GB2123123A - Projectiles - Google Patents

Abstract

The projectile (10) includes an elongate body (11) of aluminium having a closed rearward end, and a peripheral band (21) extending around the body at a location adjacent its rearward end and being of a metal, such as iron, which is different from that of the body. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Projectiles This invention relates to the field of munitions and in particular to projectiles such as armour piercing projectiles to be discharged from guns in the caliber range of 25 millimeters; the guns having rifled gun barrels to impart a stabilizing spin to the projectiles.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a projectile which is relatively light as compared to projectiles with steel bodies, and which have satisfactory barrel wear characteristics.

According to the present invention, there is provided a projectile comprising an elongate body of aluminium having a closed rearward end; and a peripheral band extending around the body at a location adjacent its rearward end, the material of the band being of a metal different from that of the body.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an armour piercing projectile according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentory view of the area marked A in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the projectile 10 has an elongate body 11 of aluminium, a penetrator 1 2 of depleted aranium contained within the body, and an aluminium windscreen 1 3. Body 11 is provided with a first peripheral groove 15, for connection by crimping to a cartridge case, not shown, and a second peripheral groove 20 for receiving a peripheral band 21 of metal different from that of body 11, such as soft iron. Fig. 20 shows that groove 20 has dovetailed side walls 22 and 23, and the bottom of the groove includes a section of straight knurling 24. Band 21 is fixed immovably in groove 20 by swaging, which reduces the inside diemeter of the band to fit the groove and engage the knurling, and causes the iron of the band to move laterally under the dovetailed groove walls.Since the band is of soft iron and the body is given to hard coat anodizing, it has been found feasible to swage the band to the body using a mandrel within the body as a backing member.

In one embodiment of the invention the initial inside diameter of the band was 20.5 millimeters, the initial outside diameter of the bottom of the groove was 24.21 millimeters, and the walls of the groove were tapered at an angle of 1 7 degrees.

It will be appreciated that the above described projectile will be relatively light as compared to projectiles with steel bodies and due to the use of a band of iron or similar metal will have satisfactory barrel wear characteristics.

1. A projectile comprising an elongate body of aluminium having a closed rearward end; and a peripheral band extending around the body at a location adjacent its rearward end, the material of the band being of a metal different from that of the body.

The projectile of Claim 1, wherein the body has a peripherally extending groove in its outer surface in which said band is secured.

3. The projectile of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the band is of iron.

4. The projectile of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the band is swaged into position in the groove to prevent relative movement between the body and the band.

5. A projectile substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. The or each feature of the projectile described herein either taken alone or in combination.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Projectiles This invention relates to the field of munitions and in particular to projectiles such as armour piercing projectiles to be discharged from guns in the caliber range of 25 millimeters; the guns having rifled gun barrels to impart a stabilizing spin to the projectiles. It is an aim of the invention to provide a projectile which is relatively light as compared to projectiles with steel bodies, and which have satisfactory barrel wear characteristics. According to the present invention, there is provided a projectile comprising an elongate body of aluminium having a closed rearward end; and a peripheral band extending around the body at a location adjacent its rearward end, the material of the band being of a metal different from that of the body. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an armour piercing projectile according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentory view of the area marked A in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, the projectile 10 has an elongate body 11 of aluminium, a penetrator 1 2 of depleted aranium contained within the body, and an aluminium windscreen 1 3. Body 11 is provided with a first peripheral groove 15, for connection by crimping to a cartridge case, not shown, and a second peripheral groove 20 for receiving a peripheral band 21 of metal different from that of body 11, such as soft iron. Fig. 20 shows that groove 20 has dovetailed side walls 22 and 23, and the bottom of the groove includes a section of straight knurling 24. Band 21 is fixed immovably in groove 20 by swaging, which reduces the inside diemeter of the band to fit the groove and engage the knurling, and causes the iron of the band to move laterally under the dovetailed groove walls.Since the band is of soft iron and the body is given to hard coat anodizing, it has been found feasible to swage the band to the body using a mandrel within the body as a backing member. In one embodiment of the invention the initial inside diameter of the band was 20.5 millimeters, the initial outside diameter of the bottom of the groove was 24.21 millimeters, and the walls of the groove were tapered at an angle of 1 7 degrees. It will be appreciated that the above described projectile will be relatively light as compared to projectiles with steel bodies and due to the use of a band of iron or similar metal will have satisfactory barrel wear characteristics. CLAIMS

1. A projectile comprising an elongate body of aluminium having a closed rearward end; and a peripheral band extending around the body at a location adjacent its rearward end, the material of the band being of a metal different from that of the body.

The projectile of Claim 1, wherein the body has a peripherally extending groove in its outer surface in which said band is secured.

3. The projectile of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the band is of iron.

4. The projectile of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the band is swaged into position in the groove to prevent relative movement between the body and the band.

5. A projectile substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. The or each feature of the projectile described herein either taken alone or in combination.