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Subject: Time for a new Copperhead?
reefdiver    8/23/2006 10:55:34 AM
Given that technology has improved, and small laser guided rockets such as the 70mm APKWS and VSM are being developed - should/could a new version of the laser guided Copperhead be developed? It would seem this time around it should cost no more than Excaliber - which is having problems. I seem to recall Copperhead being more precise than Excaliber. But is a laser-held-on-target even still desireable for artillery?
 
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Carl S       9/11/2006 3:35:58 PM
If I recall the explosive content for the 155 HE round correctly it is 7-8 kg of composition B exposive.  Rain enough of them down on a structure like a bridge, with fuse delay or hardened concrete pieceing type fuzes & eventually one will hit a critical point in the structure.  In school this was called a "Destruction Mission" & was considered something for extreme cases due to the ammo expendenture and the exposure of the batterys firing.  All those shots about guaranteed location of the firing units by evil Warsaw Pact commies.  I cant ever think of ever planning such a mission in any training exercise.  One look at the ammo requirements specified by the JEMS underlined why.

Gross weight of the 155 HE round with fuse is just under 45kg.
 
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Carl S       9/11/2006 3:46:45 PM
"... but I'm more surprised there hasn't been talk of an artillery shell that in its terminal phase would lock on vehicle IR signatures. Or has there been talk of launching a BAT/Skeet submunition from artillery?"  

There was some testing of that back in the 1970s & 80s.  It sort of faded away.  One rumor was too much variation in vehical heat signatures.  Another story was that the first vehical hit attracted all he other IR guided rounds with its suddenly enhanced heat signature.  A third reason given had to do the ease in creating deceptive measures.

There was also a experimental round that used millemectric frequency radar to 'spot' AFV sillouttes.   Dont recall hearing anything about it for quite a while either.

Maybe I'm being to harsh on lazer guides.   
 
 
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AlbanyRifles    Copperhead Round   9/11/2006 3:57:45 PM
The M712 Copperhead has a 14.75 lb Comp B shaped charge warhead
 
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