Armor piercing projectile

An armor piercing projectile configuration which provides strength, rigidity and mass properties sufficient to permit long thin armor piercing cores to be fired from guns in a stable and accurate manner. The core is supported at both ends in such a way that a monocoque skin or shell provides rigidity and the space between the core and the shell is filled with rigid material or structure so as to support the core throughout substantially all of its length. The shell is of relatively high density adding to the lateral/transverse moment of inertia ratio to provide gyroscopic stability for the long thin core.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An armor piercing projectile suitable for firing through a rifled gun bore, said projectile comprising, a long thin penetrator core element having a tapered forward portion, a monocoque jacket substantially surrounding said core and in spaced relation thereto, a rigid inert filler material disposed between said core and said jacket for supporting said core throughout substantially all of its length, and centering means including a separate nosepiece insertable into the open forward end of said jacket and engaging the forwardmost portion of said core for holding said core in the central area of said projectile, the rearwardmost portion of said core engaging the base portion of said jacket thereby providing the required strength, rigidity and mass properties to said projectile during acceleration through the gun bore while at the same time providing for superior penetration against specific targets.

2. An armor piercing projectile suitable for firing through a rifled gun bore, said projectile comprising, a long thin penetrator core element having a tapered forward portion, a monocoque jacket substantially surrounding said core and in spaced relation thereto, a rigid inert filler material disposed between said core and said jacket for supporting said core throughout substantially all of its length, and centering means including a noseplug positioned within the forwardmost portion of said jacket for engagement with the forward end of said core for holding said core in the central area of said projectile, and a base plate insertable into the open rearward end of said jacket for engaging the rearward end of said core and said filler material thereby providing the required strength, rigidity and mass properties to said projectile during acceleration through the gun bore while at the same time providing for superior penetration against specific targets.