Shell boosters

Renovation and Salvage. Ammunition which has deteriorated to such a stage that replacement of the fuzes, boosters, shell charges or propelling charges is necessary,... 

Picric Acid and Ammonium Picrate. Picric acid (PA) (2,4,6,-trinitrophenol) was the first modem high explosive to be used extensively as a burster ia gun projectiles. It was first obtained by nitration of iadigo, and used primarily as a fast dye for silk and wool. It offered many advantages when compressed, it was used as a booster for other explosives, and when cast (melting poiat 122.5°C) served as a burster ia shell it was stable, iasensitive, nonhygroscopic, relatively nontoxic, and of high density when cast, and could be made economically by simple nitration. 

FIGURE 6.27 In this preparation of rocket fuel for the space shuttle, powdered aluminum is mixed with an oxidizing agent in a liquid polymer base that hardens inside the booster rocket shell. 

One spectacular example of the oxidizing ability of perchlorates is their use in the booster rockets of space shuttles. The solid propellant consists of aluminum powder (the fuel), ammonium perchlorate (the oxidizing agent as well as a fuel), and iron(III) oxide (the catalyst). These reactants are mixed into a liquid polymer, which sets to a solid inside the rocket shell. A variety of products can form when the mixture is ignited. One of the reactions is... 

If no other sources exist, artillery and mortar shells, bombs, land mines, and other munitions may be cannibalized for the high explosives they contain. These munitions usually contain cast explosives, which require extra strong blasting caps or boosters to detonate. However, some of the simpler cannibalization techniques will be discussed. 

Another way of priming the charge is to use the booster which is present in the fuse assembly instead of plastic explosive. To do this, leave the wrench on the fuse after it is removed from the shell, grip the booster cup with pliers and unscrew the booster from the fuse. 

Replace the booster in the fuse well, place one turn of primacord tightly on top of the booster and secure it firmly in place with string, wire, tape, or rags. The booster and primacord also should be securely fastened to the shell. 

Any number of mortar shells may be prepared either with the plastic explosive technique or by using the booster and attached by their primacord branch lines to a main primacord line for simultaneous firing. Or they may be interspersed along a road or trail with frag grenades or other improvised charges. 

Lead azide is used in fuses and detonators as a primary explosive to initiate the booster. It also is used in shells and cartridges. 

Fuze, PD M56. It is a supersensitive type used with 37-mm HE shells. The fuze consists of the following parts (See Fig 1-77), joined by threads a nose (B), a head assembly (F) snd body (L), The body holds the booster charge (M) and an interrupter (N) which contains a part of the explosive train connecting the booster with the detonator (H), which is located in its assembly (G) screwed into recess of head assembly (F). 

Fuzes, MT M43 Series. The original M43 fuze was developed to fulfil the requirement for a single-purpose MT fuze for antiaircraft use with medium caliber shell fitted with the same booster as other standard fuzes. All modifications have the contour which is characteristic of modern design fuzes. They provide for time setting to 30 seconds and are without impact element (See Fig 1-89) The fuze body for the M43 to M43A4 fuzes is in three parts an upper cap, a movable lower cap, and a fixed base (W). 

A) assemblies (See Fig 1-94). However, the diameter of the body is smaller aqd the booster pellet is omitted instead-of a booster for the fuze, the shell loading includes a Tetrvl pellet at the base end of the main chge. Aside from the shift from booster in... 

A.J. Marhefka, "Examination and Evaluation of Fuze, PD, Impact, Model MKE 101 for Mortar Shell (Copy of French Brandt Type), with Adapter and Booster (Turkish) , PAMR 102 (March 1956) (Conf)... 

In order to prevent any hot gas from contacting the explosive charge (in the event that any porosity exists in the shell base) a thin steel disc is welded or brazed to the shell base ( base cover ). The shell is filled with high explosive (TNT, Amatol, Pentolite etc), leaving a cylindrical cavity at the upper part for a booster charge. The neck of the shell is threaded inside... 

Horse Detonator. The name given to the American M46 fuze because it can initiate much more effectively than standard fuzes, such as the Mark III. The M46 fuze can be used even with the worst exuding shell, where the standard fuzes nearly always fail. It compensates for both desensitized boosters and bursting charges. In all cases, it gives high-order detonations... 

The 70/30 mixt had Expln Temp 237-46° Brisance by Sand Test 102% TNT Power by Ballistic Mortar 109% TNT Rifle Bullet Test 20% detonations and Impact Sensitivity by PicArsn Test 12.5 inches (TNT 14). It was reported to be toxic, not very stable, and reactive with metals in the presence of moisture. Used pressed by Army and Navy as an Auxiliary Booster in some Bombs and Shells (Ref 1, pp 31 32 and Ref 5, p 365)... 

Used by Japanese in pressed state as a standard Sub-Booster in Army and Navy Shells and occasionally as the sole Booster in Navy 25-mm Shells and as Burster in some Bombs and Shells. Also used in composite explosive Tanoyaku (qv) (Ref 1, pp 26, 31 33 Ref 5, p 367)... 

Type 11-Year 70-mm HE Mortar Shell was a light steel cylinder with conical nose housing a Fuze. Its Main Charge was 15.2 oz TNT with Booster 1.6 oz of PA. Was fired by NC-DPhA flaked proplnt. Fired from Type 11-Year 70-mm Rifled Mortar (p 378, Fig 301)... 

Type 97 and Type 100 81-mm HE Mortar Shells were in the shape of streamlined bombs. Its Main Charge was TNT (ca 1.2 lbs), Booster-PA and proplnt which is described here under PROPELLANTS. Was fired from Type 97 or 99 Mortars (pp 380—81, Figs 303 304)... 

Type 2 120-mm HE Mortar Shell was streamlined in shape, contg 6.0 lbs of TNT with RDX/Wax Booster. No data for proplnt. Was fired from Type 2 120-mm Smooth Bore Mortar (pp 387—88, Fig 311)... 

Shoeiyaku. Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), C(CH2ON02)4 mw 316.14, N 17.72% wh crysts, d 1.77, mp 141° Brisance by Plate Dent Test 129% TNT Explosion Temperature 225° (decomp in 5 secs) Impact Sensitivity BurMines-App, 2-kg Wt 17cm (vs 100+ for TNT) Power by Ballistic Mortar Test 145% TNT Rate of Detonation 8300m/sec (Ref 8, p 276). Pressed PETN was used in Army 7.7 12.7-mm Fuzeless Projectiles and 20-mm MG Projs. Also in Boosters. Its mixt with TNT is called Pentoriru (qv). PETN with 8.5% wax was used for loading 20-mm Shells. Its mixtures with RDX were used in 7.7 12.7-mm Projectiles. PETN was also used in Incendiary Mixtures (Ref 1, p 27 Ref 5, p 372)... 

X-7. A pressed mixture of PETN wax. It was used as Main Charge in some Incendiary Shells and as a Booster in 13-mm 15-mm Shells (Ref5,p 379)... 

Impact Sensitivity — comparable with PETN(FI) Power by Ballistic Mortar Test — 108% TNT Power by Trauzl Test — 115% TNT Thermal Stability at 135° — acidic in 30 mins Uses Due to the presence of excess O, HNEt forms in mixts with HE s deficient in O, very powerful e pls. Claessen (Ref 2) patented in 1913 several mixts with TNT suitable as bursting or booster chges of artillery shells. 

Uses — used by Germans during WWII as pressed charges in shells and as cast charges In eutectic mixts with AN. In mixes with wax it was used in boosters (Refs 3 10)... 

---