Cookies help us keep our website safe and give you a better experience. Read more or change your cookie settings.
We use cookies to give you the most relevant experience.
81 mm illuminating bomb M816/M853A1
Region
United States
Category
Ammunition, Missiles and precision weapons
Armament M252 81 mm mortar and similar weapons. Development By US Army Ordnance as improvement of earlier models. The original M853 was never produced or fielded as it used the M768 pyrotechnical fuze, which was found insufficiently accurate for the illumination role. It was replaced by the M772 MTSQ fuze and the resultant round, designated M853A1 , was type classified as standard in December 1986. The XM816 is identical to the M853A1 but carries an IR illumination module, rather than visible light. It was type
classified standard limited in July 1994 and as standard in April 2001. The most recent US Army procurement came with the FY99 budget, which funded 8,000 M816 rounds for US$9.3 million. Description The complete round consists of a time fuze with an expulsion charge, a projectile containing an illuminant canister and parachute assembly, an M219 propelling charge comprised of four horseshoe type propellant increments, an M29 fin assembly and an M752A1 ignition cartridge with integral percussion primer. The fuze initiates the candle assembly and separates the front and rear projectile segments. As the parachute deploys the candle burns for 50 to 60 seconds. The M816 IR round provides 75 W/sr illumination for 60 seconds.