets and an ejection plate for ejecting the training bomblets from the projectile body, over a target area, in response to pressure generated by the ignition gases.

Abstract: An injection device for fluid propellants for a fluid propellant gun. The device includes at least one pump chamber for receiving a propellant, with one pump piston movable in each pump chamber. A slide is provided for opening and closing apertures in an injector surface which at least partially surrounds the gun's combustion chamber and which is arranged approximately radially to the projectile ejection direction. The slide and pump piston are configured as mutually freely movable components and a mechanism for developing a pressure is provided for displacing the slide by such pressure.

Abstract: A propelling cage discarding sabot for a spin-stabilized subcaliber projectile, including a plastic material which is shaped and which is composed of a polyamide and from about 5% to about 30% by weight of carbon fiber, the plastic material having a specific weight which does not exceed 1.11 g/cm.sup.3, a tensile strength which is greater than 120 N/mm.sup.2, and a maximum water absorption which does not exceed 0.8% so that the propelling cage discarding sabot has mechanical characteristics which are substantially constant and has substantial dimensional trueness.

Abstract: An injection device for fluid propellants for a fluid propellant gun includes at least one pump chamber to accommodate a propellant, a pump piston movable therein and a device for the measured opening and closing of apertures in an injector surface disposed at least partially around a combustion chamber of the gun and approximately radially to the direction of ejection of a projectile from the gun. The device for the measured opening and closing of the apertures in the injector surface is composed of a slide provided with passage openings, the slide being relatively movable with respect to the injector surface and being displaceable by a pressure generating device.

Abstract: A projectile arrangement including a subcaliber projectile body and a segmented, discardable propelling cage sabot provided with a common form locking zone for the transmission of the acceleration forces. To reduce the notch effect on the projectile body, and thus the danger of breakage, due to the conventional thread grooves in the form locking zone, particularly in long, slender penetrators made of a breakage susceptible tungsten heavy metal, a novel form locking connection for the inner form locking region between the propelling cage and the projectile body is provided. This novel form locking connection is characterized in that in the region of the form locking zone beneath the exterior gas pressure receiving surface of the sabot, only the exterior surface of the projectile body is provided with preferably annular microgrooves and the surrounding inner surface of the sabot is smooth.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism includes a firing pin having a cocked position and a firing position into which the firing pin is adapted to be accelerated; a catch having a locking position for engaging the firing pin in the cocked position to hold the firing pin; a spring operatively connected to the catch for urging the catch into the locking position; a first actuating bar connected to the catch; a standby catch having a locking position in which the standby catch is situated in the path of motion of and out of contact with the firing pin for preventing the firing pin from moving from the cocked position into the firing position; a second actuating bar connected to the standby catch; and a force-transmitting arrangement for simultaneously applying a triggering force to the first and second actuating bars for simultaneously displacing them to simultaneously move the catch and the standby catch from respective locking positions to respective withdrawn positions.

Abstract: A blocking device for blocking the closing movement of a wedge-type breechblock of a gun if an obturating ring is missing. The blocking device includes a detector which is urged toward a recess in the gun barrel base ring and which enters the recess if the recess is not occupied by an obturating ring. In order to avoid damage to the sealing system of the base ring during the blocking process, the blocking device is configured as a synchronous mechanism so that, if the detector moves into the recess in the absence of an obturating ring, a blocking member simultaneously moves in the opposite direction and enters a recess in the breech ring of the gun. In one embodiment, the synchronism of the blocking device is produced by a gear which meshes with toothed regions on the detector and of the blocking member. In another embodiment, the synchronism is produced by a dual level member which extends into recesses in the detector and the blocking member.

Abstract: An arrangement for axially adjusting play between an obturating ring of a gun barrel base ring and a wedge-type breechblock. The base ring has a threaded ring adjustably disposed in an annular groove adjacent the gun barrel for adjusting axial play existing between the obturating ring and the wedge-type breechblock.

Abstract: A gun includes a gun barrel having a breech end; a wedge-type breechblock disposed at the breech end; a flash bore in the breechblock; a seal disposed adjacent to and surrounding an inlet opening of the flash bore; a firing mechanism mounted on the breechblock; a propellant igniter magazine removably receivable in the breechblock and including a housing and an endless guide channel defined in the housing; and a plurality of casings received in the guide channel. The casings are arranged in a side-by-side contacting relationship with one another; each casing having opposite open ends and a chamber for receiving a propellant igniter cartridge therein. There is further provided an advancing mechanism for step-wise advancing the casings in the endless guide channel for moving each casing into and out of a firing position in which a respective casing is in alignment with the flash bore and in engagement with the seal.

Abstract: A receptacle for the propelling charge for large caliber gun ammunition is combustible, and includes a barrel-protection coating which is applied directly to the interior surface of the receptacle. The coating is composed of a mixture of wax and titanium dioxide. In order to prevent the propelling charge powder in the receptacle from directly contacting the coating, the coating is covered with a thin metal foil, such as a thin lead foil.

Abstract: A front-loading mortar mounted on a base, such as the top of an armored vehicle, includes a weapon tube having a muzzle; a trunnion axis about which the weapon tube is pivotal for setting an elevation of the weapon tube; a cardan ring surrounding the weapon tube or cradle tube and being circumferentially displaceable about the weapon tube relative thereto; an additional pivot axis defined in the cardan ring at a location situated in front of the trunnion axis; and a loading manipulator, including a loading tray, for moving a round of ammunition to a loading location in front of the muzzle. The loading manipulator includes a loading rocker articulated to the cardan ring for pivotal motion about the additional pivot axis; an elongate positioner articulated to the cardan ring for pivotal motion about the additional pivot axis; and a bearing affixed to the base and receiving an end of the positioner for longitudinal sliding motion and pivotal motion therein.

