PRACTICE PROJECTILE

A supersonic nonspinning training projectile has a projectile body extending along an axis and having axially spaced front and rear ends and an aerodynamic rod projecting axially forwardly from the front end of the body. Thus when the projectile is fired axially forward the rod creates turbulence effective laterally on the projectile body at a wind-attack point which moves axially forward from a rear point to a front point as projectile speed drops. It is possible according to the invention to vary the mass distribution of the projectile and thereby displace the center of mass of the projectile axially between the front and rear points. Thus when the wind-attack point moves axially forward of the center of mass the flight of the projectile destabilizes. Such an arrangement works well even at supersonic speeds, so that the projectile can be set to only fly accurately through a relatively short range, as the principal factor determining range after elevation is projectile speed and shape.