Abstract: A cartridge, comprising a cartridge case (3), a projectile (4), a propellant charge igniter (8) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of cartridge (1) and arranged inside the cartridge case (3), and an electrically programmable projectile fuse arranged in the projectile (4) and connected via at least one electrical line (110) to an electrode on the cartridge base (2). The cartridge case (3) comprises at least two case sections (5, 6) with at least one separation location in the region between the front end (7) of the propellant charge igniter (8) and the projectile tail (9) for the installation of a section of the electrical line (110) between the cartridge base (2) and the projectile fuse using two rotating connector assemblies, one of which turns more easily than the other.

Abstract: The method for producing tubes for heavy guns employs a heat-treatable steel, consisting in wt.-% of 0.20 to 0.50% carbon, max. 1.0% silicon, max. 1.0% manganese, max. 0.03% phosphorus, max. 0.03% sulfur, max. 0.1% aluminum, max. 4% nickel, max. 2% chromium, max. 1% molybdenum, max. 0.5% vanadium, and the remainder of iron and the customary impurities. Forgings of open-smelted cast ingots are pre-worked on a lathe on the outside. The solid blanks obtained in this way are hardened and tempered, only subsequently drilled and then finished.

Abstract: A cartridge having a propellant-charge casing (2) and an electrothermal ignition device (4), in which the propellant-charge casing (2) is connected to a metal casing base (3) and a contact piece (5) that is connected to a contact disk (9) is provided for the connection to a gun-side high-voltage electrode (22. To assure an automatic operation of corresponding weapons systems, during use of such cartridges, the contact piece (5) is formed such that it does not protrude past the outside surface (27) of the floor piece (7) on the outside, and on the inside, the contact; piece forms the contact disk (9), which is supported over a large surface area against the propellant-charge casing (2) by a relatively thin-walled insulator (15) that is formed as a casing base.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring wear on the internal surfaces (12) of barrels (1), in particular weapon barrels. For a very precise determination of the wear on the internal surfaces (12) of barrels (1), a non-contacting scanning of the internal surface (12) of the respective barrel (1) to be checked is carried out with a light-spot triangulation sensor (6), to determine the respective distance between the internal surface (12) and the barrel axis (7) for selected sensor positions. The contour of the internal surface (12) of the respective barrel (1) is then determined from the detected distance changes. It has proven advantageous if the measured distance values are displayed on a monitor (23) in the form of a C-image, wherein different distance ranges are characterized with different colors, so that faulty surface areas can immediately be recognized optically.

Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile has a projectile body and a guide band being circumferentially mounted on an outer face of the projectile body. The guide band includes a plurality of axially adjoining partial guide bands. One of the partial guide bands is a first partial guide band made of copper, a copper alloy or another soft metal. One of the partial guide bands is a second partial guide band made of soft iron and axially adjoining the first partial guide band. A total axial length of all second partial guide bands is between 5% and 50% of the total axial length of the guide band.

Abstract: A weapon having a barrel (3) supported in a cradle (2) for axial recoil movement, and having a breech block wedge (7) displaceable, transversely to the barrel axis (6) by a control unit (11) connected to the cradle and acting on a piston rod (8). The control unit (11) includes a spring-loaded shift rod (13) aligned with the piston rod (8), a spring-loaded control rod (15) aligned with a control cam (10) secured to the breech ring (4), and a detent pawl (17) that can be pivoted by a cam (16) from a blocking to a release position. The piston and shift rods (8, 13) are disposed such that during forward motion of the barrel (3), the breech block wedge (7) is already opened by axial displacement of the rods (8, 13) before the control cam (10) displaces the control rod (15).

Abstract: A pourable, plastic-bound explosive charge has a crystalline explosive substance embedded in a polymer matrix which includes a binder, a softener and a metal powder. The metal powder which is added in a proportion of 0.1 to 10 weight % has substantially spherical grains and is one or more of the following materials: vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum or tungsten.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrothermal ignition device for igniting a powder propellant charge (4), which comprises at least one electrically-conductive wire (11; 15; 19; 22), that extends, at least partially, through the propellant charge, and can be connected to a current source (3). The electrically-conductive wire (11; 15; 19; 22) is coated with a pyrotechnical ignition mixture (12; 16; 20)so that the ignition device can have a low electrical-energy requirement and be easily adapted to the different requirements placed on it. A mixture on a potassium perchlorate-zirconium (KClO4—Zr) base has proven to be an advantageous ignition mixture.

Abstract: Energy-supply systems that supply energy in the power range of a few Megawatts (MW) to Gigawatts (GW) within a pulse duration of a few milliseconds (ms) are referred to as pulse-current supplies. Such known energy supply system primarily comprises a charging device for charging an energy store, a plurality of plate-type capacitors as energy stores, a high-power switch for releasing the stored energy, and a pulse-shaping device. The structural shape required for storing the energy in particular makes known pulse-current supplies highly complex, voluminous and costly. In contrast, the present invention involves using wound capacitors (20) and high-power switches (4) instead of conventional plate-type capacitors and high-power radio paths, which reduces the structural space requirement. The pulse shaping is effected by a toroidal coil (5) and a free-wheeling diode (3). Light-switched thyristors mounted in the free space (5.1) of the toroid coil (5) can preferably be used as high-power switches (4).

