Ignition needle cartridge
| Ignition needle cartridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| general information | |
| caliber | 15.43 |
| Sleeve shape | Paper cartridge |
| Dimensions | |
| Floor ⌀ | 13.6 mm |
| Cartridge length | 61 mm |
| Weights | |
| Bullet weight | 31 g |
| Powder weight | 5 g |
| total weight | 40 g |
| Technical specifications | |
| Speed v 0 | 295 m / s |
| Lists on the subject | |
The ignition needle cartridge is a standard paper cartridge with a black powder charge developed by Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse in conjunction with the Prussian ignition needle rifle . It was one of the first series (and partly machine) manufactured unit cartridges, i. that is, unlike muzzle-loader ammunition, it was loaded as a whole. It was modified / improved three times, but eventually replaced by the metal cartridge. The cartridge for the French Chassepot rifle must be distinguished from the classic needle cartridge .
Dimensions
The cartridges (M / 55) contained 4.6 to 4.9 g black powder, corresponding to about 16% of the bullet weight. The cartridges had a caliber of 15.43 mm (bullet only 13.6 mm) with a length of 61 mm. The cartridge weight was 38.5 g (40 g according to other information). In the case of the n / A cartridge, the bullet caliber was reduced to 12 mm, lightening the bullet by around 9 g (length 24.6 mm compared to 26.9 mm previously).
Special features of the construction
The cartridge contained a sub-caliber bullet with a cardboard sabot . This had the following advantages:
- The bullet could not get stuck in the barrel and thus not cause it to burst.
- The bullet did not come into direct contact with the barrel and thus prevented the trains from becoming lead .
- The cardboard sabot was less abrasive on the barrel and thus increased the life of the weapon.
- With every shot, the barrel was cleaned of combustion residues by the sabot.
- The bullet shape could be varied relatively freely without fundamentally changing the cartridge.
On the other hand, there was the disadvantage that the separation of sabot and projectile did not work completely reliably (so-called humming ), which impaired the ballistic properties.
The squib was embedded in the bottom of the sabot and was therefore in front of the cargo instead of behind it (as was customary later). This made the cartridge extremely safe to handle, as the primer was protected from external mechanical or chemical effects (in contrast to the "modern" center fire cartridge). Dreyse also hoped that this would improve the combustion of the propellant charge. The disadvantage of this placement was the necessity that the firing pin (the firing needle) had to penetrate the powder charge first and then be directly exposed to the corrosive powder gases.
variants
In the test phase, a simple pistol ball was pressed into the sabot. Faulty considerations about aerodynamics led to the replacement of the bullet with an acorn-shaped projectile when the series was launched. The pressing was replaced by an adhesive. The unsatisfactory ballistic properties led to the replacement by a "long lead" - a projectile in the form of an elongated drop with a capped rear end (cartridge M / 55). As part of the adaptation to Beck (in connection with the war of 1870/1 ), a waxed cloth disc was added to the bottom of the cartridge, which reduced the load on the firing pin and the penetration of combustion residues into the needle tube (cartridge n / A = new type). This non-burning pane was driven out with the next shot.
rating
The cartridge is a typical example of the Dreyseschen developments aimed at multipurpose and safety: The individual parts of the construction served several purposes at the same time. The ballistic performance was only moderate due to the safety-related low load, but for a long time satisfied the tactical requirements, especially since the use in connection with the breech-loading rifle allowed significantly higher rates of fire and reloading while lying down.
The use of a co-burning paper tube had the advantage that no cartridge extractor was required. It was also lighter, cheaper, and more reliable to manufacture than contemporary metal models. The decisive factor in their eventual replacement was the impossibility of ensuring a secure seal solely through the base of the rifle.
literature
- Rolf Wirtgen: The needle gun. A military-technical revolution in the 19th century. Published by the Defense Technology Study Collection of the Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement. Mittler, Herford et al. 1991, ISBN 3-8132-0378-6 , (exhibition catalog).
Individual evidence
- ^ Karl Sellier, Beat P. Kneubuehl: Wound ballistics: and their ballistic basics . Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg 2013, ISBN 978-3-662-10980-9 , pp. 48 ( google.de [accessed on January 29, 2018] 295 m / s is the value for the 13.6 mm projectile of the older unitary cartridge).
- ↑ Anonymous: The aptirte needle gun. In: Polytechnisches Journal . 196, 1870, pp. 426-429.
- ↑ Anonymous: The Prussian needle gun. In: Polytechnisches Journal . 123, 1852, pp. 91-103. (Figs. 13 and 14)
