Scaled down test munitions

[US-Subs]

Yesterday while at the SLICS show I observed a 1/10th scale 120mm HEAT projectile which was described as used for wind tunnel testing. There was some further discussion by the owner in regard to whether or not any down-sized pieces had ever been fired.

This led to a deeper discussion on the use of down-sized ordnance for flight type testing purposes. In this I am not refering to sub-caliber items, but items that were developmental, shrunken versions of prototype or adopted items, with a close contruction and shape.

Has anyone got any information on programs or testing of this type? I've got two pieces that I will try to post later which are suspected, but so far have not been confirmed. I would be interested to hear if anyone else has any information on tests of this type.

 

[SG500]

Hi here's a few, these came from SLICS about 3 years ago.
Don't have any written information about them but the guy who got them for me was told by the seller they were scaled down test pieces for the 120mm apfsds.
Dave.

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/45mm-apfsds-projectiles-t33214.html?t=33214&highlight=apfsds

 

[US-Subs]

Here is the first of my pieces, a little more dated than those previously discussed. This item was found on an impact area located within a US R&D facility many years ago. It was repainted and used as a paperweight by the civilian employee who had found it, when he retired he passed it to me. The area where this item was found was also recorded as having been used for early flight testing of the Davy Crockett (DC) recoilless rifle fired nuclear weapon. The DC was an over-caliber weapon, with a central tube in the tail that was inserted into the barrel of the recoilless system. Note through the corrosion of the small piece shown that it also has a central tube and appears to be designed for firing as an over-caliber piece. While unconfirmed, it is believed that this may have been a scaled down test piece used in the early tests for the DC.

I've included a previously posted photo of Hazord's trainer projo for comparison.

 

[US-Subs]

This item is even less certain, though the similarities should be clear.

This projectile was found in the middle of an impact area located on an artillery range at a major US facility. The range has been in use continuously since WWI and everything from submunitions to pre-1925 CW to practice nuclear weapons have been found on the it (different installation than the previously mentioned one).

The projo is 40mm in diameter and appears to be of a recoilless design, apparently intended to carry at least part of its case with it. The base looks somewhat similar to the 20mm recoilless (Sweden?). It originally had 4 pop-out fins, one of which has survived impact/corrosion/time. The body is partially crushed from unknown causes.

While in the area I purchased a number of documents from a former employee that had worked on the base, one was a concept report for a Rapid Fire-Short Burst 105mm Artillery Weapon. Included in this is discussion of feasability studies for the gun and the need for low-recoil type ammunition. A proposed round is shown (see photo), which is a rocket propelled 105mm. Clearly different from the 40mm piece it however, has many similarities and seems to meet the concept requirements.

I may be way off on this one, but in many years of looking this is the closest I have come, and the discovery of both the piece and the document in the same area seems to strengthen the argument. If anyone has any more info or can correct me on this I would appreciate the input.

 

[HAZORD]

Very intersting stuff. Sorry I don't have any more info. It's too bad your baby crockett is so corroded.

The 105mm rocket warhead section looks more like the 81mm sensor projectile nose than the projectile shown in the drawing. Just a thought.

 

[US-Subs]

Considering the size and such it's not that close to the nose on mine, but regardless, design-wise its the closest thing I've found to the unknown piece so far, and both found in the same region - I'm taking shots in the dark but I'm still open to suggestion.

What do you want me to do with your books?

 

[EOD]

Two more examples:

The German Rchling project in WWII started out with a 20mm tube and projectiles for the initial feasibility tests and only later on was built in the "real" calibers. Some of those 20mm projectiles (well, and plenty of the big ones) were found on the testing range at Hillersleben during clearance operations.

Then the US also made some scaled down air frame models attached to sabots and fired them down range for aerodynamic high velocity tests. I for got the year - sorry.