Military Ballistics: A Basic Manual (Battlefield Weapons Systems & Technology)

Battlefield Weapons Systems & Technology, Volume X

MILITARY BALLISTICS

A Basic Manual

Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series General Editor:

Colonel R G Lee aBE, Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK

This new series of course manuals is written by senior lecturing staff at RMCS, Shrivenham, one of the world's foremost institutions for military science and its application. It provides a clear and concise survey of the complex systems spectrum of modern ground warfare for officers-in-training and volunteer reserves throughout the English-speaking world. Introduction to Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology-R G Lee aBE Volume I

Vehicles and Bridging-I F B Tytler et a1

Volume II

Guns, Mortars and Rockets-J W Ryan

Volume III

Ammunition (Including Grenades and Mines) K J W Goad and D H J Halsey

Volume IV

Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare-L W McNaught and K P Clark

Volume V

Small Arms and Cannons-C J Marchant Smith and P R Haslam

Volume VI

Command, Control and Communications-A M Willcox, M G Slade and P A Ramsdale

Volume VII

Surveillance and Target Acquisition-W Roper et al

~Volume

VIII

Volume IX /Volume X Volume XI

Guided Weapons (Including Light, UngUided Anti-Tank Weapons) R GLee et al Military Data Processing and Microcomputers-J W D Ward and G N Turner Basic Military Ballistics-C L Farrar and D W Leeming Military Helicopters- P G Harrison

For full details of these and future titles in the series, please contact your local Brassey's/Pergamon office

Related Titles of Interest GAR NELL

Guided Weapons Control Systems (2nd ed.)

HEMSLEY

Soviet Troop ControL The Role of Automation in Military Command

MORRIS

Introduction to Communication., Command and Control Systems

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MILITARY BALLISTICS

A Basic Manual c.

L. FARRAR

and

D. W. LEEMING Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK

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BRASSEY'S PUBLISHERS LIMITED a member of the Pergamon Group OXFORD . NEW YORK . TORONTO SYDNEY· PARIS· FRANKFURT

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BRASSEY'S PUBLISHERS LTD a member of the pergamon Group I Headington Hill Hall. Oxford OX3 OBW, England

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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

Pergamon Press GmbH, Hammerweg 6, 0-6242 Kronberg-Taunus, Federal Republic of Germany Copyright

© 1983

C. L. Farrar & D. W. Leeming

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. without permission in writing from the publishers.

First edition 1983 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Farrar, C. L. Military ballistics. (Battlefield weapons systems & technology; v.lO)

Bibliography: p. 207 Includes index. 1. Ballistics-Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Leeming, D. W. II. Title. III. Series. UF820.F37 1983 623'.51'0202

83-5966

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Farrar, C.L. Military ballistics. - (Battlefield weapons systems & technology; Vol. 10) 1. Ballistic missiles I. Title II. Leeming, D.W. III. Series 623.4'519 UG1310 ISBN 0-08-028342-X (Hardcover) ISBN 0-08-028343-8 (Flexicover) In order to make thiS volume available as economically and as rapidly as possible the typescript has been reproduced in its original form. This method unfortunately has its typographical limitations but it is hoped that they in no way distract the reader. The views expressed in the book are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom.

Printed in Great Britain by A. Wheaton & Co. Ltd., Exeter

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Preface This series of books is written for those who wish to improve their knowledge of military weapons and equipment. It is equally relevant to professional soldiers, those involved in developing or producing military weapons or indeed anyone interested in the art of modern warfare. All the texts are written in a way which assumes no mathematical knowledge and no more technical depth than would be gleaned from school days. It is intended that the books should be of particular interest to army officers who are studying for promotion examinations, furthering their knowledge at specialist arms schools or attending command and staff schools. The authors of the books are all members of the staff of the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, which is comprised of a unique blend of academic and military experts. They are not only leaders in the technology of their subjects, but are aware of what the military practitioner needs to know. It is difficult to imagine any group of persons more fitted to write about the application of technology to the battlefield. This Volume There are many textbooks on ballistics written primarily for the specialist. However, none of these offers a simple introduction to this complex subject. This volume concentrates on the principles of ballistics, illustrated by reference to military applications. The subject is broadly divided into its components of internal, intermediate, external and terminal ballistics. As the book is intended for use by both the army officer and scientist, some of the chapters are divided into two sections. The first part is largely qualitative while the second part provides a mathematical background for further study.

Shrivenham, November 1982

Geoffrey Lee

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