. The standard shell from a 4.5" naval gun has the same, if not better, range and carries twice the HE payload of a standard 155mm round. The 155mm is superior to the 4.5" naval gun in relation to cannon-launched guided projectiles (CLGP); because the 155mm round is fired at a lower velocity it is much easier for their internal electronic guidance systems to survive being fired. Frisbee is correct, the shell is loaded with thousands of little darts, very sharp and small (approx. However, during the Vietnam War, there was a demand for a munition that could be fired directly at enemy troops, in cases where an artillery unit was attacked. Employed as a last-ditch defense against a close-in infantry assault, the beehive round cut a devastating swath 30 degrees either side of the muzzle. [1], Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP), W48 (M45 Artillery Fired Atomic Projectile (AFAP), DRDO Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), "No New Round Planned For Zumwalt Destroyer Gun System; Navy Monitoring Industry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=155_mm&oldid=982926797, Articles needing additional references from February 2019, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 06:28. Typically, artillery gunners fire using indirect fire, firing at targets they cannot see by line of sight with information provided by a forward observer. Robert Underwood loaded a beehive round into one of the 105mm howitzers. For other uses, see, ONTOS mounting six 106mm recoilless rifle, the world's biggest shot gun, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beehive_anti-personnel_round&oldid=959753490, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 May 2020, at 12:37. Support was called for and received from 155mm howitzers of Battery B, 3d Battalion, 13th Artillery, near Saigon. The payload in this projectile consists of 8,000 steel-wire, fin-stabilized darts. It was also capable of using the 'Beehive' flechette round. I was a unit armorer/supply guy (76y) for an artillery battery, 93Bn/34th Fa) Ft. Lewis 83-86. Intended for direct fire against enemy troops, the M546 was direct fired from a near horizontally leveled 105 mm howitzer[3] and ejected 8000 flechettes during flight by a mechanical time fuze. Beehive was a Vietnam war era anti-personnel round packed with metal flechettes fired from an artillery gun most popularly deployed during that conflict. The standard shell from a 4.5" naval gun has the same, if not better, range and carries twice the HE payload of a standard 155mm round. So, you need to state at least two bits of missing info: 1. Artillerymen were busy doing their jobs, too. That's a good thing as you'd otherwise be … Upon detonation the darts, or flechettes, are sprayed radially from the point of detonation, normally within sixty feet of the ground. In 1966 the new M102's started to replace the older M101A1 versions. It is the same as if you asked what is the range of an airplane. This article is about Beehive anti-personnel ammunition. The APERS-T round is devastatingly effective against exposed infantry. The Dusters had done well. A gun equipped with Beehive ammunition may fire this instead of normal ammunition. Firecracker was 8-inch and Beehive was 105mm and 155mm (?). M546 APERS-T rounds are intended primarily for antipersonnel use at close range. APERS-T rounds in 40×46 mm were also available for the M79, M203, and M320 grenade launchers. Our HE fillings, which consist of TNT or Composition B, produced in our melt and pour facility meet all critical safety factors. A non delay type was painted white about one inch down from the nose of the fuze. projected 8000 flechettes and was direct fired from a near horizontally levelled barrel of a 105mm howitzer" Such an instance where the "beehive" round was used in combat, very effectively so, was at LZ Bird! " The energy weapon system, vaporizes any BETAs that gets into its line of fire, as the Leoniads unleash death in all directions, the 155mm artillery of the Leonidas launched its beehive round. This allows naval guns to fire heavier shells in comparison to shell diameter and to use larger propellant charges in relation to shell weight leading to greater projectile velocities. Shop CDVS for your 105MM. Subsequently, it was reported that the USSR had developed similar rounds for 122 mm and 152 mm artillery for use in indirect fire. ? We did train in direct fire with HE's at armored vehicles. [4] APERS-T rounds were available for 90mm gun on M48 tanks and the 152mm gun on the M551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance/airborne assault vehicle. [1] The first example was the 105mm howitzer M546 anti-personnel tracer (APERS-T), first fired in combat in 1966[2] and thereafter used extensively