Opening address to JDSC

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Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Lt Col C J Finch PARA DS Light Weapons
Royal Military College of Science
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Aggressive Close Combat
THE INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY ON BULLET AND WEAPON
DESIGN
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CONTEXT

• EFFECTIVE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT
• CONSIDER CAPABILITY REQUIRED TARGET EFFECT,
  AMMUNITION, WEAPON AND FIRER AS AN ENSEMBLE
• UK SMALL ARMS APPROACH ACCURACY AT RELATIVELY
  LONG RANGE, SINGLE SHOT (rifle), TRAINING
  INVESTMENT ASSUMED
• THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF LONG RANGE
  ENGAGEMENTS

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AIM

• To explain how lethality may be achieved at
  longer ranges by 5.56mm calibre weapons through
  the application of appropriate technology in
  bullet and weapon design

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Rifle Engagement Ranges

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MG Engagement Ranges

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THE HUMAN TARGET
UNPREDICTABLE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE SMALL TARGET
AREA SHORT EXPOSURE TIME PROTECTED ....A
DESIGN CHALLENGE!
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INCAPACITATION SUPPRESSION
INCAPACITATION A soldier is incapacitated When
he is unable to carry out his PRIMARY
TASK. SUPPRESSION The enemy is suppressed
when he is UNABLE, or UNWILLING, to deliver
effective FIRE, attempt MANOEUVRE, or attempt
OBSERVATION of friendly activity, due to either
the THREAT or FEAR of injury, or because he is
unable to do so.
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WOUNDING - FACTORS
AMOUNT OF ENERGY TRANSFERRED RATE OF
TRANSFER DIRECTION OF TRANSFER DENSITY OF THE
TISSUE HIT VITAL ORGANS HIT
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PROBABILITY OF A ONE ROUND KILL
PK PH x PL x PR
Range Accuracy Target Size
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INCAPACITATION
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PENETRATION ENERGY
5.56x45mm
7.62x51mm 9x19mm Unprotected Man 80J
80J 80J Good Steel Helmet 420J
770J 1000J 120mm Brick 2500J
3000J XXX Muzzle Energy 1800J
3200J 550J
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KINETIC ENERGY DENSITY (KED)- J/mm2
MV
KED 5.56mm 940 74 7.62mm 840 71.
2 8.59mm (.338) 850 105
12.7mm (0.5 inch) 900 108
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DISTRIBUTION OF PROPELLANT ENERGY

• KE of BULLET 30
• MUZZLE BLAST 40
• HEAT to BARREL 30
• RECOIL 0.1

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Characteristics of Current Rifle Bullets
SS77 AK47 M193 SS109
AK74
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CAVITATION
BULLET DIRECTION
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HIGH SPEED FILM
0.455in 9mm 7.62mm 5.56mm
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COMPARISON OF HIGH VELOCITY WOUNDS
7.62 x 51mm NATO
ENTRY
EXIT
150mm Soap Blocks at 100m range
5.56 x 45mm US
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FMJ Bullet In a Dense Medium
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Effect of Velocity Upon M193 Fragmentation
Muzzle Velocity
Velocity at 200m
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Attack of Personnel Bullet Requirements

• HIGH chance of a HIT
• HIGH Wounding Energy (Mass and V0)
• RAPID and HIGH Energy transfer
• (deform and rotate)
• NO unnecessary OVERKILL

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ACHIEVED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

• LETHALITY Requires CBA Penetration
• CBA Penetration Requires
• High Kinetic Energy
• High Rate of Energy Transfer
• High Rate of Energy Transfer Requires
• High MV
• Sophisticated Bullet Design
• High MV Requires Longer Barrel

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BARREL LENGTH
SA80 A2 Rifle 485mm Minimi Para 345mm Nor
mal 460mm MG43 425mm SA80 A2
LSW 595mm
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BARREL LENGTH SIGNIFICANCE for 5.56mm

• Lethality (KED rate of energy transfer)
• requires high velocity (HV) at target
• Once bullet velocity drops below 600m/s loss
  of fragmentation

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SUMMARY

• To penetrate CBA at the required longer ranges,
  5.56mm requires sustained HV
• Sustained HV, allied with good KED and rapid
  energy transfer, provides good lethality
• Sustained HV is barrel length dependent
• To be effective, the above still require
  consistency and accuracy through an investment in
  training

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Defence Academy of the United Kingdom