Abstract: An improved and repetitively operable gaseous-propellant gun system for lching one or more projectiles to strike a target, especially a relatively high-speed target at close range. The system is generally made up of a housing having a chamber therein with enlarged and reduced chamber portions. A double-acting piston includes enlarged and reduced tandem pistons for advancement in opposite directions within the chamber. A gaseous source means controls the admittance or release of a lightweight gaseous medium to the reduced chamber portion. A projectile support and handling arrangement functions to securely position a projectile in the barrel bore. A forced air inlet and exhaust subassembly not only admits a first volume of air to be compressed between the enlarged piston and the housing but also admits a second volume of air between the enlarged and reduced pistons so as to biasingly urge the double-acting piston towards the enlarged chamber end of the housing.

Abstract: A projectile ground shock simulator for simulating the force pulse on a pectile in testing for shock effect on the guidance system of the projectile. The simulator incorporates a liquid/solid material as an energy absorbing and storing spring for simulating the force pulse on the projectile. The projectile is positioned in a drop tube and impacted with a drop vehicle to simulate the forces created during firing of the projectile. The drop vehicle is provided with the liquid/solid spring having a piston and cylinder on the impact face of the drop vehicle. The cylinder is filled with a liquid or solid polymer material having a high bulk modulus of compressibility which gives the spring volumetric stiffness. The spring thus duplicates the force pulse acting on a fired projectile and also allows for the drop vehicle to be reused.

Abstract: There is disclosed an explosive device consisting of a thin-walled metal ing whose cross section consists of identical V-shaped sectors, which are joined to each other by means of a soldered butt connection. Because of a relatively small radius and weaker structure at the joint than at the V-intersection, separation upon explosion occurs at the solder joint first, yielding a fragment that provides greater penetration power over a wider range of stand-off distance.