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The cartridge; 120-mm, HEAT-MP-T, M830A1 is a high explosive antitank, multipurpose, tactical service round with tracer. The M830A1 is used in the 120-mm, M256 smooth bore tank cannon and is a fin-stabilized round with a discarding sabot. The baseline design contains a propulsion system consisting of a metal case base, a combustible cartridge case, case adapter, nineteen perforated hexagonal JA- 2 propellant, a propellant containment device (cloth bag), and an M129 primer (all are currently used on the M829A1). The projectile consists of a subcaliber projectile and three piece aluminum sabot. The subcaliber projectile combines a fuzing system and a chemical energy warhead (Composition A3 Type II). The three segment sabot is secured to the warhead body by a nylon obturator and a steel retaining ring. The fuzing system includes: M774 base element, flexible communication circuit, Frontal Impact Switch Assembly (FISA) and M74 Proximity Switch. The conical nose of the projectile consists of the FISA coupled to the warhead body and the M74 Proximity Switch coupled to the FISA. The FISA is a secondary switch which closes upon impact against ground target. The M74 Proximity Switch (primary switch) contains two parallel "switches," either of which, when closed, will complete the M774 firing circuit. One switch closes upon direct impact with a target. The other is an electronic switch (a transistor) which "closes" when the proximity switch senses the presence of an air target. For all modes, a flexible electrical cable provides a path between the switches and M774 base element. In any of the functioning modes of the M830Al fuzing system, the J1 connector of the M774 fuze is returned to "ground potential" which completes the fuze firing circuit.
The M774 base element is a dual environment safe and arm (S&A) device. The M774 receives an electric firing pulse from either the FISA or the proximity switch which then triggers the base element electronics to fire the M69 electric detonator. The M69 detonator is contained in the rotor which provides a physical separation of the M69 detonator from the
fuze electronics until the subprojectile has traveled a safe distance downrange. The first safety feature of the mechanical S&A lock consists of three leafs and a spring, oriented so as to release the rotor upon forward acceleration. The second safety feature is a drag weight which senses the decelerating force/drag of the projectile as it leaves the muzzle. As the drag weight senses drag, it moves out of the way of the rotor allowing the rotor to rotate to the
armed position as designed. Once the M774 base element is armed and receives an electrical firing pulse to trigger the detonator, the detonator, lead, booster, and warhead explosives initiate in sequence destroying the target. The explosive train located in front of the base element consists of the lead cup, booster, and Comp A3 explosive. The warhead explosive is contained in the body with a shaped copper liner, in front of the booster, The liner provides the penetration capability for the system. An aluminum fin assembly with tracer is attached to the aft end of the subprojectile by
way of an aluminum fin adapter. The fin has beveled leading edges and T-tabs on the outside diameter to increase the effective fin area. Spin, which is induced by a twist in the fin blade, provides the subcaliber projectile with greater in-flight stability and accuracy.
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