🚀 go-pugleaf

In a previous article hall@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (Hal F Lillywhite) wrote:
> No, actually a recoiless rifle is just a rocket launcher.  It is
> nothing more than a rifled tube, open on both ends and equipped with 
> a device to ignite the rocket.  (And you *don't* want to stand behind
> one when it is fired!)  The recoil is in the exhaust just like in
> any other rocket and is not transfered to the rifle.  (See, I did
> learn something in the infantry.)

 Maybe you're thinking of a bazooka or something but the 106mm
 recoiless rifle is not a rocket launcher.

 It does not differ from any other artillery piece in operation 
 except that the shell casing of each round has holes in the sides
 and the rear of the breech has holes also.  The breech is opened
 the round put in, and the breech closed, just like any other 
 artillery piece.  When fired, the holes in the shell case and 
 breech allow the propellant gases to escape rearward, thus 
 counteracting the recoil of the gun.  The warhead that goes down 
 range is no different that any other artillery warhead - i.e. it
 is not propelled by a rocket motor.  After firing, the breech is
 opened and the now-empty shell casing is removed, just like an
 other artillery piece.

 I took this question to the sci.military newsgroup and they 
 support what I've said.  Here is a direct quote from the 106's
 manual, supplied by Eugene Heiss (heiss@brl.mil):

 --- Start of Quote ---

 reference FM 23-82 106mm Rifle M40A1 page 7

 3. Principle of Recoilless Operation
    The recoilless ammunition cartridge case is perforated to permit   
 expanding gasses of ignited propellant powder to escape evenly into
 the enlarged reaction chamber.  These gases exert equal pressure in 
 all directions within the chamber.  Pressure to the front against 
 the sloping wall of the chamber equals the force to the rear against
 closed portion of the breech.  Remainder of the force exerted by the
 gases causes a conventional weapon to recoil.  In a recoilless rifle,
 remaining gases are permitted to escape to the rear through openings
 in the breech; therefore, the rifle remains motionless when fired.

 --- End of Quote ---

 It may look like a rocket is being fired but it's a gun - one that
 spits fire forwards and backwards.

 BTW, thanks for the reply to my original question, it helped.

 TRAVIS