Failure Analysis of an 84-MM, M3, Carl Gustav, Recoilless Rifle
Abstract
During a February 26, 1997 training exercise at Fort Benning, Georgia, an 84-mm, M3, Carl Gustaf, shoulder fired, recoilless rifle; the TACOM-ARDEC Multi-Role, Anti-Armor, Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MAAWS); failed while firing an FFV552 training round. The composite wrapped, steel lined barrel burst open beneath the trigger housing, destroying the weapon but leaving the Gunner and Assistant Gunner uninjured. The rifle (serial number 14051) was evaluated in the field and at Benet Laboratories. Inspections included a bore surface inspection, dimensional checks, a magnetic particle inspection, an ultrasonic inspection, a crack evaluation, and a bore debris analysis. Although there is no clear evidence regarding the cause of the failure, the evidence does indicate that the failure may have been caused by a soil obstruction in the barrel. This obstruction probably produced a large amount of highly localized stress on the carbon fiber, composite overwrapped, steel barrel; thereby causing the jacket that contains the pressure to fail and allowing the pressurized propellant gases to deform and rupture the underlying steel liner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA352481
Entities
People
- Adolf Kapusta
- Kenneth Olsen
- Kevin Miner
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center