This self-propelled streamlined hollow charge rocket projectile is fired electrically from the German 8.8 cm anti-tank rocket projector (Raketen Panzerbüchse 54). The rocket is loa-ded into the rear end of the projector and retained in position by a retaining catch and spring loaded plunger. A jet of flame shoots out of the rear end of the projector when the rocket is fired.

Hollow charge bomb filled Cyclonite/TNT (60/40);

Fuze A.Z. 5095;

Gaine kl.Zdlg. 34 Np;

Tail unit with propellant charge;

Electric fuze and igniter.

The overall length of the complete round is 25 1/2 inches and its weight 7 lb. 4 oz. The propellant is contained in the tail tube, and in flight the rocket is stabilized by fins and not by rotation. The rocket is painted a deep olive green and the bomb is stencilled in black.

The hollow charge bomb is of light construction, streamlined and has a maximum diameter of 3.5 inches. The length of the bomb with fuze is approximately 13.75 inches. It con-sists essentially of two main parts, the bomb body containing the filling and the impact cap.

The bomb body is of thin steel, the upper half is cylindrical in shape and the lower half tapers toward its base. A tail adapter, fitted internally, and shaped to the bomb body, protrudes from the base; it is screwthreaded internally to receive the upper end of the tail unit. A fold at the forward end of the body enables the flanged base of the impact cap to be secured to it by a "U" section ring. The "U" section ring is retained in position by a thin tubular reinforcing case surrounding the bomb body at its maximum diameter. The reinforcing case has an internal flange at its forward end which fits over the "U" sec-tion ring, and has its rear edge secured by turning it into a circumferential groove formed in the body.

The body contains a 1 lb. 7 1/2 oz. hollow charge of cyclonite and T.N.T. with a cavity liner approximately 3.7 inches deep, shaped like the stem half of a pear and terminating in a central cylindrical chamber of two diameters formed in the base of the filling. The lower portion of this chamber is larger in diameter and length than the upper, and ac-commodates the gaine under four cardboard washers. The base of the bomb body is clo-sed by a cylindrical wooden block.

The impact cap, approximately 4.75 inches in length, is coned from its base to about half its length and terminates into a cylindrical head approximately 1.3 inches in diameter. The end of the head fits into an adapter, the forward end of which is reduced in diame-ter and screwthreaded internally to receive the fuze.

Fig. 16

The tail unit, including the fins, has an overall length of 12.46 inches and weighs approxi-mately 2 lb. 15 1/2 oz. It consists principally of the tail tube, venturi and fin assembly, propellant charge, two grids, steel collar, igniter system and an electric fuze.

The metal tail tube is cylindrical in shape, apparently solid drawn and turned on the out-side, with an external and internal diameter of approximately 1.57 inches and 1.38 inches respectively, and an overall length of 10.69 inches. The forward end is closed and formed with an external screwed boss of smaller diameter which, in assembling, screws into the adapter at the base of the bomb. The rear end is screwthreaded externally to receive the venturi and fin assembly.

The venturi and fin assembly are an integral unit. The forward end of the venturi is screwthreaded internally to receive the rear end of the tail tube, which screws in on to a shoulder. Immediately in rear of the shoulder, the venturi is sharply coned to a smaller diameter, and then opens to an angle of approximately 10 degrees to the centre line. The latter expanding portion is welded to the entry at the throat, which is 0.52 inch in diameter. The fin assembly consists of a drum with six radial fins. The fins are made in pairs and welded to the drum.

The propellant charge weighs 6 oz. 2.8 drs. and consists of seven tubular sticks of pro-pellant each 7.9 inches long, 0.45 inch and 0.20 inch external and internal diameters res-pectively. Preiliminary chemical analysis has shown that the propellant contains approxi-mately 64.7 per cent nitrocellulose and 34.2 per cent diglycoldinitrate, and 1.1 per cent undetermined matter including stabilizer. A central stick of propellant is surrounded by the other six and held between two grids, one at each end of the propellant. The whole is in turn held between an igniter, forming part of the ignition system, in the forward end of the tail tube and a coned steel spacing collar at the rear.

The grids are identical and each consists of four rectangular steel plates with two slots cut into one side to half the width of the plate. Four plates are assembled to form a cross-like grid with nine squares of equal size. The size of the squares in the grid are such as to prevent the charge slipping through them. The base grid is supported by a steel spacing collar, coned internally, with is larger diameter to the rear.

The igniter system consists of a fuze with priming composition, fitting into the venturi mouth, an igniter at the forward end of the motor tail, and a central celluloid tube with gunpowder pellets at each end.

The igniter is in the form of a pressed pellet of black powder in a flat circular aluminium capsule situated in the forward end of the tail tube. The mouth of the capsule faces towards the propellant and the composition is covered by a thin disc of cellophane-like material.

The celluloid tubing is in two lengths, and is a sliding fit in the central stick of propellant. It contains no quickmatch. The forward end of the tube contains a cylindrical perforated pellet of gunpowder accommodated in the centre square of the forward grid. The rear end of the tube passes through the rear grid, and the cylindrical perforated pellet in this end is accommodated in the steel spacing collar.

Fig. 17

The electric fuze consists of a metal tube, a bridge wire, two leads, and priming compo-sition.

The front end of the tube is closed by a metal disc which is spun over the end of the tube. The tube contains the fuze bridge wire at the end of the two leads. The leads and bridge wire are held in position by a plug of polyvinylchloride through which the lead pass, the metal tube being crimpedt this point to prevent movement of either fuze wire or plug. The tube is filled with finely granulated red-dish brown powder which surrounds the bridge wire. The powder consists of an oxide of lead, approximately in composition to red lead, bound together with nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose constitutes less than 5 per cent, of the composition.

The restistance of the bridge wire is approximately 10 ohms. The power, provided by the small projector generator, has a peak voltage of approximately 1.2 volts. It appears that the high sensitiveness of the fuze is due to the priming composition rather than the bridge wire.

The fuze is housed in a conical shape body of moulded plastic. The body is bored cen-trally in three diameters to make an internal flange near the base. The long chamber for-med in front of the flange houses the tube portion of the fuze. The conical body is ce-mented into the divergent portion of the venturi which is closed by a metal cover through which the leads pass. The end of one lead is soldered to the fin assembly.

On pressing the projector trigger, an electrical current is generated which heats the bridge wire of the base fuze and fires the priming composition. The flash from the priming composition in turn ignites the gunpowder at each end of the celluloid tube and the igni-ter. The igniter ensures the complete ignition of the propellant charge. Pressure set up inside the rocket and escaping through the venturi propels the rocket forward.

On impact, the impact cap is shattered and the fuze functions. The flash from the fuze passes through the cavity in the bomb filling to the gaine. This results in the detonation of the gaine, which in turn brings about the detonation of the bursting charge. The "hol-low" in the head of the bursting charge has the effect of concentrating the detonation forward on the plate struck.