jmasly@mainz-emh2.army.mil (John Masly) (02/12/91)
From: John Masly <jmasly@mainz-emh2.army.mil> From hhm@ihlpy.att.com (Herschel H Mayo) >At least 10 or 12 years ago, the South Africans were modifying their >artillery with rocket shells to obtain a large increase in range.... >Are we so stupid as to have no rocket assisted capability for our >artillery? Well, no matter what the media says, "we" are not that stupid. During the mid 1970s I worked for the Army's Armament Research and Development Engineering Command. This is the organization that is responsible for the development and fielding of *all* the artillery shells used by the Army. At that point in time, the U.S. Army had developed, and type classified, RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) rounds for both 155mm and 203mm (that is 8 inch for the non-metric minded 8-) ) artillery. They may have also developed a RAP round for the 105mm, but I can't remember right now. The Army developed these rounds, because they recognized the fact that the Soviet artillery units had us out-distanced on the battlefield, and could target U.S. forces from a distance that precluded us from providing effective counter battery fire. If you want confirmatiom, check with someone who currently works for ARDEC (aka Picatinny Arsenal), Dover, NJ. Two asides here: First - A RAP round actually integrates a small solid propellant rocket motor into the projectile structure, which ignites a short distance from the gun/howitzer muzzle, and provides a moderate increase in range. A base bleed projectile has a propellant in the projectile base that burns freely (the combustion is not confined as in a rocket motor). The idea here is to reduce the low pressure found behind a projectile in flight, so as to reduce the drag on the projectile, and thereby increase the range. The range increase gained by a RAP round is usually greater than that gained by a similar base bleed round. Second - If I remember correctly, the Israelies use a combination of techniques to gain increased range from the 175mm Guns that they acquired from the U.S. They fire a 155mm saboted round and imploy base bleed on the round. I believe the actual 155mm base bleed projectile design originated in Sweden. ******************************************************************** John R. Masly Mainz Army Depot, Mainz Germany APO NY 09185 "AMCs Depot on the Rhein" "English law prohibits a man from marrying his mother-in-law. This is our idea of useless legislation" Unknown ********************************************************************
pspod@kira.lerc.nasa.gov ( ) (02/13/91)
From: pspod@kira.lerc.nasa.gov ( ) In article jmasly@mainz-emh2.army.mil (John Masly) writes: ... > and imploy base bleed on the round. I believe the actual > 155mm base bleed projectile design originated in Sweden. The base bleed idea originated in the fertile mind of the infamous Dr. Gerald Bull, of the Iraqi supergun fame. The G-5 guns now used by Austria, South Africa and Iraq were designed by Bull.
dvlssd@cs.umu.se (Stefan Skoglund) (02/21/91)
From: dvlssd@cs.umu.se (Stefan Skoglund) The base-bled design was invited by some guys at FOA ( the Swedish Defense Research Organisation ) in the 60's. They patented it then. Later on the patent was sold to a Belgian Firm. The Belges sold a manufacturing license to a Canadian firm which then sold the same license to Armscor in SAF. Puhh. Now we come to one another thing : How has the Red Khmers gotten Swedish Carl Gustaf RR and ammo manufactured by FFV ( The Swedish Arm Manufacturing Company ). Through the US or Singapore ? Not China. dvlssd@cs.umu.se, Stefan Skoglund I Tel +46 90 19 65 29 Ume, Sweden I