Out-of-Line Safety Test of the M42 Grenade in the M483A1 Projectile

In an effort to determine the safety characteristics of the high explosive (H.E.) loaded M42/M46 grenade body assemblies while stacked in the M483A1 projectile, a program was conducted to ascertain if unintentional initiation of the M55 detonator would propagate to the Composition A-5 main charge of the grenade above. The M42/M46 grenades are the cargo in the 155 mm, M483A1 ICM projectile. The grenades are dual purpose (antiarmor, antipersonnel) items. The M42 grenade is embossed while the M46 is smooth walled. Each grenade is loaded with a shaped charge of approximately 31 grams of Composition A-5 and a lead containing RDX. An M223 fuze, containing an M55 detonator, is assembled on each grenade (fig. 1). The grenades are stacked on top of each other in the 155-mm projectile body in eleven layers of eight each. When the M483A1 projectile is fired from the gun, the grenades are ejected from the projectile down range while the projectile is in flight. Upon ejection, the grenades separate from each other, the fuzes arm, and fuze function occurs on impact. (sdw)