Ballistics

Question 1

Ballistics definition

Answer 1

The science of the motion of a projectile and the conditions that influence their motion

Question 2

Interior Ballistics

Answer 2

Characterisitcs that affect projectile motion inside the barrel or rocket tube. Barrel ear, launcher tube alignment, thrust misaligment, propellant charges, projectile weight. BLT-PP

Question 3

Barrel Wear

Answer 3

Gaseous action, propellant residue, and projecitle moiton wear away the inner surface of the barrel or cause deposits to build up resulting in lower muzzle velocity or a decrease in accuracy

Question 4

Launcher Tube Alignment

Answer 4

Alignment/boresight of each tube may vary

Question 5

Thrust Misalignment

Answer 5

Greatest Cause of error in free flight. A perfectly thrust-aligned free flight rocket does not exsit. Firing rockets above ETL provides a favorable relative wind, helping to counteract thrust misalignment. Rockets spin to counteract.

Question 6

Propellant Charges

Answer 6

Production variances can cause difference in muzzle velocity and projectile trajectory. Temperature and moisture in the sotrage environment can also affect the way propellants burn.

Question 7

Projectile Weight

Answer 7

The weight of projectiles of the same caliber may vary

Question 8

Exterior Ballistics

Answer 8

Characteristics that influence hte motion of a projectile as it moves along its trajectory. Gravity, Air Resistance, Ya, Projectile Drift, wind drift.

Question 9

Gravity

Answer 9

As range increases, the amount of gravity drop increases. This drop is proportional to the time of flight (dsitance) and inversely proportional to velocity.

Question 10

Trajectory

Answer 10

The flight path of a projectile as it flies form the muzzle of a weapon to the point of impact.

Question 11

Air Resistance

Answer 11

Friction between the air and the projectile causes friction, or drag. The bigger and faster a projectile is, the more drag it produces.

Question 12

Yaw

Answer 12

The angle between the centerline of the projectile and the trajectory

Question 13

Projectile Drift

Answer 13

Gyroscopic precession causes a clockwise spinning projectile to drift right. As range increases, drift increases.

Question 14

Wind Drift

Answer 14

The effect of wind on a proectile in flight. The amount of drift depends on the TOF of the projectile and the wind speed acting onthe projectile. Crosswind requires the gunner to fire into the wind. Down/upwind requires range adjustment.

Question 15

Aerial Ballistics: Common Characteristics

Answer 15

Depend on whether the projectiles are spin stabilized or fin stabilized and whether they are fired from the fixed mode or flexibile mode. Rotor Down-wash error and angular rate error

Question 16

Rotor Down Wash Error

Answer 16

Rotor downwash acts on the projectile as it leaves the barrel or launcher
Causes the trajecotry to change (most noticeable below ETL)
Most affects rockets
Max error is induced when fired from IGE hover
Causes both lateral and linear (range) errors
If terrain allows drifting with the wind can provide a more consistent rotor down wash for both launcher and allow the aircraft to remain more stable.

Question 17

Angular Rate Error

Answer 17

The motion of the helicopter as the projectile leaves the weapon
Does not affect hellfire and Stinger missiles
depends on the range to target, the rate of motion, and the airspeed
Occurs when an aircrew fires rockets from a hover using the pitch-up delivery technique
Anytime a pitch-down motion is required, the effect of angular rate error causes the projectile to land short of the target.

Question 18

Spin-Stabilized Projectiles (M4/.50Cal)

Answer 18

Trajectory shift, port-starboard effect, and projectile jump

Question 19

Trajectory Shift

Answer 19

The boreline axis of the weapon differs from the flight path of the helicopter, the movement of the helicopter changes the trajectory of the proejctile.
To correct tarjecotry shift the gunner leads the target.
The amount of lead depends on airspeed, angle of deflection, projectile velocity, and target range

Question 20

Port-Starboard effect

Answer 20

Trajectory shift and projectile drift combine to constitute port-starboard effect.
When targets are on the left, the ffects of drift and shift compound each other; both cause the round to move right (need to fire left of target)
When targets are on the right, the effect of projectile drift (round moves right) tends to cancel the effect of trajectory shift (round moves left). Therefore, when targets are on the right, firing requires less compensation.
The range and airspeed at which a gunner engage a target determine which effect is greater.
At ranges less than 1000 meters, trajectory shift is greater (fire right of target)
At ranges beyond 1,000m, the effect of projectile drift is greater and tends to cancel the effect of trajectory shift.

Question 21

Projectile Jump (Vertical Plane Gyroscopic Effect)

Answer 21

When a crew fires a weapon from a helicopter in flight and the muzzle is pointing any direction other than into the relative wind of the helicopter, the projectile will experience a jump.
Occurs because of the precession (chagne in axis of rotation) induced by crosswind
The amount that a projectile jumps is proportional to its initial yaw
Firing to the right produces a downward jump (aim slightly above)
Firing to the left produces an upward jump (aim slightly below)
Compensation is not required when firing from a hover

Question 22

Fin-stabilized projectiles

Answer 22

Center of gravity, propellant force, relative wind effect

Question 23

Center of Gravity

Answer 23

The CG of a rocket is in front of the center of pressure. As the rocket propellant burns, the CG moves farther forward. The fins of the rocket cause the center of pressure to follow the CG.

Question 24

Propellant Force

Answer 24

A bullet reaches its maximum velocity at or near the muzzle. A rocket continues to accelerate until motor burnout occurs. As the rocket reaches its greatest velocity, the kinetic energy in the rocket tends to overcome other forces and causes the rocket to travel in a flatter trajectory.

Question 25

Relative Wind Effect

Answer 25

When a pilot flies out of trim (horizontally, vertically or both) the change in the crosswind component deflects the rocket as it leaves the launcher. Because the rocket is accelearting as it leaves the launcher, the force acting upon the fins causes the nose to turn into the wind. After the motor burns out, the rocket drifts with the air mass (real wind). To maintain vertical trim the pilot must maintain a constant power setting that will produce the desired airspeed and altitude.

Question 26

Terminal Ballistics

Answer 26

The characteristics and effects of the projectiles at the target. Projectile functioning- including blast, heat, and fragmentation- is influenced by impact and remote Set Penetration fuzes, Fied time and remote set/variable fuzes, surface conditions, wall in space concept, warheads, and angle of impact.

Question 27

Impact and remote-set penetration fuzes

Answer 27

Employed on high explosive rocket warheads.
Type of target engaged and its protective cover determine the best fuze.
M423 fuze is an impact point detonating fuze set on impact.
M433 fuze provides remote-set selectable penetration setting
Engage targets on open terrain with a super-quick fuze that causes the warhead to detonate upon impact
Engage targets with overhead protection, such as fortified positions or heavy vegetation, with either a delay or forest-penetration fuze.

Question 28

Fixed Time and Remote-set/Variable Time Fuzes

Answer 28

Time fuzes produce airburst
most effective against targets with no overhead protection
Most effective against targets with no overhead protection
Smoke and illumination warheads incorporate a timed fuze, which depends on motor burnout or fixed time delay
Timed Fuze: M446, M442
Remote Set Fuzes: M439

Question 29

Wall in space concept

Answer 29

MPSM warheads provide a large increase in target effectiveness over standard unitary warheads.
MPSM warhead helps to eliminate range to target erros ecause of variations in launcher/helicopter pitch angles during launch.
Inflation of the RAD separates the submunitions, starts the arming sequence, and causes each submunition to enter a near vertical descent into the target area.