Description
This cartridge is used to deliver a concentration of antipersonnel grenades.
The complete round consists of a projectile, a modified fuze, MTSQ, M548 or MT, M565, and a cartridge case, The projectile contains six layers of grenades with three grenades in each layer. The grenades are contained by a base plug attached to the projectile with three shear pins. A modified mechanical time and superquick or mechanical time fuze is installed in the nose of the projectile, and may be set to function at any time between 2 and 100 seconds. The modified fuzes incorporate an expulsion charge and are not interchangeable with unmodified fuzes of the same model. The cartridge case contains a percussion primer and a propelling charge divided in increments to permit adjustment for the desired firing charge. The lip of the cartridge case is a free fit over the base of the projectile.
The projectile is olive drab with yellow diamonds and yellow markings.
Functioning
When the primer is detonated by the firing pin of the weapon, the flash from the primer ignites the propelling charge, producing gases which propel the projectile from the barrel of the weapon. The rifling in the barrel imparts spin to the projectile, stabilizing it in flight. The fuze, having been set to function at a predetermined time in flight, initiates the expulsion charge, ejecting the entire grenade load from the rear of the projectile. Centrifugal force disperses the grenades radially from the projectile line-of-flight. The M39 grenade is an airburst submissive which is expelled from its housing on impact and projected upward to burst at 4 to 6 feet above the ground.
Hazardous Components
Filler - Grenade, GP, M39 (18)
Cartridge case - M14, M14B1, M14B3, M14B4
Propelling charge - M67 (2.83 lb, 1.29 kg)
Primer - M28A2, M28B2
Physical Data
Length, overall - 31.04 in, 788.4 mm
Length, projectile with fuze - 19.13 in, 485.9 mm
Length, projectile without fuze - 16 in, 406.4 mm
See Also
Source(s)