Abstract: A method of coating a metal surface, particularly an inner surface of a gun barrel, with a chromium layer, includes the following steps: electrolytically precipitating on the metal surface a plurality of partial chromium layers in a superposed relationship by electric current pulses equaling the number of the partial chromium layers; and selecting the duration of each pulse such that a crystallite growth of individual partial chromium layers is stopped prior to a natural termination thereof for obtaining a globular polytropic structure of the entire chromium layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making pourable, plastic-bound explosive charges or rocket propellants, to which a metal powder having essentially spherically shaped grains is added. To avoid an increase in the viscosity of the explosive charge or the rocket propellant through polar groups attached to the surface of the metal powder, it is suggested according to the invention that the polar groups of the metal powder be saturated with SiR3 groups (Si=silane; R=organic residue) before the metal powder is added to the explosive mixture. As a result, the polar groups can no longer react with the isocyanates of the explosive charge or the rocket propellant and the specific surface of the respective metal powder, as well as the viscosity of the charges, is reduced.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: directing a laser beam against the inner barrel surface to cause melting of regions thereof; introducing a coating material in one of powder, wire and ribbon form into the laser beam for melting the coating material to produce in the surface regions a molten bath composed of the molten coating material and a material of the weapon barrel; and moving the laser beam inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto, whereby the molten substance of the bath becomes rigid as the laser beam moves away therefrom.

Abstract: A gun having a wedge-type breech block and a barrel seated in a cradle for firing electrically-ignitable cartridges containing electronic components, and an ignition contact (4) for connection to an external current source, and a signal contact (5) for connecting the electronic components to an external electronic control device are disposed on the cartridge base (3). To ensure reliable ignition of the cartridge, and transmission of data from the cartridge, an axially displaceable ignition and signal-transmission unit (8) is provided in the breech block, and includes a housing (11) having two parallel, axial guides (12, 13), and two spring-loaded, needle-shaped contact devices (16, 17) arranged to be displaced inside the respective guides such that, in the extended position of the unit (8), the first contact device (16) is pressed against the cartridge ignition contact (4) and the second contact device (17) is pressed against the cartridge signal contact (5).

Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile has a projectile body and a guide band being circumferentially mounted on an outer face of the projectile body. The guide band includes a plurality of axially adjoining partial guide bands. One of the partial guide bands is a first partial guide band made of copper, a copper alloy or another soft metal. One of the partial guide bands is a second partial guide band made of soft iron and axially adjoining the first partial guide band. A total axial length of all second partial guide bands is between 5% and 50% of the total axial length of the guide band.

Abstract: A warhead (1) having a warhead casing (2) that encloses an explosive charge (5). To ensure that, during the detonation of the explosive charge (5), the warhead (1) effects a rapid acceleration of the fragments flying in the flight direction, and a lesser acceleration of the fragments flying away laterally from the warhead, and/or generates a relatively intense lateral pressure wave, the charge has at least two different partial charges (7, 8-10) corresponding to the intended use of the warhead (1). The first partial charge (7), which is disposed in the region of the tip of the warhead (1), and comprises, for example, octogen (HMX), possesses a high detonation speed in order, when detonated, to accelerate heavy-metal fragments (preferably WSM spherical fragments) disposed in front of the partial charge very rapidly forward. In contrast, the second partial charge (8-10), which adjoins the rear of the first partial charge (7), is a far less costly charge, e.g.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge case having a cartridge base; a projectile having a rearward portion received by the cartridge case; a propellant primer disposed in the cartridge case and extending along the longitudinal cartridge axis; an electrically programmable projectile fuze disposed in the projectile; an electrode disposed at the cartridge base; a plug mounted on the propellant primer at a frontal end thereof; a first contact carried by the plug; a first conductor extending in the propellant primer and connecting the first contact with the electrode; a socket, formed on the rearward portion of the projectile, receives and surrounds the plug; a second contact carried by the socket and being in electric contact with the first contact; and a second conductor extending in the projectile and connecting the second contact with the projectile fuze.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: introducing a plasma burner into the weapon barrel; producing a plasma flame by the plasma burner; directing the plasma flame against the inner barrel surface to cause impingement thereon; introducing a coating material in powder, wire or ribbon form into the plasma flame for melting the coating material to form a molten liquid and for depositing the molten liquid by the plasma flame on the inner barrel surface; and moving the plasma burner inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto while performing the depositing step for obtaining a surface coating on the inner barrel surface.

Abstract: A method of providing a high-explosive projectile with desired areas of fragmentation includes the following steps: securing a steel plate component in a circumferentially extending recess in the outer surface of a projectile body; directing an energy beam to outer surface portions of the steel plate component; heating, by the energy beam, narrow zones to a temperature above the melting temperature of the steel plate component to a predetermined depth thereof; and cooling the heated zones for effecting structural metallurgical changes in the steel plate component for obtaining the desired areas of fragmentation.

Abstract: A method of coating an internal surface of a weapon barrel includes the steps of applying an intermediate layer to the internal barrel surface by explosion plating and applying a cover layer at least indirectly to the intermediate layer by electroplating. The intermediate layer has a heat conductivity which is greater than that of the weapon barrel and a ductility which is greater than that of the cover layer.

Abstract: A priming unit, consisting of a combination of rested casings 5, 6, 7, a firing pin 3 with assembly aid 12, as well as a priming spring 8 and a propulsion spring 9, are arranged to provide a secure detonation of a fuze or bomblet fuze. The priming unit ensures a secure detonation upon impact with a target or at the completion of the flight phase. As a result, almost no duds are created. If, for any reason, the detonator carrier has not been armed, it is maintained in the unarmed position as a result of the arrangement, so that no dangerous duds result.