Abstract: Nitrocellulose propellant compositions are provided comprising zinc oxide as ballistic modifier, advantageously in conjunction with one or more conventional ballistic modifiers for example, lead or copper compounds such as lead stearate, lead acetophthalate, lead B-resorcylate and basic copper salicylate. The propellant compositions exhibit good quality plateau burning over a useful pressure range for a wide range of burning rates.

Abstract: A gun system comprising a recoiling cannon assembly, a stationary carriage having a cradle, and a campath and cam follower mechanism for moveably mounting the cannon assembly on the cradle for travel along a two-stage curvilinear recoil path. The first stage has a linear portion shaped to maintain prefiring orientation, and a curved portion with a decreasing radius of curvature in the direction of travel (i.e., recoil) to accelerate the cannon assembly upwards. The second stage, which may be straight or have a curved configuration different from that of the first stage, causes the cannon assembly's upward motion to be decelerated in a controlled manner. A recoil buffer assembly has deceleration characteristics matched in a predetermined relationship to the configuration of the curvilinear path, so that the instantaneous stabilizing moment of the reaction to the upward force of the recoiling cannon assembly and the moment of the static weight of the gun system.

Abstract: In the event of sudden depressurization caused by an explosion in an aircraft cargo compartment, a blast attenuation valve is provided in the aircraft's air channels to form a barrier to the passage of air between the cargo compartment and passenger cabin. The valve contains a mixture of compressible bodies through which air can normally permeate. After an explosion, the bodies block and blast wave by compressing together due to the substantial increase in pressure.

Abstract: A thermal insulator for a rocket motor body comprises a member adapted to be fitted as a sleeve on the outer surface of the body the member comprising a composite of cork having on its outer surface a layer of fibre reinforced polymeric material wherein a substantial proportion of the fibre reinforcement comprises fibres of low-conducting material.

Abstract: A sabot for use with a spin stabilized projectile comprises a closed front end portion having lines or strips of weakness running along sides of the sabot which meet at a front end surface of the sabot, thereby providing a continuously extending line or region of weakness across the front end surface.Preferably, the sabot front end portion has at least three, desirably four or more, lines or strips of weakness running along the length of the front end portion. These lines or strips may meet at an intersection of lines or strips at the front end surface, but they preferably meet at a front end membrane region.Discarding sabots according to the present invention are especially suitable for use with tubular projectiles. These projectiles may for example be used in training ammunition rounds which are suitable for firing from the UK 30 mm RARDEN (UK Registered Trade Mark) Gun.

Abstract: High density materials, e.g. for fishing weights or pellets or shot as ammunition, are composed of a material comprising high-density metal particles in particular tungsten-containing particles, in a settable or hardenable polymeric matrix providing a composite material of stable configuration. Fishing weights may be produced in known forms, or as flexible tubing to be cut to size by the user, or as a hinged pair of body parts which can be closed together to grip a line between them and to be reopened. For pellets or shot similar materials comprising a polymeric matrix can be provided, or such products can be pressed directly from a tungsten alloy. These products all offer particular advantages of non-toxicity, and the fishing weights can be given the ability to be re-used many times.

Abstract: An explosive projectile comprises a casing, having a neck shaped portion adjacent to the opening, a female screw thread being formed in the internal wall of the neck shaped portion, and a region of increased average internal diameter in its inner wall beyond the screw thread, a charge of high explosive material partially filling the space inside the casing, and a case located between the charge and the neck shaped portion the case defining a detonation device cavity, the case being made of a malleable material and being swaged into the neck shaped portion and into part of the region of the internal wall of the casing which has an increased average internal diameter.

Abstract: High velocity projectiles are able to continue in flight for considerable distances beyond the normal target range. The present invention is a projectile for use in practice firing which becomes unstable after the normal target range has been exceeded and comprises a training round (1) having a body portion (3) engageable with a sabot (4) for projection from a rifled gun barrel, and a tapered nose portion (2) protrusive beyond the sabot, which is provided with a nose tip portion (6) having spin fins (9) extending in planes radial to the longitudinal axis. The fins increase the rate of spin decay and cause instability of the round and the fin geometry is chosen such that the instability occurs when the target range has been exceeded. The finned nose tip portion is separable from the round so as to permit selective attachment of a nose tip portion having fins specifically dimensioned for terminating the trajectory at a chosen safety range.

