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 itsapplication. It provides a clear and concise survey of the complex systems spectrum ofmodern ground warfare for officers-in-training and volunteer reserves throughout theEnglish-speaking world.

Introduction to Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology-R G Lee aBE

Volume I

Volume II

Volume III

Volume IV

Volume V

Volume VI

Volume VII

~Volume VIII

Volume IX

/Volume X

Volume XI

Vehicles and Bridging-I F B Tytler et a1

Guns, Mortars and Rockets-J W Ryan

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

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

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

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

Surveillance and Target Acquisition-W Roper et al

Guided Weapons (Including Light, UngUided Anti-Tank Weapons)R GLee et al

Military Data Processing and Microcomputers-J W D Ward andG 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 localBrassey's/Pergamon office

Related Titles of Interest

GARNELL 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. FARRARand

D. W. LEEMINGRoyal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK

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Copyright © 1983 C. L. Farrar & D. W. Leeming

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in anyform or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape,mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. withoutpermission in writing from the publishers.

First edition 1983

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication DataFarrar, C. L.Military ballistics.(Battlefield weapons systems & technology;v.lO)Bibliography: p. 207Includes 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 DataFarrar, C.L.Military ballistics. - (Battlefield weapons systems& technology; Vol. 10)1. Ballistic missilesI. Title II. Leeming, D.W. III. Series623.4'519 UG1310ISBN 0-08-028342-X (Hardcover)ISBN 0-08-028343-8 (Flexicover)

In order to make thiS volume available as economically and asrapidly as possible the typescript has been reproduced in itsoriginal form. This method unfortunately has its typographicallimitations but it is hoped that they in no way distract thereader.

The views expressed in the book are those of the authorsand not necessarily those of the Ministry of Defence of theUnited Kingdom.

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

Preface

This series of books is written for those who wish to improve their knowledge ofmilitary weapons and equipment. It is equally relevant to professional soldiers,those involved in developing or producing military weapons or indeed anyoneinterested in the art of modern warfare.

All the texts are written in a way which assumes no mathematical knowledge andno more technical depth than would be gleaned from school days. It is intendedthat the books should be of particular interest to army officers who are studyingfor promotion examinations, furthering their knowledge at specialist arms schoolsor attending command and staff schools.

The authors of the books are all members of the staff of the Royal Military Collegeof Science, Shrivenham, which is comprised of a unique blend of academic andmilitary 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 toimagine 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. Thisvolume concentrates on the principles of ballistics, illustrated by reference tomilitary applications. The subject is broadly divided into its components of in­ternal, intermediate, external and terminal ballistics. As the book is intendedfor use by both the army officer and scientist, some of the chapters are dividedinto two sections. The first part is largely qualitative while the second part pro­vides a mathematical background for further study.

Shrivenham, November 1982

v

Geoffrey Lee