TM 9-1985-2; 8,6-cm H.E. Rakete (Drall stabilisiert)

GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE - BOMBS, BOMB FUZES, ROCKET, LAND MINES, GRENADES AND IGNITER

Chapter 3

GERMAN ROCKETS

8.6 cm H.E. ROCKET (SPIN STABILIZED)

DATA:

General:

Nature of projectile: Multiple base-venting, spin-stabilized pusher rocket.
Caliber: 8.6 cm.
Over-all length: 16.25 inches.
Over-all weight: 17 pounds 15 ounces.
Nature of filling: H.E.
Nature of fuze: Base.

Warhead:

Length: 9.55 inches.
Diameter: 3.35 inches.
Type of filling: Cast TNT.

Rocket Motor:

Length: 6.7 inches.
Length of propellant chamber: 6.08 inches.
External diameter: 3.18 inches.
Internal diameter: 2.94 inches.
Weight of filled motor: 6 pounds 12.25 ounces.
Propellant length: 5.90 inches.
Diameter of propellant: 2.78 inches.
Weight of propellant: 2 pounds 7.75 ounces.

Analysis:

Potassium nitrate: 75.5 percent.
Carbon: 15.35 percent.
Sulphur: 9.15 percent.
Volatile material: 0.86 percent.

DESCRIPTION. This rocket consists of a H.E. head, a motor, and a venturi assembly. An integral base fuze, centrifugally armed and pressure fired, is located in the base of the H.E. head. A standard booster assembly is employed. (See fig. 207.)

The H.E. head threads over the rocket motor housing, which contains a single, multiper-forated, propellant grain. A venturi assembly, with eight jezs drilled in it, is threaded to the base of the motor. A single threaded hole in the center of the venturi assembly con-tains a percussion primer.

On the forward end of the motor housing is a fitting which receives one of three inter-changeable delay trains. The rocktes bear markings to indicate which of the delay trains have been assembled. Those marked "/400/" and "/800/" contain, in addition to the delay train, a fuze with a striker retained by four arming balls and a spring collar. A light anti-creep spring is placed between the striker and the detonator.

Centrifugal force cause the balls to move outward against the collar and arm the fuze. The delay train is initiated by the propellant grain, and when the delay expires, the pres-sure developed forces the striker against its spring and into the detonator. Impact with some resistant object before the expiration of the delay will force the striker into the cap. In the case of the round marked "/600/" no striker mechanism is included, and the delay initiates the detonator and booster directly, giving only self-destroying action.

REMARKS. This is a navall round, designated "8.6 cm R.Spr. 400 Wsm. (600 Wsm, 800 Wsm.)."

The H.E. head is painted canary yellow over-all; the motor body, dark green.

It is estimated that this projectile would reach a maximum height of 8,000 feet, if fired at a quadrant elevation of 90°.

Figure 207 – 8.6-cm H.E. Rocket (Naval)