Description
This cartridge provides illumination for observation during night missions.
The complete round consists of a body tube, a tail cone assembly, an illuminant charge, a parachute assembly, a time fuze, a fin assembly with four increments of propellant charge, an ignition cartridge, and a percussion primer. The nose of the thin-walled steel body tube is fitted with a steel adapter, which is internally threaded to accept the fuze. The cone is fitted with an internally threaded adapter to accept the fin assembly and is attached to the body tube with four equally spaced shear pins. The illuminant assembly, which consists of a first-fire charge and an illuminant charge, is contained in a box board casing which is attached to the parachute with a suspension line. An expelling charge directly below the fuze, ejects the illuminant and parachute assembly.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Illuminant (0.49 lb, 0.22 kg)
Illuminant charge - M83A1 has 25 second burn time at 145,000 candlepower. M83A2 and M83A3 burn for 32 seconds at 250,000 candlepower.
Primer - Percussion, M32
Ignition cartridge - M5A2
Propellant charge - M83A1 and M83A2 use M3A1 propelling charge. M83A3 uses M182 propelling charge.
See Also
Source(s)
TM 43-0001-28, Artillery Ammunition (chg 11, 2003)
TM 9-1300-203, Artillery Ammunition (1967)
TM 9-1904, Ammunition Inspection Guide (1944)
