Description
This cartridge is used by light artillery divisions to provide a concentration of (dual purpose) light armor defeating and antipersonnel grenades.
The projectile has a steel body and removable base plug. A copper rotating band is welded to the body. The projectile contains six rows of M80 grenades, having seven grenades per row. The M80 has a shaped main charge and the M234 grenade fuze. Each grenade fuze contains a primary mechanical arming assembly and an electronic self-destruct feature. The self-destruct feature contains a small reserve battery and an electro-explosive device (EED). An M762 ET or M577A1 MTSQ Fuze is installed in the projectile nose. The cartridge case has drawn steel or brass construction, and contains the primer assembly and propelling charge.
The projectile is olive drab with yellow markings.
Functioning
Before loading, fuze functioning time is set. When the weapon is fired, the percussion cap ignites the primer, which ignites the propelling charge. The resulting gas pressure drives the projectile downrange. When the fuze functions, the pressure created will shear the threads of the projectile base plug and drive the grenades into the airstream. The safing mechanisms are quickly dislodged. The slide will move to the armed position, and the reserve battery will activate. Being armed, the grenade can detonate upon impact. Otherwise, when the battery has been activated for approximately three minutes, the grenade will detonate in the self destruct mode.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Grenade, DP, M80 (42)
Expelling charge - M10 propellant
Primary detonator - M55
Cartridge case - M217A1, M217B1
Primer - M28A2
Physical Data
Length, overall - 36.62 in, 930.1 mm
See Also
Source(s)
