Description
This fixed cartridge is fired from 105mm gun cannon M68. The cartridge is designed for close-in defense against massed infantry assaults and for offensive tire against exposed enemy personnel, There is a secondary capability against light armor and low-flying aircraft.
The projectile casing consists of a forward aluminum body and a rear steel base. A fuze adapter containing four detonators, a relay and detonator assembly, and a flash tube is fitted to the forward end of the body. The flash tube extends from the fuze adapter to the projectile base. Flechettes and a yellow dye marker are contained in the body of the projectile. The base of the projectile contains an expelling charge and a tracer. The cartridge case, fitted at the base with an electric primer, is crimped to the projectile. A mechanical time fuze with muzzle action capability is used with this cartridge.
The projectile is painted olive drab with a yellow band, white diamonds and white markings.
Functioning
The electrically initiated primer ignites the propelling charge and tracer. Gases produced by the burning propellant propel the projectile from the gun. Concurrently with fuze functioning, the fuze detonator ignites the relay and the four detonators in the projectile. Upon functioning of the detonators, the forward portion of the projectile is ruptured releasing the flechettes and dye marker. Detonator flash follows the flash tube to ignite the expelling charge, and detonation of the expelling charge ejects the flechettes in the lower portion of the projectile. Flechettes are dispersed in a cone-shaped pattern, resulting from the forward force of the expelling charge and centrifugal force from projectile spin.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Flechettes (9.2 lb, 4.18 kg)
Cartridge case - M150B1
Propelling charge - M6 (9.2 lb, 4.18 kg)
Primer - M86 electric
Tracer - M13
Physical Data
Length, overall with fuze - 39.17 in, 995 mm
Length, overall - 35.41 in, 899.4 mm
Length, projectile - 16.34 in, 415 mm
See Also
Source(s)
