PROJECTILE, 155mm, COPPERHEAD, HE, M712

etained between the aft closure and the control section housing. It is designed to not only seal offpropelling charge gases but the rotating feature of the obturator reduces the spin of the projectile toapproximately 10 revolutions per second. This spin rate is sufficient to deploy the fins, but slow enoughto allow the control surfaces to stabilize the projectile through the entire flight. The base of the M712projectile is designed to receive an extractor device used to unload the projectile from the gun tube.Functioning. The M712 projectile is designed for indirect firing operations only. However, the projectiletrajectory can be programmed for either the ballistic mode or (high trajectory) or the glide mode (generallyflatter). When the round is fired, the setback and acceleration forces initiate the mechanical arming portionof the fuze S&A. These forces also cause the fins to unlatch and a portion of the battery to activate. Onleaving the tube, the fins snap out by centrifugal force, and lock in the extended position. After the timedelay set in by the code and time switches has expired, the main portion of the battery will activate,providing electrical power to all of the electronic circuits in the projectile. At the approximate midpoint ofthe trajectory, the wings will be deployed and the roll control and guidance functions will take over theflight of the projectile. When the projectile receives and decodes the laser energy reflected from thetarget, the projectile will steer onto a gliding intercept course to the target. At the same time, the fuze willbecome electrically armed. When the projectile hits the target, either the direct impact sensors or theshock wave sensors will trigger the fuze detonators and the warhead will function.WeightLengthExplosive FillPropelling ChargePrimerColor138 pounds54 inchesComp B, 14.75 poundsM3A1, M4A2, M119, A1 & A2M82Black with Yellow MarkingsReference: TM 43-0001-28, Army Ammunition Data Sheets, Artillery Ammunition, April 1994Mulvaney’s Ordnance Technical Information System (MOTIS)Ordnance Techncial Data Sheetwww.uxoinfo.com