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30mm rounds for Apache
- Thread starter SG500
- Start date
Here is a write of or sorts:
A primary warfighting munition for the Apache attack helicopter is the 30mm M789 high-explosive dual-purpose round. Considered the armament of choice for soft and light armor targets, it is fired from the M230E1 cannon at rates in excess of 600 rounds per minute. Unfortunately, the round has experienced low-order, in-bore detonations and hang fires periodically that have damaged the M230E1 cannon in incidents dating back to the 1970s. Several failure investigations were conducted in the 1980s and 1990s to determine the cause, mm resulting in design changes to the fuze, ignition system and moisture seals.
A primary warfighting munition for the Apache attack helicopter is the 30mm M789 high-explosive dual-purpose round. Considered the armament of choice for soft and light armor targets, it is fired from the M230E1 cannon at rates in excess of 600 rounds per minute. Unfortunately, the round has experienced low-order, in-bore detonations and hang fires periodically that have damaged the M230E1 cannon in incidents dating back to the 1970s. Several failure investigations were conducted in the 1980s and 1990s to determine the cause, mm resulting in design changes to the fuze, ignition system and moisture seals.
A bit here as well showing M788 practice rounds for the apache
http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/30mm-tp-m788-t4735.html?t=4735&highlight=m788
I also have this cut practice one
http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/30mm-tp-m788-t4735.html?t=4735&highlight=m788
I also have this cut practice one
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For what its worth. I scanned this from my copy of Janes 04-05 Ammunition Handbooks
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Here the Cartridge HEDP M-789 30mm cutaway.
link added by spotter to blus original post http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/cartridge-hedp-m-t4584.html?t=4584&highlight=30mm
link added by spotter to blus original post http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/cartridge-hedp-m-t4584.html?t=4584&highlight=30mm
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Now that one is REALLY REALLY NICE!!!!!! I'd think that was quite expensive to make.
Thanks for showing it.
Dave.
Lou
Well-Known Member
Awesome Haz....Glad to see you loosen up a bitty bit,Lol:xd: Or should I say a bitty bit more.Beautiful rounds.
This is the full extent of my 30mm shorts.Im not sure why someone jammed one of the projectiles onto a long shell,and I havent gotten it off yet.A project for the future.
This is the full extent of my 30mm shorts.Im not sure why someone jammed one of the projectiles onto a long shell,and I havent gotten it off yet.A project for the future.
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Chris 42 RQ
Well-Known Member
So there is no kinetic energy round for the M230? I guess I always assumed there some form of APCR or APFSDS round fired by the Apache's cannon ala the M791 or M919 fired by the Bradleys 25mm main gun. However it looks like the M230 uses only HEAT as a close in armor defeating projectile (Hellfire being a stand-off missile).
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Now you're talking, fantastic group of rounds John, they really do display well. Thanks for showing them. They seem to be a bit tricky to find this side of the pond.
Dave.
Lou
Well-Known Member
To be honest with you I dont really know.Id venture a guess as a yes,but Im limited on this newer stuff.Ive just recently been bidding on and picking up items I would normally ignore.Looks like I have some studying to do.Id bet some of the other guys could answer that question though!!!
The groove might have been for some type of link or indexing, but the only cannon rounds I have seen 3omm and larger with link grooves are the 35mm. I have never seen a GAU-8 or GAU-9 case with a groove like that before, and it is much wider than a typical link groove.
As to why the Apache TP is in a GAU case, it is a marketing thing. The "salesman" had no knowledge of the proper case/projo combination and no inclination to learn, but the hole and projo were close, so why not force them together?
As far as why there is no APDS projo for the Apache, it is a much slower round than the 25mm or 30mm GAU rounds, so APDS doesn't work as efficiently as HEDP shaped charge rounds. The DP stands for dual purpose which means armor piercing plus high explosive/frag. The Apache wasn't designed as an antitank specific machine as much as the A-10 Warthog. The Apache is set up as an overall battlefield flying artillery piece, with Hellfire missiles and 2.75 inch antiarmor submunition rockets. The 2.75 inch rockets also include flares for battlefield illum, WP-smoke for screening and incendiary, and a flechette round for antihelicopter use, besides the 3 sizes of HE rockets. Did I mention that it also carries stingers for air-to-air defense?
The 30mm gun is for destroying lighter skinned items that the pilot doesn't want to waste a rocket or missile on.
As to why the Apache TP is in a GAU case, it is a marketing thing. The "salesman" had no knowledge of the proper case/projo combination and no inclination to learn, but the hole and projo were close, so why not force them together?
As far as why there is no APDS projo for the Apache, it is a much slower round than the 25mm or 30mm GAU rounds, so APDS doesn't work as efficiently as HEDP shaped charge rounds. The DP stands for dual purpose which means armor piercing plus high explosive/frag. The Apache wasn't designed as an antitank specific machine as much as the A-10 Warthog. The Apache is set up as an overall battlefield flying artillery piece, with Hellfire missiles and 2.75 inch antiarmor submunition rockets. The 2.75 inch rockets also include flares for battlefield illum, WP-smoke for screening and incendiary, and a flechette round for antihelicopter use, besides the 3 sizes of HE rockets. Did I mention that it also carries stingers for air-to-air defense?
The 30mm gun is for destroying lighter skinned items that the pilot doesn't want to waste a rocket or missile on.
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