Description
This cartridge with the proximity fuze is primarily used against low flying aircraft. It is fired from the Sgt York 40mm gun M247.
The projectile of this cartridge is made of alloy steel with tungsten pre-fragmented spheres. It is filled with Octol (120 g). This projectile is designed to fragment and disburse tungsten spheres upon detonation of explosive charge. The cartridge is brass and crimped to the projectile. The cartridge case contains approximately 500 grams of propellant. The base of the cartridge case contains a percussion primer containing black powder and a percussion element. The color of the projectile body is painted yellow with black markings. The projectile nose is threaded to receive the proximity fuze. The M766 proximity fuze is radar controlled and functions either upon target impact or when in close proximity to the target.
Functioning
When the firing pin of the weapon strikes the percussion primer, the black powder ignites which, in turn, ignites the propellant. This causes the rapidly expanding gases, generated by the burning propellant, to propel the projectile toward the target. Upon approaching or impacting the target, the proximity fuze detonates the Octol causing the projectile to burst and disburse the tungsten spheres and other fragments.
Hazardous Components
Filler and weight - Octol (120 g, 4.29 oz)
Propellant and weight - Single base, single perforated (515 g, 1.15 lb)
Primer - Mk 22
Physical Data
Length, overall - 21 in, 534 mm
See Also
Source(s)
TM 43-0001-28, Artillery Ammunition (chg 11, 2003)
