INTO THE MIX: The 120mm Canister Round Moves Forward

Vehicles, structure walls and other obstacles don't stand a chance -- and neither do the targets behind them. After recent achievements, the M1028 120mm Canister will soon be available where it's needed most -- on the frontlines.

By Frank Altamura and Jack Crowley
Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center
June 24, 2005 brought another milestone to the M1028 Integrated Product Team when it achieved type classification standard of the 120mm canister round.  

The achievement follows closely their urgent release action, with rounds from early lots already headed to where they will do the most good.  

The earlier significant accomplishment happened in 2004, when the IPT successfully reached its milestone C, Type Classification for Low Rate Production Review, and the recommendation for urgent release to deployed forces by the Materiel Release Acceptance Board.

The 120mm M1028 Canister, formerly the XM1028, product and core team were honored recently as being one of the top ten Army inventions of 2004.

By December 7, 2004, the M1028 documentation and performance had been reviewed by the staff of the Program Executive Officer for Ammunition. Then, the program's executive officer, Brig. Gen. Paul S. Izzo, was briefed by Frank Altamura, the Office of the Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition System's item manager, and key staff. Izzo then signed the milestone decision authority documentation, which granted authority for the program to move forward into low-rate initial production.

Shortly after milestone C was approved, two urgent fielding requests were received by OPM-MAS in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One request came from the Marine Corps. The second request came from Coalition Forces Land Component Command. The Coalition Forces UFR, approved by the G-3, was processed to respond to a request from the 1st Cavalry Division that was deployed to Iraq. The entire low-rate initial production lot is going to Iraq to support the current conflict.

Altamura said that in order to meet the urgent fielding requirement, “We were fortunate to have several existing components tested and available from other 120mm family of cartridges. The primer train, combustible cartridge case and reclaimed propellant all went 'into the mix.'"

“We are also extremely pleased that the M1028 is the first 120mm tank round to be fully insensitive-munitions compliant as certified by the Army Insensitive Munitions Board,” he added.

The M1028 has also demonstrated effectiveness against other targets. The cartridge has been successfully tested against vehicles, structure walls and for obstacle reduction capabilities. Lethality has even been demonstrated on targets behind these structures.

“The M1028 adds a really powerful tool for our tank crews and the troops they support. We will soon be able to more than ‘honor' these types of threats; we'll be able to effectively address them,” said Lt. Col. Ken Tarcza, OPM MAS' product manager.

The Marine Corps had the opportunity to fire a handful of the M1028 rounds during their gunnery training exercise in February at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in preparation for re-deployment to Iraq. Feedback was that the rounds impressed the tankers as well as a battalion commander from the 2nd Marine Division and the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division beyond their expectations.

“While our industry partners are generating the first lots of low-rate production, our partners at Fort Knox, Ky. and the ranges are speeding to develop the training, tactics and procedures needed to quickly field the M1028 to where it's needed,” said Col. Mark Rider, PM MAS.

“As our ammunition support teams have gone into the [area of responsibility] to investigate what our Soldiers need most. Our Soldiers and their leaders are very excited about being able to add canister to their inventories -- the quicker the better.” Rider added.

Here is your bitchin' pic...

Dupe...

Anything that makes 00 Buck or even a Claymore look wimpy gives me wood!

Get em into service ASAP.

I know nothing about tank munitions-what does this round do that others don't?

Based on the pic it looks like a giant buckshot round, is that an accurate description?

Yeeeehaaaw, my tank's got a 1200 guage shotgun shell! Now that's what I call a "Street Sweeper".

Quoted: Here is your bitchin' pic... images.military.com/pics/SoldierTech_M1028-1.jpg

THAT'S what I'm talking about.

Come get some.

Quoted: Dupe...

Hmmm...if you can find the link I'll ask for it to be locked.
Otherwise, carry on.

Quoted: I know nothing about tank munitions-what does this round do that others don't? Based on the pic it looks like a giant buckshot round, is that an accurate description?

Yep.

5" shotgun

Quoted: I know nothing about tank munitions-what does this round do that others don't? Based on the pic it looks like a giant buckshot round, is that an accurate description?

That aint no 00 either.  


The pellets are 10mm.

KICK ASS@!!@$#

Let's go skeet shooting.

Quoted: Let's go skeet shooting.

[mexican accent] Oh man, I think we're gonna need a bigger clay launcher [mexican accent]

Quoted: The shotgun has ALWAYS been useful.   Glad to see that it still is. "For close encounters."...Hicks..."Aliens" CJ

And looters.

PULL




BOOOOOM  

Quoted: Quoted: The shotgun has ALWAYS been useful.   Glad to see that it still is. "For close encounters."...Hicks..."Aliens" CJ And looters.

+1

A $200 tax stamp and I can get one, right?

There are called BEHIVE rounds, kinda neat name for such a "stinging" round.

"How many birds remain on a tree when you fire a single shot?"

Answer: NONE. All the birds are dead and the tree is gone thanks to the M1's "Master Key" add-on mod.

Quoted: There are called BEHIVE rounds, kinda neat name for such a "stinging" round.

I thought beehive rounds were fleshettes, not pellets?

Quoted: Quoted: The shotgun has ALWAYS been useful.   Glad to see that it still is. "For close encounters."...Hicks..."Aliens" CJ And looters.

They're NOT "looters."


They're "undocumented shoppers."




CMOS

I thought beehive rounds were fleshettes, not pellets?

IBTSN  - - - In Before The Spelling Nazis

It's FLECHETTE, not fleshette.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled program.

Disconnector

Quoted: This is called, "Stop the Haji in the Truck" round. Imagine what that would do to a vehicle.

WOOHOO.

Gives me wood thinking about it.

Disconnector

OldPainless needs to test that one on some drywall!!!

Quoted: OldPainless needs to test that one on some drywall!!!

I'll bet the average Home Depot doesn't have enough in stock to stop a storm of high velocity tungsten balls from a smoothbore 120mm gun.

The Army should commission Briley to make a extra-tight turkey choke for that monster.  Imagine the choke wrench

Disconnector

And all embedded in an enriched-pork-product matrix.
matthew

Quoted: I thought beehive rounds were fleshettes, not pellets? IBTSN  - - - In Before The Spelling Nazis It's FLECHETTE, not fleshette. You may now return to your regularly scheduled program. Disconnector

Good catch!

Quoted: There are called BEHIVE rounds, kinda neat name for such a "stinging" round.

IIRC that the 'Bee Hive' rounds were flechette rather than a multi-ball round???

wganz
¶

Quoted: PULL Commander: GUNNER...CAN ROUND.... TANGOS IN THE MINIBUS Loader: ROUND UP Commander: FIRE AT WILL Gunner: <click> Ka-WHOOOOOM

Fixed it for you!

Quoted: Quoted: There are called BEHIVE rounds, kinda neat name for such a "stinging" round. IIRC that the 'Bee Hive' rounds were flechette rather than a multi-ball round??? wganz ¶

You are correct.  Bee hives rounds fire flechettes.

The proper term for a cannon round that fires round balls is canister.

Disconnector

In the old school M1s (our hull numbers were below 500), we had the 105mm rifled bore.  We had a "beehive range" round.  Set the range on the fuse, load, fire, it'd fly out there somewhere about 50 meters shy of the target, burst, and all those flechettes would chop stuff up.  You could reach out and flechette someone at 1500 meters.

When the 120s were getting really popular, we decided we liked the ammo choices we had with the 105, and it could destroy everything we were going up against anyway.

Sabot
HEAT
WP Smoke (it burns, it burns)
Beehive range
HEP  (base detonated squash-head munition for busting up bunkers)
HE

I'm sure I'm forgetting some munition or other.

Of course, the 120 with just the Sabot and HEAT made things simpler for the loader.

Lets call it "FUCK SHOT" instead of "buck shot", Cuz whoever that's fired at is truly fucked!!

they was showing this round last year it may finnaly have gotten in to the mix about damn time.


it is  500 meter accurate with the first 2 rounds will kill a squad of infantry at that range.





xm1028 120 mm
XM1028 120mm Canister Tank Cartridge

The Tank Cartridge, 120mm, Canister, XM1028, is a tank round comprised of 1150 (est.) tungsten balls, which are expelled upon muzzle exit. There is no fuse on this round. While the dispersion pattern increases with range as the velocity of the balls decreases, the dense tungsten balls are used to minimize the velocity fall-off. This program responds to the USFK urgency of need signed by the CINC in Dec ‘99. RAPT Initiative Funding to be used for 6.0M in FY02 to accelerate development by one year earlier than previously planned.

This round meets urgent CINC, USFK requirements to provide effective rapid lethal reaction against massed assaulting infantry armed with hand held anti-tank and automatic weapons at close range (500 meters or less) thereby improving survivability. Additionally, this round will significantly increase the tank’s lethality and enhance the tank crew’s survivability. This additional capability will give the Abrams Tank the ability to survive RPG ambushes and to fully support friendly infantry assaults.

Anybody know what the spacer is for at the front ? Maybe so they can also use less dense pellets that take up more space ?

Quoted: Anybody know what the spacer is for at the front ? Maybe so they can also use less dense pellets that take up more space ?

click on my link and you will see there is no space in there all full up with pellets.never mind clicking on link here is pics

see no space at all.

Here is a thread on a 120mm multi-round being talked about....

More 120mm lovin'

Quoted: PULL BOOOOOM

lol that made me laugh!! ahahahahaha

I've got a new weapon idea for them.

Get a GE Vulcan type minigun and design it to be fed 3 inch 12gauge ammo.


Imagine a drum of ammo holding several thousand rounds of 12gauge ammo that has a staggered mix of slug, buckshot, bolo rounds, and maybe some no4 buck.

It would be a wall of lead like no other.

Quoted: Quoted: PULL Commander: GUNNER...CAN ROUND.... TANGOS IN THE MINIBUS Loader: ROUND UP Commander: FIRE AT WILL Gunner: <click>ON THE WAY Ka-WHOOOOOM   Fixed it for you!

I fixed the fix for you