Abstract: A removal tool for propelling charge modules stored in a charge magazine one behind the other and having a hollow ignition channel, which tool facilitates both the rapid manual removal of the charge modules from the magazine, and the loading of the charge modules, in desired portions to the charge chamber of a gun barrel to maintain emergency operations. The removal tool includes a holding rod for insertion into the hollow ignition channel of a desired number of the charge modules, a depth abutment disposed on the holding rod and axially adjustable to different propelling charge set lengths, and a clamping device which is activated by an actuating handle. When the actuating handle is operated, leaf springs disposed on the holding rod are spread open by an actuating plunger disposed within the holding rod.

Abstract: A fuze for an explosive projectile, particularly a submunition projectile (bomblet) which includes a first primary firing pin mounted in a housing for axial displacement in the longitudinal direction, and a detonation charge carried by a slide disposed in the housing, with the slide being mounted for displacement transverse to the longitudinal direction of said housing, and to its center longitudinal axis, between a safety position, wherein the detonation charge is not aligned with the firing pin, and an armed position, wherein the detonation charge is aligned with the firing pin. The slide is further provided with a self destruct arrangement, which includes an ignition element disposed adjacent an edge of the slide, to cause self destruction of at least said fuze after a given time delay following ignition of the ignition element.

Abstract: A fuze for a bomblet projectile, with the fuze being of the type including a fuze housing, an axially displaceable firing pin mounted in the housing, a slide carrying a detonation charge mounted in the housing and displaceable transverse to the longitudinal direction of the housing between a safety position and an armed position, and spin braking fins pivotally mounted on the exterior of the fuze housing. To provide a further safety measure for the bomblet fuze and to ensure pendulum-free spin braking for safe detonation, the slide is provided with a safety pin and the fuze housing is provided with a corresponding opening such that the safety pin is in operative connection adjacent the opening with a spin braking fin if the latter is not deployed, and thus the slide can be arrested in its safety position.

Abstract: A liquid propellant for use in a propellant medium combustion chamber of a gun barrel weapon. The liquid propellant is completely decomposed and its combustion velocity is adjusted to the requirements of the weapon and projectile so as to provide a preponderantly oscillation-free plateau-like gas pressure development curve. The liquid propellant consist of a monergolic or nonhypergolic liquid propellant substance which includes up to 40% by weight of additives, preferably in the form of inhibitors. As starting material there are used aliphatic compositions, preferably nitrated alcanes or nitrates of alcanes, for example, isopropylinitrate or nitromethane. As inhibitors for moderating the burning there are used alcohols, such as methylalcohol or isopropylalcohol, which are admixed to the starting material.

Abstract: A large-caliber carrier projectile for transporting a payload, with the projectile including an ejection charge and an ejector plate for ejecting the payload from the carrier projectile over a target area. To overcome the problem of the ejector plate colliding with individual bomblets of the payload, and thus causing considerable interference with proper functioning or premature detonations in the air, the ejector plate is an eccentric center of gravity. Alternatively, the ejector plate may be segmented and composed of at least two separable parts which are separated by the action of centrifugal force after ejection from the carrier projectile.

Abstract: A device for accelerating projectiles from a muzzle of a launching tube, with an electrically heated plasma, the plasma being produced by two electrodes between which is formed an electric arc that creates and heats the plasma. To assure in a simple manner that the pressure at the projectile base is almost constant during launching of the projectile, one of the two electrodes is provided at a breechblock of the tube and the other is formed by the base of the projectile.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying a mooring mine, which can be deployed with known underwater drones as well as with area sweeping devices to grip a mine mooring connecting a mine body to a mine seat, is composed of a mine sweeping unit and a ballast unit. Both units, which are releasably connected to each other, include active charges with which, if actuated simultaneously from a remote location, it is possible to disintegrate a mine seat as well as sever a mine body from the mooring joining the two units and destroy the mine body. Preferably, the overall specific weight of the apparatus is equal to that of water, with the ballast unit having a heavier specific weight and the mine sweeping unit having a lighter specific weight, so that the ballast unit and mine sweeping unit automatically move respectfully down and up toward the mine body and mine seat after engaging the mooring and being released from each other.

Abstract: It is known to arrange a breech mechanism for a gun so as to be displaceable within a parallel guide arranged at a right angle to the bore axis of the gun barrel, and to bring a mushroom shaped head for obturation to the chamber in a partial circular arc. Due to the plurality of drive means for the mushroom head, complicated motion sequences result within the breechblock system which may lead to increased susceptibility to malfunction and do not permit high firing rates. Such a breech mechanism is not suitable or the use of a highly elastic obturator disposed in the gun barrel.

Abstract: A fin stabilized subammunition body including a target detection device and being ejectable in a target area from a spin stabilized artillery carrier projectile. The target detection device includes a fixed sensor for detecting a target and producing target signals representing characteristics of the detected target, a reference platform for producing inertial reference signals, and a controller connected to the fixed sensor and the reference platform for producing drive control signals for selectively actuating a plurality of microreaction drive mechanisms arranged for producing transverse acceleration forces for aligning the body with a detected target.