155 mm extended range full-bore smoke WP

Lightweight Towed Howitzer; M46/84 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ). Self-propelled 155 mm howitzers: TAMSE VCA 155; NORINCO PLZ45 Self-propelled Gun-Howitzer; Giat Industries CAESAR 155/52; PzH 2000 ; Rheinmetall M109A3G and M44T ; Majnoon ( Iraq ); Soltam Rascal and Slammer; Otobreda Palmaria and M109L ; K9 Thunder ( South Korea ); ZTS ZUZANA ( Slovakia ); LIW G6; XT-69 ( Taiwan ); AS90 and Braveheart ; M109A4, M109A5 and M109A6 Paladin; XM2001/XM2002 Crusader AFAS. Development The 155 mm ERFB Smoke WP is a bursting projectile, developed alongside the 155 mm HE ERFB projectiles as they use what is virtually the same body. The 155 mm ERFB and ERFB-BB versions are produced in Europe by Eurometaal while those once produced in South Africa are now available on an `as required' basis. Chartered Ammunition Industries of Singapore also produce a 155 mm ERFB Smoke WP, as does the Austrian NORICUM. Description The 155 mm ERFB Smoke WP has the same general outline and overall dimensions as other 155 mm ERFB projectiles, and uses a one-piece high-grade steel body. The streamlined ogive reaches almost to the copper or gilding metal drive band and plastic obturator band close to the base. The drag reduction base unit is a steel component with an external cavity on the ERFB version while the base on the ERFB-BB is occupied by a steel base bleed unit. The fuze well at the nose is normally occupied by a lifting plug during storage, transport and handling. On the 155 mm Smoke WP versions of the ERFB, the fuze well takes the form of a steel adaptor screwed into the nose of the body at the base of which is threaded a steel or light-alloy burster tube running the entire length of the body interior. The burster tube contains an explosive, typically 234 g of Composition B5 which, when detonated by the functioning of the PD fuze (typically a PD M572), is sufficient to break open the steel casing of the projectile body dispersing the contents, typically 7.6 kg of WP. As the WP contacts the air it ignites to produce a dense cloud of white smoke which lasts for approximately 60 seconds. South African 155 mm ERFB projectiles may be converted in the field, to remove boat tails from ERFB projectiles and fit base bleed units to produce ERFB-BB projectiles. The process is carried out using a projectile clamping table. The same table can also be used to remove damaged obturators and fit new ones. The table can be folded flat and weighs 25 kg. To take full advantage of the range potential of 155 mm ERFB and ERFB-BB Smoke WP projectiles they are usually fired with high-energy charges, typically the NATO M3A1 (zones 3, 4 and 5), M4A2 (zones 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7), M119A1 (zone 8), M203 (zone 9) or the M11 (zone 10), the latter being restricted to 45 calibre barrels or longer. The propelling system for the LIW 155 mm G5 and G6 gun-howitzers originally involved a three-charge cloth bag system. This has been replaced by a modular system involving combustible cases, developed by SOMCHEM , with a built-in charge retaining device. The system may be used with ERFB and (above the basic Charge 2) ERFB-BB projectiles and all NATO 155 mm projectiles. The lowest charge for the Denel modular charge system is the Charge Propelling 155 mm Modular Charge 1 M51 . The combustible container for this charge is red and contains single-base granular propellant. The igniter consists of a combination of 20 g G12 gunpowder and 40 g CBI. The charge weighs approximately 2.3 kg, is 211 mm long and has a diameter of 164 mm. The next charge is the Charge Propelling 155 mm Modular Charge 2 M52 . The combustible case is blue and houses triple-base propellant cords. The diameter at the front of the case is reduced to allow it to friction fit into the rear of a Charge 2 increment (see below). The igniter consists of a combination of 20 g G12 gunpowder and 40 g CBI. The charge weighs approximately 5.6 kg, is 373 mm long and the diameter is 164 mm. This modular system continues with the Charge Propelling 155 mm Modular Increment M52 . One or two of these increments can be added to the normal Charge 2. Charge 2 plus one increment can be used with boat