FRANGIBLE TUBULAR KINETIC ENERGY PENETRATOR

摘要

A projectile (1) of tubular form is disclosed which is formed of a brittle material whose elongation to fracture is not greater than 10 per cent, preferably not greater than 2 per cent. Such projectiles can be more effective than projectiles of conventional geometric form in generating heavier lethal fragments, with more consistent break-up on target impact. The effect is enhanced when the projectile is spin stabilized. The brittle material can be a metal, especially tungsten or a tungsten alloy, or other dense particles in a plastics matrix, tungsten carbide, cast iron, or alloys of depleted uranium. The material density is preferably not less than 7 gm/cc. A sub-calibre projectile assembly is disclosed, comprising a tubular projectile (1), a discarding sabot (8), a pusher (9) and driving and centring bands (10, 11). A full-bore projectile assembly is also disclosed.