Abstract: A reactive armour construction comprises a rigidly fixed outer layer and a relatively loosely fixed inner layer mounted on a structure to be protected in such a way that when a projectile penetrates at an oblique angle the outer layer and is incident upon the inner layer, the inner layer is allowed to move laterally relative to the outer layer thereby disrupting the line of attach of the projectile.

Abstract: A composite armour comprises a forward metal armour plate, a metal armour backing plate spaced from and generally parallel to the forward armour plate and between the forward armour plate and the armour backing plate an array of armour layers each inclined at a substantial angle to the plane of the backing plate.

Abstract: A construction for the delivery of propellant constituents to the main combustion chamber of a hypergolic liquid bipropellant rocket engine having a staged combustion cycle incorporating at least one precombustor comprises: a mixer for mixing together prior to delivery to the main combustion chamber a first propellant constituent comprising oxidant together with exhaust gas from the precombustor injector means for injecting the mixture of the oxidant and exhaust gas provided by the mixer into the main combustion chamber in such a manner that the injected mixture forms a recirculation zone inside the main combustion chamber, an inlet into the main combustion chamber for a second propellant constituent comprising fuel, and a delivery channel to the said inlet, the said inlet and delivery channel being disposed laterally of the injector means relative to the main direction of flow through the injector means in such a position that fuel delivered into the main combustion chamber thereby is delivered into the said

Abstract: A tubular projectile suitable for use in training ammunition comprises a hollow tube having formed in the rear end of the tubular wall thereof a recess in which is embedded a tracer material.The projectile may be sabot launched.Constructions are described for igniting the tracer material directly or indirectly from the gases produced by burning of the main propellant charge when the projectile is fired from a gun, e.g. the RARDEN Gun of the Applicants.Example of suitable tracter materials and techniques for filling the said recess with them are also described.

Abstract: A composite armor system comprises a homogeneous metal armor plate and a plurality of reactive armor panels, each said panel comprising a forward layer, an intermediate layer of explosive material and a rearward layer, the homogeneous armor plate being formed with a plurality of recesses in its forward surface and the rearward layer of each reactive armor panel being received in a respective one of said recesses.

Abstract: An explosive package for use in reactive armor comprises an explosive material embedded between layers of a resilient material which are contained between upper and lower rigid plates in a sandwich structure. A construction for the application of reactive armor to a structure to be protected comprises a plurality of such packages, a plurality of projections attached to the said structure and a plurality of holders each attachable to and thereby running between adjacent projections, each of the holders in use holding an edge of one of the said packages, each projection thereby being attached to at least one of the said packages by the holder attached thereto.

Abstract: A composite armour comprises an outer layer of metal, an inner layer of metal, and therebetween an intermediate non-metallic layer, wherein there is provided along an edge of the intermediate layer a deflecting strip of metal, said deflecting strip presenting towards the edge of the intermediate layer a face which is inclined at an oblique angle with respect to the surface of the inner layer.

Abstract: An explosive projectile comprises a projectile casing, a high explosive charge filling a portion of the space inside the casing, an impervious case defining a detonation device cavity adjacent to a surface of the explosive charge, and located adjacent to the said surface of the explosive charge between the inside wall of the projectile casing and the impervious case, a pre-formed solid elastic sealant ring such that the seal effected by the sealant ring between the projectile casing and the impervious case is tightened if the pressure on the sealant ring from the material of the explosive charge increases.

Abstract: The application discloses improvements in hollow charges for linear cutting or demolition purposes wherein a bar formed from a composite of explosive material and a first pliant material has a V-shaped groove with a liner formed from a composite of particulate metal and a second pliant material. The metal may be copper and preferably the first and second pliant materials include the same constituents. The charge may include a casing having a spacing portion having an engagement surface for presentation to a work surface, which engagement surface is parallel to the outer edges of the liner and spaced therefrom to maintain an optimum stand-off distance. The casing may further include a groove filling portion of low density material which may be integrally constructed with the casing from a flexible material such as expanded polyethylene.

Abstract: A riot control weapon comprises a barrel, a fixed breech block, and there-between a chamber having a loading aperture through which a cylindrical round of ammunition can be inserted and ejected, the round being insertable by firstly a translational movement to bring the forward end of the round into the chamber, and secondly a rotational movement during which the round is pivoted until the round is fully chambered in alignment with the barrel, and wherein the chamber is provided with an obturating surface which extends continuously from a point adjacent the forward end of the chamber adjacent the loading aperture, rearwardly and away from the loading aperture to complete a closed loop within a cylindrical surface internally of the chamber, whereby the said rotational movement brings the round into sealing contact with the obturating surface around a complete loop.