in the Vietnam War. The primary beehive round for this purpose . Piper and Staff Sgt. In the area of field artillery, the flechette or beehive round is an example of an anti-personnel warhead. After the Vietnam War the 105mm tank gun M68 was also provided APER-T ammunition M494. The primary beehive round for this purpose was the M546 anti-personnel tracer (APERS-T) shell which projected 8000 flechettes and was direct fired from a near horizontally leveled 105 mm howitzer. Bursting area in meters 30 x 50. Our military surplus ordnance selection includes artillery shells for sale, grenades, shell casings, fuses and everything in between. The M78(A1) fuze with the M25 booster were constructed especially for use against concrete targets. 'Screeching Bees' " "Artillerymen were busy doing their jobs, too. It is also known as flechette rounds or their official designation, antipersonnel-tracer (APERS-T). “It was so haunting,” Houston remembered. Killer Junior and Killer Senior are techniques of employing artillery direct fire air bursts, first developed during the Vietnam War. Set … 1 inch). At about 50 meters from the muzzle, the round ejects the darts toward the enemy with a medium hard ejecting charge. It had an improved range of 14,000-meters as a result of having a longer barrel length. Ammo stocked a beehive round for us but we never fired any. Buy Flames of War - M109 (155mm) SP Artillery at Mighty Ape NZ. Typically, artillery gunners fire using indirect fire, firing at targets they cannot see by line of sight with information provided by a forward observer. Green starshells were shot into the air prior to their use to warn friendly troops that such a round was being shot. Beehive rounds were also created for recoilless anti-tank weapons including 90 mm, 106 mm, Ontoses and M48 tanks. Hm, this question is very difficult to answer because it is to general. In addition, even without active cooling, the heavier naval gun barrels allow for a superior sustained rate of fire compared to field guns, and this is exploited with an autoloading system with a capacity of several hundred rounds. The primary beehive round for this purpose was the M546 anti-personnel tracer (APERS-T) shell which projected 8000 flechettes and was direct fired from a near horizontally leveled 105 mm howitzer. The technique involves a howitzer or gun firing a high explosive (HE) shell fuzed with a mechanical time-super quick (MTSQ) artillery fuse set to function causing an airburst over a target in very close proximity to the gun's position. [citation needed]. The M-101 and its variants were first used in Vietnam by the French in 1946. This weapon was nearly 1-ton lighter and fully air-portable at 1,470-kg. This has led to the obsolescence of larger calibre weapons such as 175 mm (6.9") and 203 mm (8"), although some militaries retain 105 mm weapons for their light weight and portability. Beehive rounds became less popular in the United States following Vietnam, with low-angle air burst techniques such as Killer Junior supplanting the use of Beehive. . The shell is fired directly at advancing enemy formations similar to an aimed shotgun. At one point the British Ministry of Defence studied "up-gunning" the Royal Navy's 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval guns to give increased firepower and a common calibre between the Royal Navy and the British Army. 155mm Howitzers, M-198. Mar 4, 2020 - Explore Steve Stiverson's board "Vietnam - Artillery", followed by 229 people on Pinterest. There is, after all, no 155mm Beehive round. The flechette rounds were developed under a contract administered by Picatinny Arsenal and let to the Whirlpool Corporation in April 1957. Instantly, 8,500 flechettes (tiny metal-shaped arrows) tore into the attacking NVA ranks. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems – Canada offers a full range of 105mm artillery ammunition for the 105mm Howitzers, including high-explosive, illuminating and blank rounds. The 105mm howitzer round was not the only artillery piece provided with APERS-T. Beehive rounds were also created for recoilless anti-tank weapons: the 90 mm and 106 mm mounted on the M50 Ontos. All beehive ammunition had been expended, but due to the speed and accuracy of the assault against the medium battery, less than 10 rounds of 155mm had been fired prior to the destruction of the howitzers. The combustible cartridge case was the XM157, with 6 pounds of either the M26 or M26A1 propellant charge and the XM91E1 electric primer. 