Projectile, 155 mm: HE, RA, M549 and M549A1

polycarbonate composition grommet. At the front of the projectile the fuze cavity is protected during transport by an energy absorbing lifting plug, this protected the fuze area from damage during storage, transit and handling. Before loading, the lifting plug is replaced by a fuze and the protector cap over the rocket motor nozzle is removed; the 155 mm HERA M549/M549A1 is not intended to be fired in the 'rocket off' mode. On-target effects are enhanced by the shell's high-fragmentation steel body. The 155 mm HERA M549 is filled with a nominal 7.26 kg of Composition B. The HERA M549A1 filler is 6.8 kg of cast TNT. At the instant of firing the propellant gases ignite a pyrotechnic delay train in the rocket motor. The M119A2 is 736.6 mm long. The M119A2 is produced by Eurometaal NV as the No 13. The Propelling Charges M203 and M203A1 (Charge 8S) were developed primarily for use in the 155 mm M199 Cannon used with the M198 Towed Howitzer and the 155 mm M284 cannon used with the M109A5 and M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers. However, the M203 or M203A1 charges cannot be used to fire the 155 mm HERA M509. The M203/M203A1 and 155 mm HERA M509A1 combination can, however, be used with other similar long-barrelled pieces, such as the CN79 Cannon used on the South Korean 155 mm KH179 Towed Howitzer. The M203/M203A1 is a single red bag charge encased in a tight fitting lacing jacket for strength. The bag has an igniter sewn to the base, a central core igniter extending through the centre of the charge and a flash reducer in front of the charge. The M203A1 differs from the M203 by producing cooler burning to increase barrel life, together with a reduction in blast and muzzle flash.