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 its
application. It provides a clear and concise survey of the complex systems spectrum of
modern ground warfare for officers-in-training and volunteer reserves throughout the
English-speaking world.

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

Volume I Vehicles and Bridging-I F B Tytler et a1

Volume II Guns, Mortars and Rockets-J W Ryan

Volume III Ammunition (Including Grenades and Mines) K J W Goad and
D H J Halsey

Volume IV Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare-L W McNaught and

K P Clark

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

Volume VI Command, Control and Communications-A M Willcox,

M G Slade and P A Ramsdale

Volume VII Surveillance and Target Acquisition-W Roper et al

~Volume VIII Guided Weapons (Including Light, UngUided Anti-Tank Weapons)

R GLee et al
Volume IX Military Data Processing and Microcomputers-J W D Ward and
G N Turner

/Volume X Basic Military Ballistics-C L Farrar and D W Leeming

Volume XI Military Helicopters- P G Harrison

For full details of these and future titles in the series, please contact your local
Brassey's/Pergamon office

Related Titles of Interest

GAR NELL 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

APDS showing discarded petals and separating from pot sabot
 MILITARY BALLISTICS

A Basic Manual
c. L. FARRAR
and

D. W. LEEMING
Royal 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 be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. without
permission in writing from the publishers.
First edition 1983

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Farrar, C. L.
Military ballistics.
(Battlefield weapons systems & technology;
v.lO)
Bibliography: p. 207
Includes 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 Data

Farrar, C.L.
Military ballistics. - (Battlefield weapons systems
& technology; Vol. 10)
1. Ballistic missiles
I. Title II. Leeming, D.W. III. Series
623.4'519 UG1310
ISBN 0-08-028342-X (Hardcover)
ISBN 0-08-028343-8 (Flexicover)

In order to make thiS volume available as economically and as

rapidly as possible the typescript has been reproduced in its
original form. This method unfortunately has its typographical
limitations but it is hoped that they in no way distract the
reader.

The views expressed in the book are those of the authors

and not necessarily those of the Ministry of Defence of the
United 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 of
military weapons and equipment. It is equally relevant to professional soldiers,
those involved in developing or producing military weapons or indeed anyone
interested in the art of modern warfare.

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

The authors of the books are all members of the staff of the Royal Military College
of Science, Shrivenham, which is comprised of a unique blend of academic and
military 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 to
imagine any group of persons more fitted to write about the application of technol-
ogy to the battlefield.

This Volume

There are many textbooks on ballistics written primarily for the specialist. How-
ever, none of these offers a simple introduction to this complex subject. This
volume concentrates on the principles of ballistics, illustrated by reference to
military applications. The subject is broadly divided into its components of in-
ternal, intermediate, external and terminal ballistics. As the book is intended
for use by both the army officer and scientist, some of the chapters are divided
into two sections. The first part is largely qualitative while the second part pro-
vides a mathematical background for further study.

Shrivenham, November 1982 Geoffrey Lee