Page 232 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

238 NAVAL Sh: lI.LS

PelletratiJIg projectiles include armor-piercing shells designed Proxilllity-Jllsed (VT-fused) shells were introduced in 1943.
to penetrate heayy armor sllch as that of a ship before exploding. A VT fuse contains a radio transceiver that emits pulses of radio
The "AP armor piercing" projectile is an example of a projectilc energy and receives a reflection of those pulses back ti·om the tar-
of this type. The burster charge must be insensitive to the shock get. It is designed to detonate the projectile <It a position that will
of impact, to permit penetration and subsequent detonation by a cause the greatest damage to the t<lrget. If the projectile comes
dela), fuse. within 100 feet of the target, the returning pulse is strong enough
Fmglllelllillg projec/iles are designed to d<1I11ilge by blast eftect to set off the fuse. In the case of a projectile fitted with a VT fuse,
and fri.lgmentation. Fragmentation is the breaking up of the pro- therefore, a near miss can be nearly <lS effective as it direct hit. VT
jectile W<lUS into high-velocity shrapnel. These projectiles have rel- fuses are commonly used in fragmentation shells. A more recent
atively thin walls and large burster charges. The most commonly innovation is the COl/trolled I'l1riable til/Ie jilse which delays for a set
used projectiles of this type are called HE-PD (high explosi\'e- time after the projectile is fired before becoming active (arming),
point deton<lting) projectiles. They are used against lightly armored allowing the weapons officer to choose the time at which the fuse
surtace targets such as torpedo boats, shore installations, or person- arms and begins radiating. For example, if a ship were firing over
nel. Since no penetration is required, the bursting charge is scnsi- friendly ships, the arming would be delayed until the projectile was
ti\'e to impact. Most antiaircraft projectiles are of the ti'agmentation well past those ships.
type; some such as the widely used "AA common" projectile, are The l1leclll1llirnl tillle illse contains a clock mechanism that
normally fused to detonate in the proximity of the aircraft, and the explodes the projectile after a preset amount of time elapses.
ti·agmcnts penetrate the skin. Projectiles contJining this type of fuse were commonly used in the
Special pllrpose projectiles haye a variety of applications, includ- 5-inch, 40-caliber, and 20-caliber antiaircraft guns of battleships
ing illumination, smoke, chaft~ and target practice. They arc not and cruisers during 'Vorld ' ·Var II, which put up flak screens to pro-
intended to inflict damage by blast or fragmentation. \Vhatever tect fast carrier task forces during enemy air attacks. Flak is heavy
small amount of explosiye may be in the shell is there only to expel antiaircraft barrages through which aircraft must fly to attack the
the contents to achieve the designed purpose. deltnded targets.
J1111111i1ll1tillg projectiles, often called star shells, contain a bright
flare attached to a parachute. The flare is intended to illuminate an
Naval S urface Fire S upport
enemy target or terrain as it slowly descends under the parachute.
bleel/diary projectiles contain white phosphorus. The}' can be Bombardment of enemy shore installations was common ill ""orld
used to set fire to flammable targets such as fuel and ammunition 'Var II. Techniques have been continually improved through experi-
dumps, to mark the fall of shot during shore bombardment, and ence gained in sliccessive amphibious landings in that war, and later
to create chaos and confusion among enem), troops. Once released in surface gunfire support missions in Korea, Vietnam, and several
by the exploding projectile, the fmgments of burning white phos- operations in the ~,riddle East, including Desert Storm againsllraq.
phorus are almost impossible to extinguish. Naval surtace fire support can mean the difterence between
C11l1.D"projectiles contain metal foil strips that are scattered into sllccess or t~lilure in an opposed amphibious assault. But in order
the air b)' a small burster charge. The foil strips can confuse enemy for it to be effective, naval gunfire support for amphibious opera-
search and fire-control radar by causing interference that can I1lilsk tions must be carefully planned in advance and executed with pre-
the intended target. cision and timeliness. Naval surface fire is vitally important both
NOllji·aglllelltillg projectiles produce bursts of various colored before the assault to neutralize beach detenses and after the troops
smoke for antiaircraft gunnery pl\lClice. 'linget projectiles contain have landed to support them before adequate field artillery Ciln be
sand or other inert material to simulate the weight and balance of brought ashore and put into actioll.
burster charges; they are used for SurhlCC gunnery practice. Naval sl1rt~\Ce fire 111<1y also be called upon for other support
Once a projectile has hit the target or has cOllle within close roles, in addition to those connected with amphibious warfare. It
proximity of it, a device called a Juse detonates the burster ch<lrge. can be of prime importance in mine warfare activities, air-sea res-
A fuse can be either a mechanical or electrical device. fuses are cue missions, reconnaissance and demolition operations, feints,
classified according to their function as impact, time, or proxim- raids, and flak suppression during air strikes. It Ciln be lIsed in
ity. They mar be located either in the nose or the base of a projec- interdiction of coastal roads, railroads, airfields, and troop assem-
tile, again depending on their intended function. Variolls physical blyareas.
forces of flight, impact on or proximity of target, or passage of a set
time can cause the fuse to initiate the explosive train.