Description
This projectile is used in 155mm howitzers to produce casualties. Projectiles filled with VX agent may also be used to contaminate habitable areas.
The projectile is a hollow, deep-cavity steel shell containing essentially a supplementary charge, burster, and gas filler VX or GB. Burster M71 is a thin metal cylinder filled with Composition B extending through the center of Burster Casing M15. The remainder of the interior space of the projectile is filled with liquefied VX or GB agent, The neck of the burster tube seals the agent cavity. The nose of the steel projectile is closed with a threaded adapter to seal in the burster tube and supplementary TNT charge (0.3 lb), and also to provide a fuze receptacle. For shipment an adapter-type lifting plug is installed in the fuze cavity. A point-detonating or proximity fuze is installed before loading the weapon. When a proximity fuze is used, the supplementary charge is removed. A rotating band encircles the projectile near the base and is protected by a grommet during shipment and handling.
Payload may be either 6.0 lb of VX or 6.5 lb of GB agent; type is specified in external marking.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
Hazardous Components
No information about hazardous components.
Physical Data
Length, overall - 0 in, 0 mm
See Also
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons Reference Guide (1998)
