Effect of Chrome Plating on the Wear Characteristics and Ballistic Performance in the 155-mm M198 Artillery System.
Abstract
Wear tests were conducted on both a 0.25-mm thick, chrome-plated M199 cannon for the M198 artillery system and the standard M199 steel cannon. During testing, M483A1 projectiles were fired from both tubes with the high zone propelling charge M203. After every 250 rounds, precision range groups including each of the main projectiles in the 155-mm system were fired from each tube. After firing 1,750 rounds, wear in the chrome-plated tube in the region of the origin of rifling was about one-half that of the steel tube. In addition, the chrome-plated tube showed only slight wear for the first 2.5 meters down bore from the origin of rifling, a significant improvement over the steel tube. Although an earlier chrome-plated tube firing M549A1 projectiles showed considerable muzzle wear, none resulted from the M483A1 firings. Recovered projectiles fired from the chrome-plated tub after 1,500 and 1,750 rounds showed one-third more rotating band wear than those fired from the steel tube after the same number of rounds. However, the rotating band wear did not affect the range precision or defection of the rounds nor was it caused by free run as was demonstrated by the torsional acceleration tests. After 1,750 rounds, none of the projectiles fired from the chrome-plated tube experienced any velocity or range reduction, while the M549A1 projectile fired from the steel tube after the same number of rounds lost 21.3m/s velocity and 500 meters in range. Further testing is planned to define condemnation criteria and wear life for both the steel and the chrome-plated tubes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA096249
Entities
People
- A. C. Vallado
- J. A. Lannon
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center