Flashless charges

Flashless Charges. See under Flash-rReducing Agents... 

The first flashless charges were made during World War I. They were developed from an observation of Dautriche [43] that addition of blackpowder reduces and attenuates flash or even entirely prevents the formation of a secondary flame. The French therefore added blackpowder to nitrocellulose powder and during World War I regularly loaded part of their machine gun ammunition with a mixture con-... 

Other patents of the interwar period include several that specified addition of substances rich in carbon, e.g. of powdered hydrocellulose, to obtain flashless charges. In the U.S.S.R. nitroglycerine powder was used in which a part of the nitroglycerine was replaced by aromatic nitro compounds. During World War II the most widely used flashless powder contained nitroguanidine (in Germany called Gudol powder). 

This classification is offered, not in any belief that it clarifies a matter which is otherwise difficult to understand, but because it directs attention to the various possibilities and displays their relationships to one another. Some of the possibilities correspond to powders which are or have been used in this country or in Europe, and which are sufficiently described for our present purpose if they are mentioned specifically. Others will be discussed at greater length in the sections, below, which are concerned with the absorption of moisture, with gelatinizing agents, and with flashless charges and flashless powder. All the possibilities are actually exploited, though not always separately. 

Solvcniless powder in Japan Flashless charges and flashless powders Smokeless powder with penthrite Smokeless powders containing nitroaliphatic compounds Smokeless powders for rockets Cast double base propellants Technology of casting Powder casting process Slurrying process... 

Flashless. Said of a prop In t or propelling charge which does not produce a muzzle flash in the weapon for which intended Ref Glossary of Ordn(1959), 119 R... 

The use of salts to produce flashlessness appears to derive from an early observation of Dautriche that a small amount of black powder, added to the smokeless powder charge of small-arms ammunition, makes the discharge flashless. During the first World War the French regularly loaded a part of their machine gun ammunition with a propellant consisting of 9 parts of smokeless powder and 1 of black powder. 

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