Cutaway model of a Chinese 75mm HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) cartridge for the Type 52 Recoiless rifle.
The Chinese Type 52 Recoiless rifle is nearly identical to the US manufactured 75mm M20 recoilless rifle.
However this Chinese designed and manufactured shell is quite different to the US design HEAT projectile as can be observed with this cartridge.
The projectile is made of cast and machined steel with a tail of pressed steel to which the fins and ring are welded. In the base of the tail a pressed in tracer housing is placed.
The fuzing system used is of the spit back type; upon impact the nose fuze passes a flame down the cone into the heat sensitive detonator at the base of the cone (red), igniting the main charge of 332 grams RDX/TNT.
It should be noted that –in contrast to US projectiles- this projectile is not spin stabilized and uses a tail for stabilisation.
Functioning of the fuze:
A : Fuze body
B : Firing pin
C : Setback sleeve
D : Upper locking ball
E : Pin in zig zag path
F : Lower locking balls (4pcs)
G : Resistance flange with spring
H : Hammer pin
J : Detonator housing
K : Duplex detonator (stab)
Upon firing, the setback sleeve (C ) moves backward with a zig zagging (E ) movement, riding it’s pressure spring inside the setback sleeve. This releases the upper locking ball (D ) that falls out of the hole in top of the firing pin (B). When the acceleration stops, the spring inside the setback sleeve moves the sleeve forward further than it’s original position due to the missing upper locking ball (D ). This releases the four lower locking balls (F) that fall outward releasing the firing pin, enabling it to move backward. When the four balls fall away, the spring loaded resistance flange with spring (G) moves forward, keeping the fring pin away from the duplex detonator (K).
Upon impact, the hammer pin (H) will push the firing pin (B) into the duplex detonator (K) , overriding the spring of the resistance flange.
When grazing the target, the hammer pin will be swung outward, also pushing the firing pin inward.
The shellcase is only partly filled with powder, a cartboard distance piece keeps the powdercharge in the backward position.
The primer is filled with 1gram black powder, the pipe shaped igniter charge is filled with 51 grams black powder.
The main charge is 1 kilogram of single base powder (2,20 pounds)
Length of complete cartridge : 776 mm
Length of projectile with fuze : 410 mm
Length of projectile without fuze : 332 mm
Length of shellcase : 405mm
Diameter of projectile : 75mm
Weight of cartridge : 6,425 Kg (14,18 pounds)
Weight of projectile : 2,81 Kg (6,19 pounds)
Regards, DJH
The Chinese Type 52 Recoiless rifle is nearly identical to the US manufactured 75mm M20 recoilless rifle.
However this Chinese designed and manufactured shell is quite different to the US design HEAT projectile as can be observed with this cartridge.
The projectile is made of cast and machined steel with a tail of pressed steel to which the fins and ring are welded. In the base of the tail a pressed in tracer housing is placed.
The fuzing system used is of the spit back type; upon impact the nose fuze passes a flame down the cone into the heat sensitive detonator at the base of the cone (red), igniting the main charge of 332 grams RDX/TNT.
It should be noted that –in contrast to US projectiles- this projectile is not spin stabilized and uses a tail for stabilisation.
Functioning of the fuze:
A : Fuze body
B : Firing pin
C : Setback sleeve
D : Upper locking ball
E : Pin in zig zag path
F : Lower locking balls (4pcs)
G : Resistance flange with spring
H : Hammer pin
J : Detonator housing
K : Duplex detonator (stab)
Upon firing, the setback sleeve (C ) moves backward with a zig zagging (E ) movement, riding it’s pressure spring inside the setback sleeve. This releases the upper locking ball (D ) that falls out of the hole in top of the firing pin (B). When the acceleration stops, the spring inside the setback sleeve moves the sleeve forward further than it’s original position due to the missing upper locking ball (D ). This releases the four lower locking balls (F) that fall outward releasing the firing pin, enabling it to move backward. When the four balls fall away, the spring loaded resistance flange with spring (G) moves forward, keeping the fring pin away from the duplex detonator (K).
Upon impact, the hammer pin (H) will push the firing pin (B) into the duplex detonator (K) , overriding the spring of the resistance flange.
When grazing the target, the hammer pin will be swung outward, also pushing the firing pin inward.
The shellcase is only partly filled with powder, a cartboard distance piece keeps the powdercharge in the backward position.
The primer is filled with 1gram black powder, the pipe shaped igniter charge is filled with 51 grams black powder.
The main charge is 1 kilogram of single base powder (2,20 pounds)
Length of complete cartridge : 776 mm
Length of projectile with fuze : 410 mm
Length of projectile without fuze : 332 mm
Length of shellcase : 405mm
Diameter of projectile : 75mm
Weight of cartridge : 6,425 Kg (14,18 pounds)
Weight of projectile : 2,81 Kg (6,19 pounds)
Regards, DJH
