Description
This cartridge is a hypervelocity armor piercing type with discarding sabot, intended for use in 105mm guns against armored targets.
The projectile consists of a sheathed tungsten carbide core with tracer and a sabot. The core, which is the armor-piercing element, is carried within the sheath with the sabot assembled on the exterior surface. A plastic band is positioned on the outside diameter of the sabot at the forward end. A fiber rotating band and a rubber obturator are assembled on the outside diameter near the base of the sabot. The igniter tube of the electric primer extends almost the entire length of the propellant loosely packed in the cartridge case.
The projectile is painted black with white markings.
The M392 is of United Kingdom manufacture and bears the U.K. designation of L36A1. The M392 is fitted with U.K. L4A1 or L4A2 primer.
Functioning
The electrically initiated primer ignites the propelling charge. Gases produced by the burning propellant propel the projectile from the gun and ignite the tracer which burns for a minimum of 2.5 seconds. Setback, centrifugal, and air pressure forces cause the sabot to discard upon leaving the gun tube. The sheathed core is spin stabilized and penetrates the target solely by kinetic energy.
Hazardous Components
Cartridge case - M115, M115B1
Propelling charge - M30 (T36)
Primer - M80A1
Tracer - M13
Physical Data
Length, overall - 33 in, 838.2 mm
Length, projectile - 10.68 in, 271.5 mm
See Also
Cartridge, 105mm APDS-T, L36A1
Source(s)
TM 9-1300-203, Artillery Ammunition (1967)
