Propellant Charges

Fig. 5. Two-stage light gas gun showing the piston and H projectile where M = propellant charge and 1 = light gas (a), before firing (b), after firing propellant charge (c), as piston nears necked-down mouth of the launch tube (d), after completion of firing cycle. Piston is removed from neck of launch...

T. C. Minor, Interior ballistic Calculations for the 155mm Cannon Eaunched Guided Projectile, 2CM712, Tired with theiXM211 Propellant Charge, interim memo report, BaUistics Research Laboratory (BRL), Aberdeen, Md., Aug. 1977, p. 569. 

M. E. Sever and H. Hassmann, "155mm M203E2 Artillery Propeling Charge with Combustible Cartridge Case and Stick Propellant," iu Proceedings of the Third International Gun Propellant Symposium ARDEC, Dover, N.J., Oct. 1984. 

Secondary detonating explosive substance or black powder or article containing a secondary detonating explosive substance, in each case without means of initiation and without a propelling charge, or article containing a primary explosive substance and containing two or more independent safety features D... 

Article containing a secondary detonatng explosive substance, without means of initiation and with a propelling charge (other than a charge containing a flammable or hypergolic liquid) E... 

Absorption of 105mm, M67, Propelling Charge Increment Bags , PicArsn Product Assurance Directorate Rept No ASRSD-AQ-A-P-53-72 (1972) 54) H.L. Sayce, The Effect of Added... 

PIAT. Acronym for projector infantry antitank. A Brit WWII weapon based on the shaped charge effect. It fired a rocket-propelled charge weighing 3 lbs which could pierce 4-tnch armor plate Ref J. Quick, Dictionary of Weapons and Military Terms , McGraw Hill, NY (1973), 349... 

Arsenal extended to the year 1902, and the history of the depot was one of gradual construction with the ultimate idea of an establishment for the storage of powder. However, a few years before the Spanish American War, the depot began assembling powder charges for cannon. This propellant charge loading, Picatinny s first production activity, has never ceased... 

Computed Maximum Pressure (CMP). Value of max pressure computed by means of interior ballistic formulas. It will be developed when a new gun of a particular type is fired under standard conditions with a propelling charge which will give to the projectile its rated muzzle velocity Rated Maximum Pressure (RMP). Value of max pressure specified in the proplnt specifications as the upper limit of avg pressure which may be developed by an acceptable proplnt in the form of propelling charges which will impart the specified muzzle velocity to the specified projectile. Normally about 2000psi.above the computed max pressure, subject to determination at the time of development... 

As stated, the major uses for these proplnts are for small arms ammo, mortar shells and artillery shells up to 280mm. They are also used as the propelling charge in naval guns... 

For the largest weapons, the propellent charge can be kept separate from the rest of the round and in this way it is possible to adjust the weight of the propellant to allow for wear of the gun during continued use. The storage and handling convenience of a complete sealed round are, however, such that this is the form usually adopted. 

Cap. A metal shell with pyrotechnic filling, such as is used in small arms ammunition for causing a mechanical blow on the outside of the shell to ignite the propellent charge inside. In the U.S.A. detonators are known as blasting caps. 

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