tailed ERFB and all NATO 155 mm projectiles. Charge 2 plus two increments can be used with ERFB, ERFB-BB and all NATO 155 mm projectiles. Each increment is contained in a green combustible case containing triple-base propellant cords. The igniter consists of 60 g of G12 gunpowder. The charge weighs approximately 4 kg, is 289 mm long and the diameter is 164 mm. The top charge of the modular system is the Charge Propelling 155 mm Modular Charge 3 M53 . The charge is contained in a purple (jacaranda) combustible case containing triple-base tubular propellant. The igniter consists of G12 gunpowder. The charge weighs approximately 17.1 kg, is 930 mm long and the diameter is 164 mm. All charges are ignited by the Tube Percussion M82 which contains 1.4 to 1.5 g of gunpowder. The tube is 49.37 mm long with a diameter over the rim of 15.24 mm. With this system the following ballistic performances can be achieved using a 45 calibre barrel: Charge 1 - MV 350 ±5 m/s - max range 9,100 m Charge 2 - MV 483 ±5 m/s - max range 13,400 m Charge 2 + 1 increment - MV 645 ±5 m/s - max range 19,000 m Charge 2 + 2 increments - MV 795 ±5 m/s - max range 25,400 m Charge 2 + 2 increments + BB - MV 789 ±5 m/s - max range 31,000 m Charge 3, standard shell - MV 897 ±5 m/s - max range 30,200 m Charge 3 + BB - MV 895 ±5 m/s - max range 39,000 m. This modular charge system has now been replaced by one involving up to six M62A1 combustible modular charges all with the same content and meeting the NATO Joint Ballistics MoU. The charges are produced by SOMCHEM and can be used with ordnance up to 52 calibres long. Other similar modular charge systems could be employed. One-piece Combustible Cartridge Cases (CCC) have been developed for use with 155 mm ERFB projectiles. A typical example is the C30 charge manufactured by Chartered Ammunition Industries of Singapore . The C30 contains 14 kg of triple-base propellant, is 770 mm long and has a diameter of 160 mm. It will provide a range of 30,000 m using a 39 calibre barrel and 40,000 m using a 45 calibre barrel. One further charge developed for use with 39 and 45 calibre barrels firing 155 mm ERFB projectiles is the Propelling Charge No 16 produced by Eurometaal NV of the Netherlands. This is a separate loading single-bag charge of single-base nitrocellulose CH21 propellant with a 50 g clean-burning igniter in a red cloth bag sewn onto the base. The charge incorporates a central igniter core and a flash reducer containing 250 g of potassium sulphate. A wear-reducing and decoppering liner are sewn to the inner surface of the bag. The complete charge weighs 13.12 kg of which 12.12 kg is the CH21 propellant. It is 764 mm long. A typical range for the 155 mm ERFB Smoke WP when fired from 45 calibre barrels is 30,000 m. When fired from 45-calibre barrels a typical 155 mm ERFB-BB Smoke WP projectile can reach 39,000 m. Authorised fuzes PD M557, M78 series, M572, M739 and Fuchs PD M841 MTSQ M564, M582A1 Prox M514 series, Fuchs M8513 Electronic NINA, ZELAR, Fuchs M8611 and so on Equivalent projectiles CHINA , PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC CHINA Manufacturer China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) Type: 155 mm ERFB Smoke WP Description: Fitted with PD M739 fuze. Emits smoke for 55 to 65 seconds. Projectile weight is 46.5 kg and muzzle velocity 795.5 m/s. Maximum range given as 26,000 m (ERFB) NETHERLANDS Manufacturer Eurometaal NV Type: 155 mm ERFB and ERFB-BB Smoke WP Description: Specifications as text. Available for production. Propelling charge No 16 also produced SINGAPORE Manufacturer Chartered Ammunition Industries Type: 155 mm ERFB-HB-WP, ERFB-BB-WP Description: Standard specifications. C30 unitary CCC also produced. ERFB-HB-WP range from 39-calibre barrels given as 24,400 m. ERFB-BB-WP range from 39 calibre barrels given as 30,500 m SOUTH AFRICA Manufacturer Denel (Pty) Limited ( SWARTKLIP ) Type: 155 mm ERFB or ERFB-BB M1 WP Description: Specifications as text. Developed for LIW 155 mm G5 and G6 artillery systems. Production as required SWITZERLAND Manufacturer NORICUM Type: SEN-155 mm WP-Smoke Description: Marketed by T & T Technology Trading Limited. Weight with boat tail 48 kg and BB 50 kg. Fuzed PD M739 or ET DM 52