Multi-use munition

Claim 2

A munition which will explode when detonated and which when ignited will eject burning incendiary strands which will burn without exploding, comprising in combination: a substantially cylindrical elongated munition casing having accessible opposite ends and having its inner wall extending between said ends; frangible closure means for said casing disposed in one of said ends; a munition loading disposed in said casing with one end thereof adjacent to said closure means, said munition loading comprising a multiplicity of ejectable elongated strands of high explosive-incendiary composition disposed within said casing with the long axes of said strands arranged parallel to said casing wall, and substantially filling said casing between said ends, each of said strands comprising an open-ended tube, said tube containing a cured high explosive-incendiary composition which will burn when ignited and explode when detonated; gas generating means disposed adjacent to the other said end of said munition loading for ejecting said loading from said casing after ignition of the strands; closure means for the casing disposed in said casing adjacent to said gas generating means; and initiator means for igniting and exploding said loading, said initiator means being supported by said latter closure means.

Claim 3

The munition of claim 1 wherein the high explosive-incendiary composition comprises a cured elastomeric composition prepared by homogenously mixing and curing together a mixture of ingredients comprising on a weight basis from about 10 to 20% of a fluid curable polymer binder, from about 5 to 20% of fuel metal powder, from about 10 to 30% of particulate solid oxidizer, and from about 40 to 55% of particulate high explosive.

Claim 4

The munition of claim 2 wherein the high explosive is a nitramine.

Claim 5

The munition of claim 2 wherein the high explosive is selected from HMX and RDX.

Claim 6

The munition of claim 2 Wherein the solid oxidizer is selected from metal perchlorates and ammonium perchlorate.

Claim 7

The munition of claim 2 wherein the curable polymer binder is selected from carboxy terminated polybutadienes, hydroxyl terminated polyesters, and polyfluorocarbons.

Claim 8

The munition of claim 2 wherein fuel metal powder is selected from magnesium and aluminum.

Claim 9

The munition of claim 1 wherein said tube is a magnesium tube.

Claim 10

The munition of claim 1 wherein said tube has an inner diameter of from about one-fourth to about five-eighths inches.

Claim 11

The munition of claim 1 wherein high explosive-incendiary composition is disposed between adjacent tubes and said inner casing wall.

Claim 12

The munition of claim 1 wherein the means for exploding and igniting the munition loading and ejecting the ignited strands comprises in combination: a layer of granular igniter composition disposed in said other end of the casing in contact with the ends of the strands disposed in said other end and extending to said inner wall of the casing, at least one combustible separator means disposed in contact with said igniter composition and extending to said inner wall of the casing, a layer of granular catalyzed gas generating composition disposed in contact with said separator means and extending to said inner wall of the casing, a substantially flat cylindrical closure means disposed with one flat surface contacting said gas generating composition and disposed in sealing contact with the inner wall of the casing, booster means supported by said cylindrical closure means and extending through said cylindrical closure means and having a lower portion extending into said gas generating composition, pyrogen means supported by said cylindrical closure means and extending through said cylindrical closure means and having a lower portion extending into said gas generating composition, rotatable selective switch means pivotally supported by said cylindrical closure means on the outer surface thereof and including means for locking said switch in a fixed position, booster initiator means supported by said switch means and arranged to be disposed thereby in initiating position opposite to said booster means for initiation thereof, and pyrogen initiator means supported by said switch means and arranged to be disposed thereby in initiating position opposite to said pyrogen means for initiation thereof.

Claim 13

The munition of claim 11 wherein said cylindrical closure means comprises a closure plug having an off-center pivot pin extending perpendicularly outwardly from its outer surface and rigidly supported thereby, said pin supporting said switch means and being provided with locking means therefor.

Claim 14

The munition of claim 12 wherein said closure plug comprises in combination: a first pair of elevated closure pads integral therewith and arcuately positioned on either side of said pyrogen means, and level with the outer surface therewith and further positioned between said pivot pin and the outermost side of the inner wall of the casing, a second pair of elevated closure pads integral therewith and arcuately positioned adjacent one side of said booster means and level with the outer surface therewith and further positioned between said first pair of pads and said side of said casing wall, a series of pin sockets disposed in said closure plug between said pivot pin and said first pair of pads, said pin sockets extending part way through said plug from the outer surface thereof, and wherein said switch means comprises a pair of arms disposed in the form of a V and having at their juncture bearing means for fitting around said pivot pin, one of said arms being essentially a short arm relative to the other arm which is a long arm, each of said arms having attached thereto and depending from the same surface thereof a locking pin designed to fit into any of said pin sockets of said closure plug and arranged to fit into an adjaCent pin socket when said bearing of said switch is positioned on said pin and the switch is rotated to an adjacent pin socket position, said short arm being provided with means for supporting said pyrogen initiator means with its discharge end on the opposite side of said closure plug from said pyrogen means and said first pair of pads, said long arm being provided with means for supporting said booster initiator means with its discharge end on the opposite side of said closure plug from said booster means and said second pair of pads, said closure plug and said switch means cooperating to position and lock said switch means in one of three positions which are a safe position, a booster initiating position, and a pyrogen initiating position.

Claim 15

The munition of claim 13 wherein said booster initiator means comprises a detonator and a fuse for said detonator.

Claim 16

The munition of claim 13 wherein said pyrogen initiator comprises a squib and a fuse for said squib.

Claim 17

The munition of claim 1 which further comprises rocket propulsion means for delivery of the munition to a target.

Claim 18

The munition of claim 1 which further comprises aerial bomb means for delivery of the munition to a target.

Claim 19

The munition of claim 1 which further comprises mortar shell means for delivery of the munition to a target.