Baselining of the 40mm Family of Ammunition

18 Pages·2006·1.42 MB·English

Baselining of the
40mm Family
of Ammunition
TM
James Grassi
U.S. ARMY/ARDEC
40mm Grenades Special Projects
973-724-5987
[email protected]
30 March 2006
30 March 2006 1
Overview
Reason for 40mm Grenades Baselining
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Spark Range Testing
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Firing Tables Testing
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EPVAT Testing with Soft Recovery
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Warheads Testing
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System Effectiveness Modeling & Simulation
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30 March 2006 2
Reason for 40mm Baselining
Need for testing born out of several sources
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Desire to know ballistic similitude between M433
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HEDP and M781 TP projectiles.
Desire to know max trail angle of M433 HEDP to max
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possible QE of M203 for LOS/BLOS concept.
Desire to study M433 impact & liner retaining ring.
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Desire to determine match accuracy of M203 & Mk19
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sights to M433 & M430A1 trajectories, respectively.
Could not field calls for information
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Peak pressure from M433 HEDP
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Firing Table for M781 TP or M406 HE
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30 March 2006 3
Spark Range Testing
Spark Shadowgraph Range
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Testing employs orthogonal
cameras placed at fixed intervals
along trajectory to photograph the
positional and angular orientation
of the projectile.
Performed indoors with no ambient
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lighting.
ARL Spark Shadowgraph Range
Each station provides a “spark” to
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back light the projectile.
6-DOF motion models used to
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reduce data.
Provides aero coefficients, stability
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parameters and other characteristics.
Parameters needed for projectile
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design, diagnostic studies and firing
table construction.
M430 HEDP @ MACH 1.04
30 March 2006 4
Spark Range Testing
Only known 40mm spark range
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M430 HEDP
testing performed on high velocity
cartridges.
“BRL-MR-3788 Aero Characteristics
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of 40mm Ammo for the Mk19 GMG”,
M385E4 TP
Robert McCoy & Andre Sowa,
November 1989.
Characterized M430 HEDP, M385E4
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TP, M385 TP & M384 HE
M385 TP
cartridges.
M384 & M385 no longer in service
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M430 changed (now M430A1)
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M385E4 remained unchanged
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M384 HE
(now M385A1)
30 March 2006 5
Spark Range Testing
Performing Spark Range Testing at ARL and
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Eglin AFB
Testing both Low & High Velocity projectiles
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M433 HEDP (M203 GL)
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M781 TP (M203 GL)
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M430A1 HEDP (Mk19 GMG)
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M918 TP (Mk19 GMG)
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M385A1 TP (Mk19 GMG)
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Using both 12” & 9” M203 GL barrels
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30 March 2006 6
Firing Tables Testing
Testing performed by ARDEC Firing Tables
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Team at Aberdeen Test Center
Firing M433 HEDP & M781 TP cartridges from
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M203 GL (both 12” & 9” barrels).
Testing to be performed:
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Physical Characteristics of Ammunition
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Muzzle Velocity vs. Propellant Temperature Test
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Ballistic Match & Firing Tables Verification Test
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Maximum Range Aeroballistic Test
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Maximum Trail Quadrant Elevation Test
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30 March 2006 7
Firing Tables Testing
Ballistic Match & Firing Tables Verification Test
(cid:132)
Yields firing tables for M433 HEDP & M781 TP ctgs
(cid:132)
Determines level of match of TP to HEDP
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Maximum Range Aeroballistic Test
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Objective is to obtain aerodynamic drag data &
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developing range safety data
Maximum Trail Quadrant Elevation Test
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Determine QE above which M433 HEDP & M781 TP
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will not trail
Assumes maximum trail angle will be different between
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M433 HEDP & M781 TP
30 March 2006 8
EPVAT Testing with Soft Recovery
Electronic Pressure, Velocity & Action Time is
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scarce for 40mm Grenades
High Velocity (Mk19) P-t data exists for M169 Cartridge
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Case Assembly firing M430 HEDP, M385E4 TP &
XM918 TP (March 1987)
High Velocity Action Time taken during LAT using
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M129 GMG (not Mk19 GMG)
Low Velocity P-t data exists for M118 Cartridge Case
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Assembly firing M406 HE (March 1971)
No established method for EPVAT testing during
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production or development
30 March 2006 9
EPVAT Testing with Soft Recovery
ARDEC developed Low Velocity Mann barrel
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Designed for recording P-t data from both mid-case
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and case-mouth positions on both long and short
cartridge case assemblies
Development occurred at same time as NATO Mann
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barrel establishment
Breech Assembly for ARDEC LV Mann Barrel leverage
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from ARDEC High Velocity Mann Barrel
ARDEC HV Mann Barrel meant for stabilized firing and
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cannot be ported for pressure
LV Mann barrel fabricated and ported by Colt Defense
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Planning in place to acquire an ARDEC High
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Velocity Mann Barrel for EPVAT
30 March 2006 10