TM 43-0001-28

CARTRIDGE, 40-MILLIMETER: HE, M397A1

Type Classification:
Std MSR 08746022 dtd 1974
Use:
This cartridge is a high explosive round designed to inflict personnel casualties using air
burst effect, and is fired from 40mm Grenade
Launchers M79 and M203 (attached to the M16
series rifle).
Description:
This cartridge is a fixed round of ammunition consisting of a one-piece steel projectile
body with a metal rotating band and a cartridge
case assembly containing the propelling charge
and percussion primer. A hollow ogive is fitted
to the front end of the projectile. A hollow steel
ball assembly containing a delay detonator, a
booster charge, and an HE bursting charge, is
fitted into the rear end of the projectile. A PD
fuze assembly is threaded into the front opening of the ball assembly. The projectile assenbly is press-fitted into a cartridge case. The
case is a hollow bichambered aluminum cylinder with an annealed brass propellant cup
assembly fitted into the center of the cartridge
base.

The cup contains the propelling charge

and a percussion primer in the center. The cup
acts as a high-pressure chamber, and the hollow
cavity in the case, which surrounds the cup,
acts as a low-pressure chamber.
Functioning:
The weapon firing pin strikes the percussion primer igniting the propelling charge in
the high-pressure chamber. The burning propelling charge generates sufficient pressure to rupture the propellant cup forcing the expanding
gases from the burning propellant through the
vent holes into the low-pressure chamber. The
rotating band around the projectile engages the
rifling in the launcher tube, imparting spin to
the projectile. The pressure, created by the
expanding propellant gases in the low-pressure
chamber, forces the projectile through the
tube with a muzzle velocity of 76 meters per second. When the projectile is fired, setback forces
cause the fuze setback pin to retract from the
fuze rotor causing the bellville type washer to
be crushed.
This permits the fuze housing
assembly containing the rotor to retract from
the stationary fuze firing pin. In the unarmed
position, a set-back pin, a firing pin, and a centrifugal lock in the fuze assembly, combine to
prevent movement of the rotor. This keeps the
fuze detonator from aligning with the separation charge assembly. Centrifugal force, from
6-17

TM 43-0001-28

rotation of the projectile, causes the centrifugal

lock to retract from the fuze gear train. The
rotor, now free to rotate, lines up the detonator
with the separation charge assembly. A fuze
escapment mechanism delays arming by controlling rotor movement. The fuze arms after the
projectile has traveled at least 14 meters (45
feet) from the launcher tube. Upon impact
with the target, the M55 detonator within the
setback sleeve and housing assembly is driven
forward into the firing pin. In turn, the detonator ignites the separation charge assembly
which initiates the delay detonator of the auxiliary fuze in the ball assembly. Gas pressure
drives the delay detonator into the armed position. Concurrently, the ball assembly with the
auxiliary fuze ejects from the rear of the projectile into the air. The pyrotechnic delay detonator in the ball assembly detonates the booster
charge, in turn, detonating the bursting charge
80 milliseconds after ejection. This results in a
blast and fragmentation of the ball assembly 5
feet above the impact point. This cartridge functions with improved performance on snow targets in comparison to the performance of M397
and M406.

Performance:
Maximum range -----------------Muzzle velocity -----------------Arming delay distance --------Temperature Limits:
Firing:
Lower limit -----------------------Upper limit -----------------------Storage:
Lower limit -----------------------Upper limit -----------------------*Packing -------------------------------

*Packing Box:
Weight -----------------------------Dimensions ----------------------Cube ---------------------------------

Tabulated Data:
Complete round:
Type ---------------------------------Weight -----------------------------Length -----------------------------Weapons used with -------------

-65F (-53.8C)
+165F
(73.9C)
6 rounds per
bandoleer;
12 bandoleers
(72 rounds)
per box
58 lb
17-3/4 x 14-1/8
x 11-15/32 in.
1.7 cu ft

*Note: See DOD Consolidated Ammunition

Catalog for complete packing data including
NSNs.
HE
0.51 lb
4.05 in.
M79, M203
40mm grenade launchers (attached
to M16 series
rifle)

Projectile:
Body material -------------------- Aluminum
skirt with
steel ball containing
explosive filler
Color -------------------------------- Olive drab
w/yellow
markings and
yellow ogive
Filler -------------------------------- OCTOL, 32 g
Fuze --------------------------------- PD, M536E1
Propelling charge:
Cartridge case --------------------- M118
Propellant -------------------------- M9, 330 mg
Primer ------------------------------ M42, FED 100

6-18

400 m
76 mps
(250 fps)
14 to 27 m
(45 to 90 ft)

Shipping and Storage Data:

UNO serial number --------------- 0006
Hazard class/division and
storage compatibility group -- 1.1 E
DOT class ---------------------------- Class A
Explosive
DOT marking ------------------------ AMMUNITION FOR
CANNON W/
EXPLOSIVE
PROJECTILES
DODAC ------------------------------- 1310-B569
Cartridge drawing number ------ P9233158
Packing drawing number -------- 882362
References:
SB 700-20
TM 9-1010-205-10
TM 9-1010-221-10
TM 9-1300-251-20
TM 9-1300-251-34