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From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Muzzles of cannons
Message-ID: <1991Apr19.071347.15002@amd.com>
Date: 18 Apr 91 17:10:43 GMT
References: <1991Apr18.032433.21674@amd.com>
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
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Approved: military@amd.com


From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)


>From: khai@adi.com (Sao Khai Mong)
>On the muzzle of certain guns and howitzers, there is a
>hammerhead-like attachment present.  What is the purpose of it and why
>do certain guns need it and others not?

It's called a muzzle brake.  The purpose is to deflect some of the gases
from a firing rearward, to reduce recoil.  It's basically a kludge added
if the recoil from the gun is too heavy for the mounting platform (whatever
it is) to handle.  It is thoroughly unpopular with people like infantry
who have some reason to be near the gun while it is firing, because it
deflects the gases *towards them*.  This is a sufficient headache in
tactical use that designers avoid muzzle brakes when possible.

-- 
And the bean-counter replied,           | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
"beans are more important".             |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry