Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Rifle Engagement Ranges %

6. MG Engagement Ranges %

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

8. INCAPACITATION & SUPPRESSION INCAPACITATION:A soldier is incapacitated When he is unable to carry out his PRIMARY TASK. SUPPRESSION:The enemy is suppressed when he is UNABLE, orUNWILLING, 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.

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

10. PK = Probability of a KILL PH = Probability of a HIT PL = Lethality PR = Reliability PROBABILITY OF A ONE ROUND KILL PK = PH x PL x PR Range Accuracy Target Size

11. 80 JOULES OF ENERGY TRANSFER BUT………..RATE? INCAPACITATION

12. PENETRATION ENERGY 5.56x45mm7.62x51mm9x19mm Unprotected Man 80J 80J80J Good Steel Helmet 420J770J1000J 120mm Brick 2500J3000JXXX Muzzle Energy 1800J3200J550J

13. KINETIC ENERGY DENSITY (KED)- J/mm2 MVKED 5.56mm 940 74 7.62mm 840 71.2 8.59mm (.338) 850 105 12.7mm (0.5 inch) 900 108

14. DISTRIBUTION OF PROPELLANT ENERGY • KE of BULLET 30% • MUZZLE BLAST 40% • HEAT to BARREL 30% • RECOIL 0.1%

15. Characteristics of Current Rifle Bullets SS77 AK47 M193 SS109 AK74

16. CAVITATION BULLET DIRECTION

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

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

19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 FMJ Bullet In a Dense Medium

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

21. Attack of Personnel Bullet Requirements • HIGH chance of a HIT • HIGH Wounding Energy (Mass and V0) • RAPID and HIGH Energy transfer • (deform and rotate) • NO unnecessary OVERKILL

22. ACHIEVED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY • LETHALITY Requires CBA Penetration • CBA Penetration Requires: • High Kinetic Energy • High Rate of Energy Transfer • High Rate of Energy Transfer Requires: • High MV • Sophisticated Bullet Design • High MV Requires Longer Barrel

23. BARREL LENGTH SA80 A2 Rifle 485mm Minimi Para 345mm Normal 460mm MG43 425mm SA80 A2 LSW 595mm

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

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

26. Defence Academy of the United Kingdom