MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

Artillery Operations _____________________________________________________________________________________________ B-3
targets because a greater area is uniformly
covered with a greater density of fragmentation.
Caution should be exercised when firing
DPICMs in trees because the ribbon streamers
hang in the trees, creating obstacles to friendly
troops moving in the area.
High Explosive, Rocket-Assisted
Projectile (M549 Series)
Rocket-assisted projectiles (RAPs) have high
fragmentation steel cases filled with composition
B or TNT. An integral rocket motor is
positioned on the rear that functions along the
trajectory, increasing the range of the projectile.
RAP accuracy is reduced at longer ranges due to
the uneven burn of the rocket motor. However,
the RAP will produce more fragmentation over
a larger area than the standard HE projectile.
The RAP can be fuzed with PD fuze (M557 or
M739), MT fuze (M582 series), VT (M732A2)
or electronic time fuze (M767). This combination
is used on targets similar to those for the
HE shell M107.
Cannon-Launched Guided Projectile
(or Copperhead)
The cannon-launched guided projectile (CLGP)
(or Copperhead) is an antitank round that can
home in on its target after being fired. It is
employed in indirect fire to destroy or neutralize
moving and stationary hard point targets such as
armor, mechanized vehicles or field fortifications.
Targets must be designated during the
latter phase of the terminal portion of the trajectory
for at least 13 seconds by a ground or
airborne laser that provides reflective laser
energy for terminal homing.
Family of Scatterable Mines (M731 [S],
M692 [L]), M741 [S], and M718 [L])
FASCAM refers to expelling charge projectiles
used to deliver antitank or antipersonnel mines.
FASCAM includes area denial artillery munitions
(ADAM) and remote antiarmor mine system
(RAAMS). These projectiles are fuzed with a
mechanical time super quick fuze (M577) or an
electronic fuze (M762).
ADAM projectiles are antipersonnel projectiles
that contain submunitions to deny the threat use
of certain areas for a short period. Upon fuze
function, the ADAM ejects 36 submunitions per
projectile over the target area. After each submunition
comes to rest on the ground, seven sensor
trip lines will deploy up to 20 feet from each
mine. Disturbing the trip line activates the kill
mechanism and projects upward. At approximately
2 to 8 feet above the ground, the kill
mechanism detonates, projecting approximately
600 steel fragments in all directions. If the mine
has not detonated or functioned within the factory
set time—48 hours (long) or 4 hours (short)—it
will automatically self-destruct and clear the area.
RAAMS projectiles are antitank projectiles that
contain submunitions to deny or delay access to a
particular area for a specific period. Each projectile
contains nine mines that expel into the target area.
Mines scatter over an area and become armed
within seconds after landing. Metallic objects,
such as tanks, self-propelled vehicles or other type
units, passing over the mines will activate them
and damage or destroy equipment. These mines
also have self-destruct mechanisms. Mines that
have an antidisturbance firing mechanism are
randomly scattered through the group to reduce
tampering. When firing a shell-mix of ADAMS and
RAAMS, the RAAMS is fired first to prevent the
premature detonation of ADAMS.
Propellants
M3 Series Propelling Charge (Green Bag)
Green bag propellant is used to fire charges 1
through 5. The M3 series contains M3 and
M3A1 propellants.