Penetrator, use of a penetrator, and projectile

Abstract

Penetrator ( 1 ) for a projectile having a tail unit, in particular a sub-calibre kinetic-energy projectile, comprising a one-piece main body ( 10 ) and a sub-body ( 11 ) fitted on the main body ( 10 ), characterized in that the main body ( 10 ) has at least a front region ( 12 ) and a rear region ( 17 ), wherein the rear region ( 17 ) of the main body is of a solid design and the front region ( 12 ) has a bore ( 13 ) formed in it, wherein the bore ( 13 ) comprises at least a first region ( 131 ) and a second region ( 132 ), wherein the first region ( 131 ) receives the fitted-on sub-body ( 11 ) and the second region ( 132 ) extends rearwards behind the fitted-on sub-body ( 11 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A penetrator for a projectile with a tail unit, in particular a sub-caliber kinetic-energy projectile, comprising a one-piece main body and a sub-body attached to the main body, characterized in that the main body comprises at least a front region and a rear region, wherein the rear region of the main body is solid and a bore is formed in the front region, wherein the bore comprises at least a first region and a second region, wherein the first region accommodates the attached sub-body and the second region extends rearwardly behind the attached sub-body. 
     
     
         2 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein a side wall, in particular a substantially hollow cylindrical side wall, is formed in the front region of the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall extends at least over the first region, preferably over the first region and second region. 
     
     
         4 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein for accommodating the attached sub-body, the first region has an internal thread and the attached sub-body has an external thread. 
     
     
         5 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bore is formed as a blind bore, and/or in that the bore extends in the longitudinal axial direction of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the front region is cup-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the front region of the main body is of reduced mass design in relation to the rear region, without this being apparent from the outer contour of the penetrator. 
     
     
         8 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the front region is embodied to be resistant to buckling in such a way that it can penetrate a pre-target, in particular a pre-plate of a reactive armor, with the attached sub-body. 
     
     
         9 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region of the bore forms a cavity which is unfilled when the sub-body is attached. 
     
     
         10 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the second region of the bore forms a cavity when the sub-body is attached, which cavity is filled with a material which has a lower density than the material of the rear region of the main body. 
     
     
         11 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body has a substantially cylindrical outer contour. 
     
     
         12 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the length ratio of the rear region to the front region is in a range from 10 to 1.5, preferably 8 to 2, in particular 6 to 3, and/or in that the front region has higher strength values and/or a higher hardness than the rear region. 
     
     
         13 . The penetrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the length I of the front portion is determined according to the formula I≥2*b/cos(α) where b is the thickness of a first plate of a pre-target and a is the angle of inclination of a surface normal of the first plate of the pre-target with respect to a longitudinal axis of the penetrator, and/or in that the wall thickness of the front region is at least 30% of the outer radius of the front region, in particular is 40 to 50% of the outer radius of the front region. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the penetrator according to  claim 1  to engage an armored target with reactive armor, in particular a tank, with reactive armor. 
     
     
         15 . A projectile with a sabot and a tail unit comprising a penetrator according to  claim 1 .