Re: 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon

On Jan 17, 6:23�pm, "Dean A. Markley" <deanmark...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Rob Arndt wrote:
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/14/bf109_shoot_b17...

German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon

By David Hambling September 18, 2007 | 9:15:00 AMCategories: Ammo and
Munitions, Bizarro

Last week I wrote about fuel-air and themobaric weapons, in which the
warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. But
there's a German concept which turns this idea on its head: rather
than having a warhead made of fuel which requires oxidiser, the
warhead is the oxidiser and the target itself provides the fuel.

Described in a 1974 patent for Flammability promoting ammunition for
use against airborne targets , the invention is intended to overcome
the shortcomings of existing anti-aircraft warheads:

When a round of ammunition strikes a target, we distinguish between
the gas shock effect, the fragmentation effect and the incendiary
effect produced. Due to the smaller caliber of the projectiles
employed, the gas shock effect is generally not sufficient to break or
destroy wings, fuselage or engine of the airplane, because of the
limited amount of explosive. The fragmentation effect alone does not
always lead to the complete destruction of the airplane...Experience
has shown that planes exposed to the fragmentation effect alone often
are able to return to their base or at least to a safe landing area.
However, rapid destruction of an airplane is accomplished if it is set
on fire, since it is rarely possible to extinguish a fully blazing
fire.

Though an airplane has sufficient combustible material to support a
fire, the problem still exists for anti-aircraft guns to ignite the
material. Such ignition is possible only if the fuel and oil on board,
such as propellents and lubricants, are caused to flow from their
containers and pipes by the explosion of a shell..... It is
particularly disadvantageous that the gas shock produced by the
detonation of the explosive and producing low oxygen or inert gas
clouds which displaces the air at the point of impact and, as a
result, also displaces oxygen at the decisive moment of impact, and
even if additional explosive is supplied, either no fire results or
one of extremely short duration which is quenched by the impact force.
Further, a direct hit in the fuel tank does not guarantee that a fire
will develop. ...In summary, it can be stated that even at the present
time the most reliable way of destroying an airplane, namely, by
setting it on fire, is only possible with a certain degree of
probability with the known types of ammunition used against an
airborne target.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to
provide a type of ammunition which increases the likelihood of
flammability of an airborne target if it is struck. In the present
invention, the increased probability of flammability is provided by
the use of oxygen releasing carrier material which releases oxygen
when one or several explosive charges are detonated as a shell or
round of ammunition strikes a target....

In accordance with the present invention, the following substances are
preferably used as oxygen releasing carriers: sodium nitrate (NaNO.sub.
3) and/or potassium nitrate (KNO.sub.3) and/or potassium chlorate
(KClO.sub.3) and/or potassium perchlorate (KClO.sub.4) and/or
potassium permanganate (KMnO.sub.4), which release free oxygen during
the detonation of the explosive due to the action of heat and
pressure...

A special problem solved by the invention involves the manner in which
the ammunition, after its detonation, (within the target, against the
target, and before or during its flight over the target) provides
splinters, oxygen releasing carriers and flammability producing
material which acts against the target not only with each other but
also in a time delay manner.

The patent is assigned to German company Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
GmbH. I don't know whether any anti-aircraft warheads actually use
this technology -- makers don't give away too many details -- but it
shows that as with fuel-air weapons, it's possible to make something a
lot more destructive than straight high explosives.

Rob

Can you provide me with a patent number? �I am curious now. �For what
its worth, nitrates, chlorates and permanganates do not "release" oxygen
when they burn. �Its a rather more complex oxidation/reduction process
that does not directly involve molecular oxygen.

Dean- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

United States Patent 3967553

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3967553.html

Rob
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon
    ... German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon ... warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. ... When a round of ammunition strikes a target, ... containers and pipes by the explosion of a shell..... ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon
    ... German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon ... warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. ... When a round of ammunition strikes a target, ... containers and pipes by the explosion of a shell..... ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon
    ... German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon ... warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. ... When a round of ammunition strikes a target, ... containers and pipes by the explosion of a shell..... ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon
    ... German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon ... warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. ... When a round of ammunition strikes a target, ... containers and pipes by the explosion of a shell..... ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: 1974 German Reverse Fuel Air Weapon
    ... warhead relies on taking oxygen from the surroundings to explode. ... warhead is the oxidiser and the target itself provides the fuel. ... on fire, since it is rarely possible to extinguish a fully blazing ... Basically looks like the chemistry of explosives; ...
    (rec.aviation.military)