Wall breaching fragmentation warhead

Abstract

The invention describes a wall breaching explosive fragmentation ammunition and further a warhead having means for efficiently penetrating concrete and masonry walls, effectively delivering an explosive fragmentation case payload with minimum structural damage to the ammunition's projectile body. The effective wall breaching is achieved using an ogive-shaped, high strength, light weight boron carbide ceramic nose cone cap disposed adjacent to a tungsten alloy nose insert, at the fore of the ammunition. The projectile body is generally cylindrically shaped, preferably made of steel or aluminum to withstand expected forces in the launch environment. The ogive-shaped nose cone may be secured circumferentially to the projectile body with a rubber O-ring to ensure a tight seal. The ogive-shaped nose cone minimizes the penetration resistance force and provides more favorable loading onto the ammunition projectile's wall structure, ultimately minimizing the damage to the projectile's fragmenting case and the explosive payload which follows it. The remaining back projectile area may be filled with propellant. Use of light-weight boron carbide material also minimizes interference with possible steel fragment and tungsten alloy fragment spray. The projectile body includes rotating bands to trap propellant gases from escaping during launch which bands can be attached to the projectile body as a separate part.