Fiercing projectiles

A piercing projectile having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and intended to be fired by a weapon having a rifled barrel, said piercing projectile comprising:

• a main piercing projectile matching the caliber of the rifled barrel, said main piercing projectile having a rear shoe and a central core,
• said rear shoe being made of a relatively soft material for engagement with the rifling of the barrel and having an outside diameter such that it engages the rifling of the rifled barrel,
• said central core being made of a relatively hard material compared with that of said rear shoe and having an outside diameter such that it does not engage the rifling of the rifled barrel,
• a self-tightening conical sleeve coupling means for securing said rear shoe and said central core together;
• a single axially rifled bore provided coaxially with the longitudinal symmetry axis in said central core and opening towards a front of said central core, the rifling of said axial rifled bore being in the same rotational direction as the rifling of the rifled barrel;
• an auxiliary piercing projectile housed in said rifled bore and matching the caliber of said rifled bore, said auxiliary piercing projectile being arranged to engage the rifling of said rifled bore;
• a propulsion charge placed between a bottom of said rifled bore and said auxiliary projectile;
• a proximity detonating fuse which is detonated when said piercing projectile is reaching a target;
• a triggering means which is actuated by said proximity detonating fuse for igniting said propulsive charge to cause said auxiliary projectile to be fired;
• at least one secondary charge located in said central core;
• and
• an ignition means provided between said rifled bore and said secondary charge for, when said auxiliary piercing projectile after being fired passes in front of said ignition means, automatically igniting said secondary charge.