Description
The projectile of this cartridge is filled with printed instructional or propaganda material in the form of leaflets for distribution to enemy troops and for civilians.
The projectile body consists of a hollow steel forging with a boattail base, a streamlined ogive, gilding metal rotating band, and steel base lug threaded into the base of the projectile. A plastic encased black powder expelling charge is assembled to the projectile at the nose end. Next, a steel baffle plate is assembled behind the expelling charge followed by a 3/4 inch diameter wooden dowel, spacers, and the base plug. The leaflets are furnished later, to meet the mission requirements, and assembled in the projectile around the wooden dowel just prior to firing,
The cartridge case contains a percussion primer assembly and seven individually bagged and numbered propelling charge increments. The base of the cartridge case is drilled and the primer assembly is pressed into the base. The percussion primer assembly consists of a percussion ignition element and a perforated flash tube containing black powder. The seven numbered increment bags are tied together, in numerical order, with acrylic cord. These are assembled into the cartridge case around the primer flash tube with Increment 1 at the base of the cartridge and Increment 7 toward the mouth of the cartridge case.
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 in-flight stability. The projectile functions above ground at a predetermined height based upon time of flight. The fuze ignites the black powder in the expelling charge which, in turn, through gas pressure on the baffle plate and through the dowel causes the base plate to separate from the projectile. The baffle plate pushes the leaflets out of the projectile, and the air stream and projectile spin disseminate the leaflets over the target area.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Leaflets
Cartridge case - M14B1, M14B4
Propellant - M67
Physical Data
Length, overall - 30.49 in, 774.4 mm
Length, projectile without fuze - 15.1 in, 383.5 mm
See Also
Source(s)