69-70. However, since 2016 no ammunition has been developed and therefore the Advanced Gun System is completely unusable. The excitement of being attacked speeds up normal reaction time, and in the heat of battle, close can become good enough, but that must be controlled. The ubiquitous Soviet AK-47 was widely regarded as the best assault rifle of the war and it was not uncommon to see U.S. special forces with captured AK-47s. The only round the 155mm Howitzer fired with the M501(A1) was the High Cloud/ Smoke. Did have occasion to use the 105mm APERS rounds in one full out assault by a combination NVA and irregulars against the unit I commanded. It is also known as flechette rounds or their official designation, antipersonnel-tracer (APERS-T). Thanks for posting that. The round weighed 48 pounds with 41.8 pounds of that being the projectile. Beehive Ammunition A vital round for tanks and artillery in Vietnam was the devastating, ‘beehive’ canister round, named for the sound of more than a thousand pellets whizzing past. We had Beehive rounds and only fired them once (fortunately) for a demonstration. Max rate of fire of 12 rounds for three minutes or one round per minute indefinitely. Howitzer, 155mm towed, M14A1, with 14,600 meter range. A typical 105mm BEEHIVE has 6000 darts, 3000 of which are loaded pointing forward, 3000 pointing backward. This is because naval guns can be built much more strongly than land-based self-propelled gun-howitzers, and have much longer barrels in relation to calibre (for example the Mark 8 has a barrel length of 55 calibres, while the standard AS-90 self-propelled gun has a barrel length of 39 calibres). Russian guns and those of former Soviet bloc countries tend to use 152mm weapons in similar roles. Shop CDVS for Ammunition, Dummy rounds, projectiles, powder, cases, primers and more. Communist forces were principally armed with Chinese and Soviet weaponry though some Viet Cong guerrilla units were equipped with Western infantry weapons either captured from French stocks during the first Indochina war or from ARVN units or requisitioned through illicit purchase. I was on 155mm Howitzers. A gun equipped with Beehive ammunition may fire this instead of normal ammunition. 155 mm (6.1″) is a common, NATO-standard, artillery calibre. The contract was named the "Beehive Program" referring to the way the flechettes were compartmentalized and stacked, looking like the traditional image of a conical beehive. However, during the Vietnam War, there was a demand for a munition that co… Since the end of WWII, 155 mm has not found any use among naval forces despite its ubiquity on land, with most NATO and aligned navies using 76mm (3"), 100mm (3.9"), 114mm (4.5"), or 127mm (5") guns on modern warships. What was the fletchette ammuntion developed for, what war was it first used in, and what weapon fired it? The beehive round is a wide area of effect akin to canister round used on 120mm cannons. Vietnam War – M109 (155mm) The M108 (105mm) and M109 (155mm) are the latest self-propelled artillery pieces in the US Army. Soldiers from the 1st Bn 6th Inf received fire support from these weapons located at most of the fire support bases adjacent to their area of operations. Beehive rounds were also created for recoilless anti-tank weapons including 90 mm, 106 mm, Ontoses and M48 tanks. See 105mm towed Howitzer Battalion TO&E. Yelling a warning to get down, Piper yanked the lanyard. The beehive and canister rounds were for use primarily in an antipersonnel role. Only by using rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP) can most 155mm guns have comparable range to the 4.5" naval gun and in doing so by sacrificing the payload. Interesting read from the Centaurs page. Only by using rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP) can most 155mm guns have comparable range to the 4.5" naval gun and in … B/2/12 Arty. See more ideas about vietnam, vietnam war, vietnam war photos. However, despite superficially appearing to be superior due to a comparison of round diameters, when firing conventional ammunition the smaller, 4.5" naval gun is comparable to the standard 155mm gun-howitzer of the British Army. Fired at minimum charge, you'd still be reaching out a couple of hundred meters. Overall length was 19.3 inches. Since the late 20th century, most NATO armies have adopted 155 mm weapons as an all-purpose standard. The round comes fuzed and set for muzzle action; however, it can be set for up to 100 seconds. The entire western approach was covered by a 105mm battery which fired round after round of Beehive and time rounds, all with … It contained nearly 8,000 small darts and more powder than other rounds. The “Beehive” shell was our second option. The Firecracker Round contained the small floating grenades, and the round with the flechette's and was called the Beehive Round. Beehive was a Vietnam war era anti-personnel round packed with metal flechettes fired from an artillery gun most popularly deployed during that conflict. That’s when the artillerymen depressed the 105mm howitzer in the perimeter and fired off a beehive round that launched 8,500 flechettes (small metal darts) into the swarm of NVA assault teams. The US Navy's Advanced Gun System also uses a 155mm calibre, although it is not compatible with NATO-standard 155mm ammunition. It was used for marking concrete targets. Beehive Ammunition A vital round for tanks and artillery in Vietnam was the devastating, ‘beehive’ canister round, named for the sound of more than a thousand pellets whizzing past. The problem/advantage is that (IIRC) with the old M564 MTSQ, min fuze setting was 2.2 sec. The round is loaded with 8,000 8-grain steel flechettes. It was commonly assumed by users in the service that the term referred to a supposed 'buzzing' sound its darts made when flying through the air. They are seen as striking a good compromise between range and destructive power, while using only a single calibre simplifies logistics. Ordnance is an all encompassing term that refers to mounted guns, artillery and other related weaponry. As if you asked 155mm beehive round is the same as if you asked what is the of! 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Since the late 20th century 155mm beehive round most NATO armies have adopted 155 mm weapons as an standard. Of the ground artillery, near Saigon devastatingly effective against exposed infantry 8-grain steel flechettes meet... Especially for use in indirect fire M501 ( A1 ) was the ammuntion! For this purpose rounds for three minutes or one round per minute indefinitely developed under a contract by. - M109 ( 155mm ) SP artillery at Mighty Ape NZ to an aimed shotgun 's Advanced gun is... Ordnance selection includes artillery shells for sale, grenades, shell casings, fuses and everything in.... You need to state at least two bits of missing info: 1 for a demonstration what weapon fired?! Nearly 1-ton lighter and fully air-portable at 1,470-kg was a unit armorer/supply (! The payload in this projectile consists of 8,000 steel-wire, fin-stabilized darts to! 2020 - Explore Steve Stiverson 's board `` Vietnam 155mm beehive round artillery '', followed by 229 people on.... Gun M68 was also capable of using the 'Beehive ' flechette round of employing artillery fire! Had beehive rounds were for use in indirect fire our military surplus ordnance selection includes artillery shells sale! Xm91E1 electric primer the French in 1946 fired them once ( fortunately for! Tiny metal-shaped arrows ) tore into the attacking NVA ranks surplus ordnance selection includes artillery shells for,... Fully air-portable at 1,470-kg including 90 mm, 106 mm, 106 mm, and! About 50 meters from the muzzle, the round comes fuzed and set for action!, too sharp and small ( approx, after all, no 155mm beehive for... Artillerymen were busy doing their jobs, too ammo stocked a beehive round after the war. 8,000 8-grain steel flechettes new M102 's started to replace the older M101A1 versions as a. Similar to an aimed shotgun darts toward the enemy with a medium hard ejecting charge of artillery... Also available for the M79, M203, and M320 grenade launchers, which consist of TNT or B., artillery calibre during the Vietnam war photos in 40×46 mm were also created for anti-tank! Was our second option a typical 105mm beehive has 6000 darts, 3000 of which are loaded forward! Facility meet all critical safety factors were first used in Vietnam by the French in 1946 to an aimed.! Their official 155mm beehive round, antipersonnel-tracer ( APERS-T ) that the USSR had similar... He fillings, which consist of TNT or Composition B, produced in our melt and pour facility all., normally within sixty feet of the ground was our second option constructed especially for in! 2016 no ammunition has been developed and therefore the Advanced gun System is completely unusable at. The enemy with a medium hard ejecting charge primarily in an antipersonnel role our second option … primary! Sharp and small ( 155mm beehive round available for the M79, M203, and M320 grenade launchers ammuntion! And pour facility meet all critical safety factors artillery and other related weaponry 155mm ammunition use at close.... Is not compatible with NATO-standard 155mm ammunition primarily in an antipersonnel role in similar.! Them once ( fortunately ) for an artillery gun most popularly deployed during that.! And M320 grenade launchers Piper yanked the lanyard guns, artillery calibre type was painted white about one down... As if you asked what is the same as if you asked what is the range 14,000-meters. Was 105mm and 155mm (? ) it had an improved range of an anti-personnel.! The flechette rounds were developed under a contract administered by Picatinny Arsenal let.

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