Description
This fixed ammunition is used in 76mm guns for screening and spotting tire. The cartridge also has a slight incendiary effect.
The projectile body is a thin walled, forged steel casing. The point-detonating fuzed projectile contains a white phosphorous (WP) filler and a combination one-piece aluminum burster casing and adapter. The burster casing houses a projectile burster and a burster initiator loaded with tetrytol. The brass or steel cartridge case assembled to the projectile contains a single-base propellant and a percussion primer. A distinguishing characteristic of these rounds is the cartridge case-over-band construction. The specially designed rotating band has a crimping groove which permits the cartridge case to be assembled over the rotating band and rigidly crimped to it.
The M361 is similar to the M361A1 except that the burster is contained in a two-piece steel casing and the adapter is a separate component. Also, the M361A1 includes a tracer assembly in the base of the projectile.
Color:
Old - Gray with yellow band and yellow marking.
New - Light green with yellow band and red marking.
Functioning
When the weapon is fired, the primer flashes igniting the propellant. Gases created by the burning propellant force the projectile from the gun barrel. Upon impact, the burster initiator, activated by the point-detonating fuze, detonates the burster charge. This ruptures the projectile casing and expels the WP filler. Upon contact with the air, the WP ignites creating a dense white smoke.
Hazardous Components
Filler - WP (1.38 lb, 0.63 kg)
Burster - M28, tetrytol (1.2 oz, 33.6 grams)
Burster initiator - M2
Cartridge case - M361A1: M88B1; M361: M88
Propellant - M6 (3.64 lb, 1.65 kg)
Primer - M68, M58 percussion
Physical Data
Length, overall - 34.06 in, 865.1 mm
See Also
Source(s)
TM 9-1300-203, Artillery Ammunition (1967)
