An Investigation of the Characteristics of Flechette Rounds When Fired from a Multi-Barreled Test Gun

Experimental firings were conducted with a five-barreled test gun firing Cal. 0.22, single flechette rounds in single shots, in salvos, and in a burst at a rate of fire of 2680 rdsmin. Measurements were made of action time and velocity dispersions were obtained of the flechettes and sabots at several locations down range and photographs were taken of the flechettes and sabots at two positions along their trajectories. Observations from the targets and photographs indicate that most flechettes yaw in flight regardless of how they are fired. Those fired in salvos, or in a burst, yaw much more than those fired in single shots. Yaw may be induced by transverse forces set up by the motion of the gun tubes, blast from adjacent muzzles, shock waves from other flechettes and interference from the sabots.