A supersonic nonspinning training projectile has a projectile body extending along an axis and having axially spaced front and rear ends and an aerodynamic rod projecting axially forwardly from the front end of the body. Thus when the projectile is fired axially forward the rod creates turbulence effective laterally on the projectile body at a wind-attack point which moves axially forward from a rear point to a front point as projectile speed drops. It is possible according to the invention to vary the mass distribution of the projectile and thereby displace the center of mass of the projectile axially between the front and rear points. Thus when the wind-attack point moves axially forward of the center of mass the flight of the projectile destabilizes. Such an arrangement works well even at supersonic speeds, so that the projectile can be set to only fly accurately through a relatively short range, as the principal factor determining range after elevation is projectile speed and shape.
High velocity projectiles are able to continue in flight for considerable distances beyond the normal target range. The present invention is a projectile for use in practice firing which becomes unstable after the normal target range has been exceeded and comprises a training round (1) having a body portion (3) engageable with a sabot (4) for projection from a rifled gun barrel, and a tapered nose portion (2) protrusive beyond the sabot, which is provided with a nose tip portion (6) having spin fins (9) extending in planes radial to the longitudinal axis. The fins increase the rate of spin decay and cause instability of the round and the fin geometry is chosen such that the instability occurs when the target range has been exceeded. The finned nose tip portion is separable from the round so as to permit selective attachment of a nose tip portion having fins specifically dimensioned for terminating the trajectory at a chosen safety range.
5501155 - Hollow training round - Owned by The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army (Washington, DC)
A fin stabilized kinetic energy tank training device comprising a project having a nose and having nose and end sections, and constructed of a low density material such as aluminum, and having a hollowed-out section to further reduce weight thereof, so as to minimizing penetration of an armor system on impact thereon.