Defence Academy of the United Kingdom Royal Military College of Science Lt Col C J Finch PARA DS Light Weapons

Aggressive Close Combat … THE INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY ON BULLET AND WEAPON DESIGN

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

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

Rifle Engagement Ranges %

% MG Engagement Ranges

THE HUMAN TARGET UNPREDICTABLE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE SMALL TARGET AREA SHORT EXPOSURE TIME PROTECTED..…..A DESIGN CHALLENGE!

INCAPACITATION: A soldier is incapacitated When he is unable to carry out his PRIMARY TASK. 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. INCAPACITATION&SUPPRESSION

WOUNDING - FACTORS AMOUNT OF ENERGY TRANSFERRED RATE OF TRANSFER DIRECTION OF TRANSFER DENSITY OF THE TISSUE HIT VITAL ORGANS HIT

PROBABILITY OF A ONE ROUND KILL P K = P H x P L x P R P K = Probability of a KILL P H = Probability of a HIT P L = Lethality P R = Reliability Range Accuracy Target Size

INCAPACITATION 80 JOULES OF ENERGY TRANSFERBUT………..RATE?

PENETRATION ENERGY 5.56x45mm 7.62x51mm 9x19mm 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

KINETIC ENERGY DENSITY (KED)- J/mm 2 MV KED MV KED 5.56mm mm mm (.338) mm (0.5 inch)

DISTRIBUTION OF PROPELLANT ENERGY KE of BULLET30%KE of BULLET30% MUZZLE BLAST40%MUZZLE BLAST40% HEAT to BARREL30%HEAT to BARREL30% RECOIL0.1%RECOIL0.1%

Characteristics of Current Rifle Bullets SS77 AK47 M193 SS109 AK74

CAVITATION BULLET DIRECTION

HIGH SPEED FILM 0.455in – 9mm – 7.62mm – 5.56mm

COMPARISON OF HIGH VELOCITY WOUNDS 7.62 x 51mm NATO 5.56 x 45mm US 150mm Soap Blocks at 100m range ENTRYEXIT

FMJ Bullet In a Dense Medium

Effect of Velocity Upon M193 Fragmentation Muzzle Velocity Velocity at 200m

Attack of Personnel Bullet Requirements HIGH chance of a HIT HIGH chance of a HIT HIGH Wounding Energy (Mass and V 0 ) HIGH Wounding Energy (Mass and V 0 ) RAPID and HIGH Energy transfer RAPID and HIGH Energy transfer (deform and rotate) (deform and rotate) NO unnecessary OVERKILL NO unnecessary OVERKILL

ACHIEVED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY LETHALITY Requires CBA PenetrationLETHALITY Requires CBA Penetration CBA Penetration Requires:CBA Penetration Requires: High Kinetic Energy High Rate of Energy Transfer High Rate of Energy Transfer Requires: High Rate of Energy Transfer Requires: HighMV Sophisticated Bullet Design High MV Requires Longer BarrelHigh MV Requires Longer Barrel

BARREL LENGTH SA80 A2 Rifle485mm MinimiPara345mm Normal460mm MG43425mm SA80 A2 LSW595mm

BARREL LENGTH – SIGNIFICANCE for 5.56mm Lethality (KED + rate of energy transfer)Lethality (KED + rate of energy transfer) requires high velocity (HV) at target requires high velocity (HV) at target Once bullet velocity drops below 600m/s : loss of fragmentation Once bullet velocity drops below 600m/s : loss of fragmentation

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

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom