Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: Brian Ross (bxr307@coombs.anu.oz)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Lethality of small arms rounds.
Message-ID: <11858@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 1 Dec 89 04:20:11 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Lines: 44
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: Brian Ross (bxr307@coombs.anu.oz)
     In one of the latest issues of International Defence Review 
(8/1989) there is an article devoted to the lethality of the ammunition 
for the new US Army ACR (Advanced Combat Rifle).  For those of 
you, who like me are a little squeamish when it comes to such 
things I won't repeat what I read there (I'm still trying to get 
over it. :-)).  Suffice to say that the author came down against 
the flechette due to inadequate "wound causing ability" due to 
their very high velocity. I will quote though, from the summary 
which has several very good points about military programs in 
general and in particular the ACR program.

     "The wounding of the H&K candidate is the most difficult to 
forecast [due to the three round burst capability].  The estimates
 for the flechette-based candidates are made with a far higher 
degree of confidence.  In fact, this author would predict their
 inadequacy as a near certainty.
     Would not a more logical sequence than the one followed in 
the ACR program be to begin by developing a projectile to produce 
the type of wound needed, rather than considering the effect on 
the body as an afterthought, or ignoring it altogether?  
Considerable funds could then be saved by testing such elements 
as hit probabilities and mechanical functioning only with the 
candidates that stood some chance of doing what the infantry 
rifle is intended for: incapacitating the enemy combatant."

     That would of course be too sensible for a bureaucrat, now 
wouldn't it? :-)

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                                        |
Brian Ross                              |Snail Mail:- 
"Bill Bracket the self-made man who came|
in a a packet"                          |     Brian Ross
----------------------------------------|     Sociology Dept.R.S.S.S.
E-Mail Addresses:- bxr307@coombs.anu.oz |     Australian National University
                                        |     CANBERRA,A.C.T.,2601,
                   bxr307@csc.anu.oz    |     AUSTRALIA
                                        |
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