Rocket assisted projectile

Claim 1

A rocket assisted projectile round adapted to be fired from a tube and comprising: A. a cartridge comprising: 1. a cartridge casing having an elongated cylindrical wall structure which is generally opened at one end to receive the after end of a rocket motor and closed at the other end, 2. an explosive charge concentrically positioned with said casing and supported at one end by the closed end of said casing, said charge being generally spaced from the said elongated cylindrical wall structure of said casing, and a suspended end of said explosive charge extending toward the open end of said cartridge casing, 3. ignition means for igniting said explosive charge; B. a rocket motor comprising: 1. a cylindrical rocket casing, 2. a propellent charge confined in said rocket casing, 3. a rocket nozzle positioned at the after end of said rocket casing and including: a. a plurality of elongated fins spaced about the periphery of said rocket nozzle; and b. spin stabilization means formed at the after end of at least two of said fins, each said spin stabilization means comprising a triangular wedge-shaped deflector extending normal to the surface of a said elongated fin. 4. a plurality of elongated lands of a height of one-tenth to one-fortieth of the diameter of the cylindrical rocket cavity extending longitudinally for substantially the full length of said rocket casing; C. mounting means for mounting the after end of said rocket motor within the said open end of said cartridge casing, said explosive charge of said cartridge being positioned proximate to said motor nozzle of said rocket motor for igniting said rocket motor from expanding gases from said explosive charge following the firing of said cartridge; and D. a projectile supported by said forward end of said rocket motor casing, whereby expanding gases from said cartridge react with an after surface of a said deflector to initiate rotation of said rocket motor, and thereafter, air flow reacting with the forward surface of said deflector accelerates and sustains rotation, and thus spin stabilization during flight, and whereby said round may be initially fired by initiation of said ignition means and propelled for a relatively short distance and thereafter propelled by said rocket motor.