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From: thos@suite.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Muzzles of cannons
Message-ID: <1991Apr19.071405.15057@amd.com>
Date: 19 Apr 91 11:25:14 GMT
References: <1991Apr18.032433.21674@amd.com>
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From: thos@suite.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen)


In <1991Apr18.032433.21674@amd.com> khai@adi.com (Sao Khai Mong) writes:
>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?

This is a muzzle brake. Simply, it's there to divert some of the gas
that comes out of the muzzle after the shell. It turns it to develop a
forward pull on the barrel which counteracts some of the recoil.

There are problems associated in turning the gas back too far as you
could seriously annoy the gun's detachment. A good muzzle brake can
reduce the recoil forces by 25-35%. It is possible to improve on this
but usually at the expense of manufacturing difficulty.

-- 
thos cohen
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