Telescoped ammunition comprising a sub-calibre projectile stabilized by a deployable tail fin

Abstract

A telescoped type ammunition including a case inside which is housed a sub-calibre projectile equipped with a segmented discarding sabot, a propellant charge and an igniting device for the propellant charge, wherein the sub-calibre projectile incorporates a prolonged part receiving a tail fin able to move between a folded position against the prolonged part and a deployed position, the sabot retaining the tail fin in the folded position, the sabot encloses the tail fin to isolate it so as to prevent any contact between the tail fin and the propellant charge.

1 . A telescoped type ammunition comprising a case inside which is housed a sub-calibre projectile equipped with a segmented discarding sabot, a propellant charge and an igniting device for the propellant charge, wherein the sub-calibre projectile incorporates a prolonged part receiving a tail fin able to move between a folded position against the prolonged part and a deployed position, the sabot retaining the tail in the folded position, the tail fin comprising blades extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sub-calibre projectile. 
     
     
         2 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein the sabot encloses the tail fin to isolate it so as to prevent any contact between said tail the tail fin and the propellant charge. 
     
     
         3 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein the tail fin comprises blades that are hinged with respect to the prolonged part of the sub-calibre projectile by means of hinges with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sub-calibre projectile. 
     
     
         4 . The ammunition according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the blades is able to move between:
 a folded position in which each blade extends along an external surface of the sub-calibre projectile, and   a deployed position in which each of said the blades extends radially around the prolonged part of the sub-calibre projectile.   
     
     
         5 . The ammunition according to  claim 4 , wherein the hinges are provided with limit stops preventing the blades from pivoting out of an angular range lying between the folded position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein the tail fin, in the deployed position, has a diameter that is greater than the calibre. 
     
     
         7 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein the case is constituted by a substantially cylindrical casing one end of which is closed by a rear end cap, the other end being fitted with a guide tube, in which the projectile is engaged. 
     
     
         8 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein said the sabot has, along at least part of its length, a substantially cylindrical external section at the full calibre. 
     
     
         9 . The ammunition according to  claim 8 , wherein said the sabot has a substantially cylindrical external section at the full calibre over the full length of the sub-calibre projectile. 
     
     
         10 . The ammunition according to  claim 1 , wherein the prolonged part of the sub-calibre projectile incorporates plane faces aligned on the longitudinal axis of the sub-calibre projectile onto which the blades are folded back in their folded position.