Description
The M60 was used with M2A1, M2A2, M4, M4A1, and M49 howitzers to disperse a casualty-producing agent for use against enemy personnel.
This round was assembled with the M60 smoke shell which resembled the HE shell in outward appearance. The body was one inch shorter than the HE projectile, but the adapter that was necessary to hold the burster brings the length to the same as the HE. The projectile was boat-tailed and the nose was ogival and threaded to take an adapter. The adapter served three purposes: it provided a tight seal for chemical agent contents of the projectile; it held the fuze and booster; and it provided a seat for the forward end of the burster, which was a thin walled steel tube that extended from the adapter to the rear of the shell cavity. The projectile had no base plate.
The projectile is painted gray with dark green bands.
Functioning
Impact of the weapon firing pin results in the initiation of the percussion primer which in turn ignites the black powder in the flash tube. The flash tube provides for uniform ignition of the propelling charge producing a rapid expansion of the propellant gas which propels the projectile out of the weapon tube. Engagement of the projectile rotating band with the rifling of the weapon tube imparts spin to the projectile providing inflight stability. Upon impact with the target, the PD fuze detonates the burster charge rupturing the projectile and dispersing the chemical agent. The liquid agent evaporates forming a persistent gas to envelope the target areas.
Hazardous Components
Filler - H (3.17 lb, 1.44 kg) or HD (2.97 lb, 1.35 kg)
Burster - M5 Tetrytol
Booster - M22
Physical Data
Length, overall - 31.1 in, 789.9 mm
Length, projectile without fuze - 15.7 in, 398.8 mm
See Also
Cartridge, 105mm Smoke WP, M60 Series
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons and Related Materiel Reference Guide (2018)
Old Chemical Weapons Reference Guide (1998)
TM 9-1300-203, Artillery Ammunition (1967)
TM 9-1904, Ammunition Inspection Guide (1944)
