pzgr40
Well-Known Member
Purpose :
Battlefield illumination.
Construction :
The projectile consists of a steel shell body (1), with a machined chamber of 120 mm on the inside. The projectile has a baseplate (2) that is connected to the body by means of four longitude steel pins at 90 degrees each, placed half in the rim of the baseplate, half in the projectile body. A lead gasket (3) is placed between the baseplate and the projectile body. Four radial placed shear pins fixate the baseplate to the projectile body.
The projectile is fuzed with the DM53 (US designation M50A1) time and impact fuze (4), which is screwed in top of the projectile. Below the fuze the black powder expulsion charge (5) is placed in a plastic container, which is placed in a sheet steel container (6). Below the expulsion charge, the expulsion flange (7) is placed. The expulsion flange has four holes (8) at 90 degrees each close to the center of the flange, meant to ignite the flare. Between the expulsion flange and the flare a felt disc (9) with slots is placed, the slots positioned in a way to allow the flame of the expulsion charge (5) to reach the ignition charge of the flare. The flare is placed in a two piece (180 degr each) chims (10).
The flare consists of a steel container (11) , open at the base, filled with Illumination compound (12) , pressed in three stages. At the open side an ignition charge (13) is pressed. The open end of the container is closed with a steel disc with slots (14) and a cardboard disc with slots, allowing the flame of the expulsion charge to ignite the ignition charge. At the closed end of the steel container the flange has a hole drilled through to allow for a pipe (15) through the illumination compound and for the parachute (16) attachment. Through this hole in the pipe a steel cable (17) runs which is connected to the center of the parachute with one end, the other end of the cable is soldered to a steel bushing (18). The parachute is placed in a bushing, consisting of four aluminum chims (19) -each 90 degrees-. Between the steel container for the flare and the aluminum chins around the parachute, a filler ring consisting of four 90 degrees chins (20) is placed. Between the baseplate and the parachute a thick felt washer (21) is placed
Functioning :
Before firing, the desired expulsion time is set with the DM53 fuze. Upon reaching the desired time after firing, the fuze shoots a flame into the expulsion charge which ignites. The flame travels through the four holes into the ignition charge of the flare and ignites. As the pressure of the expulsion charge rises, the pressure is transmitted to the baseplate through the steel container of the flare, the chim plates, and the aluminum chims, until the baseplate is pushed off and the parachute and flare are ejected form the projectile body. The aluminum and steel chims are thrown away by the rotation of the projectile body. The parachute catches wind and partially unfolds, restricted by the steel cable. This acts as a speed brake to ensure that flare is not ripped of the parachute due to the large descelaration. As soon as the flare is fully ignited, the heat will melt the solder in the steel bushing (18), releasing the cable (17), allowing the parachute to fully deploy.
Diameter projectile body : 155 mm.
Length projectile with fuze : 615 mm.
Length projectile w/o fuze : 518 mm.
Width driving band : 26 mm.
Projectile weight : 45,36 Kg.
Weight flare mixture : 1,95 kg.
Weight ignition charge flare : 0,425 Kg.
Weight expulsion charge : 61 gram kruit.
Burning time flare : 70 seconden.
Light strength : 900.000 Candela.
The projectile was fired from the M109 mechanized howitzer
Regards, DJH
Battlefield illumination.
Construction :
The projectile consists of a steel shell body (1), with a machined chamber of 120 mm on the inside. The projectile has a baseplate (2) that is connected to the body by means of four longitude steel pins at 90 degrees each, placed half in the rim of the baseplate, half in the projectile body. A lead gasket (3) is placed between the baseplate and the projectile body. Four radial placed shear pins fixate the baseplate to the projectile body.
The projectile is fuzed with the DM53 (US designation M50A1) time and impact fuze (4), which is screwed in top of the projectile. Below the fuze the black powder expulsion charge (5) is placed in a plastic container, which is placed in a sheet steel container (6). Below the expulsion charge, the expulsion flange (7) is placed. The expulsion flange has four holes (8) at 90 degrees each close to the center of the flange, meant to ignite the flare. Between the expulsion flange and the flare a felt disc (9) with slots is placed, the slots positioned in a way to allow the flame of the expulsion charge (5) to reach the ignition charge of the flare. The flare is placed in a two piece (180 degr each) chims (10).
The flare consists of a steel container (11) , open at the base, filled with Illumination compound (12) , pressed in three stages. At the open side an ignition charge (13) is pressed. The open end of the container is closed with a steel disc with slots (14) and a cardboard disc with slots, allowing the flame of the expulsion charge to ignite the ignition charge. At the closed end of the steel container the flange has a hole drilled through to allow for a pipe (15) through the illumination compound and for the parachute (16) attachment. Through this hole in the pipe a steel cable (17) runs which is connected to the center of the parachute with one end, the other end of the cable is soldered to a steel bushing (18). The parachute is placed in a bushing, consisting of four aluminum chims (19) -each 90 degrees-. Between the steel container for the flare and the aluminum chins around the parachute, a filler ring consisting of four 90 degrees chins (20) is placed. Between the baseplate and the parachute a thick felt washer (21) is placed
Functioning :
Before firing, the desired expulsion time is set with the DM53 fuze. Upon reaching the desired time after firing, the fuze shoots a flame into the expulsion charge which ignites. The flame travels through the four holes into the ignition charge of the flare and ignites. As the pressure of the expulsion charge rises, the pressure is transmitted to the baseplate through the steel container of the flare, the chim plates, and the aluminum chims, until the baseplate is pushed off and the parachute and flare are ejected form the projectile body. The aluminum and steel chims are thrown away by the rotation of the projectile body. The parachute catches wind and partially unfolds, restricted by the steel cable. This acts as a speed brake to ensure that flare is not ripped of the parachute due to the large descelaration. As soon as the flare is fully ignited, the heat will melt the solder in the steel bushing (18), releasing the cable (17), allowing the parachute to fully deploy.
Diameter projectile body : 155 mm.
Length projectile with fuze : 615 mm.
Length projectile w/o fuze : 518 mm.
Width driving band : 26 mm.
Projectile weight : 45,36 Kg.
Weight flare mixture : 1,95 kg.
Weight ignition charge flare : 0,425 Kg.
Weight expulsion charge : 61 gram kruit.
Burning time flare : 70 seconden.
Light strength : 900.000 Candela.
The projectile was fired from the M109 mechanized howitzer
Regards, DJH
