GB2123124A - Tracer projectile - Google Patents

Abstract

The projectile comprises a penetrator (10) having a peripheral groove (14) at a rearward end thereof; and a tracer cup or container (20) having a first, open end crimped to the groove (14) and an opposite end closed by a foil seal (37), the cup containing tracer igniting material (32) located adjacent the seal and tracer material (34,35) remote from the seal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tracer projectile This invention relates to the field of munitions, and more particularly to tracer projectiles.

In the field of small caliber ammunition it is known to equip projectiles with tracer material so that the trajectories of the projectiles may be followed visually. Heretofore it has been known to drill axial cavities at the rearward ends of the projectiles, load tracer material and tracer ignition material into the cavities, and seal the mouths of the cavities with foil to protect the charges.

This procedure has been satisfactory for use with penetrators of tungsten, which is reasonably machinable. Tungsten is very expensive, however, and is in somewhat short supply.

Accordingly, consideration has been given to forming penetrators of depleted uranium, which is in good supply, and more economical. However, the uranium is extremely hard and so destructive of drills that the boring of the necessary tracer cavities is impractical.

According to the present invention, there is provided a projectile comprising a penetrator having a peripheral groove and a rearward end thereof and a container having a first open end secured to said groove and an opposite end closed by a foil seal, said container containing tracer igniting material located adjacent said seal and tracer material remote from said seal.

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 diagrammatic side view, partly in section of a tracer projectile according to the present invention, and Figures 2 to 6 show steps in the assembly of the projectile of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, the projectile comprises a penetrator 10 symmetrical about an axis 11 and having a blunt forward end 1 2 equipped with a windscreen 13, as is well known for munitions of this type. The rearward end of penetrator 10 is formed, as by grinding or machining for example, with a peripheral groove 1 4 of diameter smaller than that of the main body of the penetrator 10.

A tracer cup or container 20 is secured to the rearward end of penetrator 10 as by crimping 21 into groove 14. The nature of cup 20 is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 6.

Cup 20 comprises a metallic container 22 having an open top 23 and a bottom 24 with a large central aperture 25. To prepare cup 20 the bottom of a die 30 (Figs. 3 to 5) is closed by a male step punch 31, and container 22 is inserted into the die so that its bottom contacts punch 31, which projects through aperture 25. A charge of tracer igniting material 32 is now loaded into container 22 and consolidated with a female step punch 33, (Fig. 3). Punch 23 is removed and a charge 34 of tracer material is consolidated in the container using punch 33, (Fig. 4). That punch is again removed and a second charge 35 of tracer material is consolidated into a container with a flat punch 36, (Fig. 6). Die 30 and punch 31 are removed, and the bottom of container 22 may be closed with a foil seal 37 of aluminum or other suitable material, using an appropriate adhesive.

The container is now removed from punch 36, the non-sealed end 21 being coated internally with a suitable sealant 40 before being positioned at the rearward reduced end of the penetrator 10 where it is crimped or swaged into place. The arrangement is useful with subcaliber or full caliber rounds, and the tracer is ignited through the foil seal by the hot propellant gases, just as before.

From the above it will be evident that the described projectile provides tracer capabilities where the projectile material is not practically drillable to form a tracer cavity. As a matter of fact, it has been found that the described projectile is cost effective, even with materials such as tungsten which are susceptible to drilling.

1. A projectile comprising a penetrator having a peripheral groove and a rearward end thereof and a container having a first open end secured to said groove and an opposite end closed by a foil seal, said container tracer igniting material located adjacent said seal and tracer material remote from said seal.

2. The projectile of Claim 1 in which said penetrator is of depleted uranium.

3. The projectile of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first open end is crimped to said groove.

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

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

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tracer projectile This invention relates to the field of munitions, and more particularly to tracer projectiles. In the field of small caliber ammunition it is known to equip projectiles with tracer material so that the trajectories of the projectiles may be followed visually. Heretofore it has been known to drill axial cavities at the rearward ends of the projectiles, load tracer material and tracer ignition material into the cavities, and seal the mouths of the cavities with foil to protect the charges. This procedure has been satisfactory for use with penetrators of tungsten, which is reasonably machinable. Tungsten is very expensive, however, and is in somewhat short supply. Accordingly, consideration has been given to forming penetrators of depleted uranium, which is in good supply, and more economical. However, the uranium is extremely hard and so destructive of drills that the boring of the necessary tracer cavities is impractical. According to the present invention, there is provided a projectile comprising a penetrator having a peripheral groove and a rearward end thereof and a container having a first open end secured to said groove and an opposite end closed by a foil seal, said container containing tracer igniting material located adjacent said seal and tracer material remote from said seal. 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 diagrammatic side view, partly in section of a tracer projectile according to the present invention, and Figures 2 to 6 show steps in the assembly of the projectile of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, the projectile comprises a penetrator 10 symmetrical about an axis 11 and having a blunt forward end 1 2 equipped with a windscreen 13, as is well known for munitions of this type. The rearward end of penetrator 10 is formed, as by grinding or machining for example, with a peripheral groove 1 4 of diameter smaller than that of the main body of the penetrator 10. A tracer cup or container 20 is secured to the rearward end of penetrator 10 as by crimping 21 into groove 14. The nature of cup 20 is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 6. Cup 20 comprises a metallic container 22 having an open top 23 and a bottom 24 with a large central aperture 25. To prepare cup 20 the bottom of a die 30 (Figs. 3 to 5) is closed by a male step punch 31, and container 22 is inserted into the die so that its bottom contacts punch 31, which projects through aperture 25. A charge of tracer igniting material 32 is now loaded into container 22 and consolidated with a female step punch 33, (Fig. 3). Punch 23 is removed and a charge 34 of tracer material is consolidated in the container using punch 33, (Fig. 4). That punch is again removed and a second charge 35 of tracer material is consolidated into a container with a flat punch 36, (Fig. 6). Die 30 and punch 31 are removed, and the bottom of container 22 may be closed with a foil seal 37 of aluminum or other suitable material, using an appropriate adhesive. The container is now removed from punch 36, the non-sealed end 21 being coated internally with a suitable sealant 40 before being positioned at the rearward reduced end of the penetrator 10 where it is crimped or swaged into place. The arrangement is useful with subcaliber or full caliber rounds, and the tracer is ignited through the foil seal by the hot propellant gases, just as before. From the above it will be evident that the described projectile provides tracer capabilities where the projectile material is not practically drillable to form a tracer cavity. As a matter of fact, it has been found that the described projectile is cost effective, even with materials such as tungsten which are susceptible to drilling. CLAIMS

1. A projectile comprising a penetrator having a peripheral groove and a rearward end thereof and a container having a first open end secured to said groove and an opposite end closed by a foil seal, said container tracer igniting material located adjacent said seal and tracer material remote from said seal.

2. The projectile of Claim 1 in which said penetrator is of depleted uranium.

3. The projectile of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first open end is crimped to said groove.

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

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