Explosive gunnery target apparatus

An explosive gunnery target apparatus having a rocket member responsive to being accurately struck by a gunnery projectile to explosively launch comprising:

• A. a rocket apparatus comprising:
• (1) a body means defining a interior chamber means therewithin and an inlet means defined therein in fluid flow communication with respect to said interior chamber means, said interior chamber means adapted to receive and retain pressurized air and water therein, said body means including lower fin means for guiding upward movement of said rocket apparatus during launching thereof;
• (2) a cap means detachably securable with respect to said body means positioned extending over said inlet means defined therein for selectively controlling fluid flow therethrough, said cap means including a nozzle means defining a nozzle bore means extending therethrough in fluid flow communication with said interior chamber means;
• (3) a nozzle valve means securable within said nozzle bore means to selectively control fluid flow through said nozzle bore means and said inlet means into said interior chamber means, said nozzle valve means including an one-way valve means positioned within said nozzle bore means to allow fluid to pass inwardly therethrough into said interior chamber means and to prevent fluid flow outwardly therethrough from said interior chamber means;
• (4) a target zone defining the desired area to be struck by the gunnery projectile comprising:
• (a) a first target area including a portion of said body means in an area adjacent said inlet means defined therein;
• (b) a second target area defined on said cap means and said nozzle means, said first target area and said second target area being capable of being penetrated by a gunnery projectile to facilitate expulsion of pressurized air and water outward from said interior chamber means causing explosive propulsion of said rocket apparatus responsive to projectile penetration of said target zone;
• B. a mounting means for holding at least one of said rocket apparatus therein to facilitate impacting thereof by a projectile, said mounting means adapted to maintain said rocket apparatus oriented with said target zone along the lowermost area thereof to facilitate launch of said rocket apparatus upwardly responsive to a gunnery projectile penetrating said target zone, said mounting means includes a mounting cup means being generally arcuate to receive said body means of said rocket apparatus therewithin with said target zone maintained lowermost and said cap means extending downwardly thereinto to facilitate striking of said target zone with a gunnery projectile, said mounting cup means of said mounting means defining a mounting hole means therein adapted to receive said cap means extending therewithin with said body means extending upwardly therefrom to facilitate launching of said rocket apparatus responsive to striking of said target zone by a gunnery projectile;
• C. a descent control device attached with respect to said body means of said rocket apparatus for controlling descent thereof after launching upwardly responsive to striking of said target zone by a gunnery projectile, said descent control device including an air deflection means extendable outwardly from said body means to control descent of said rocket apparatus after explosive launching thereof;
• and
• D. a deflector guide means positionable adjacent said target zone.. for facilitating striking thereof by a gunnery projectile.

An explosive gunnery target apparatus having a rocket member responsive to being accurately struck by a gunnery projectile to explosively launch comprising:

• A. a rocket apparatus comprising:
• (1) a body means defining a interior chamber means therewithin and an inlet means defined therein in fluid flow communication with respect to said interior chamber means, said interior chamber means adapted to receive and retain pressurized air and water therein, said body means being capable of maintaining water and air under pressure therein at least as high as 90 pounds per square inch;
• (2) a cap means detachably securable with respect to said body means positioned extending over said inlet means defined therein for selectively controlling fluid flow therethrough, said cap means including a nozzle means integral therewith and defining a nozzle bore means extending therethrough in fluid flow communication with said interior chamber means;
• (3) a nozzle valve means securable within said nozzle bore means to selectively control fluid flow through said nozzle bore means and said inlet means into said interior chamber means, said nozzle valve means including an one-way valve means positioned within said nozzle bore means to allow fluid to pass inwardly therethrough into said interior chamber means and to prevent fluid flow outwardly therethrough from said interior chamber means;
• (4) a target zone of plastic material capable of being penetrated by a gunnery projectile and defining the desired area to be struck by the gunnery projectile comprising:
• (a) a first target area including a portion of said body means in an area adjacent said inlet means defined therein;
• (b) a second target area defined on said cap means and said nozzle means, said first target area and said second target area being capable of being penetrated by a gunnery projectile to facilitate expulsion of pressurized air and water outward from said interior chamber means causing explosive propulsion of said rocket apparatus responsive to projectile penetration of said target zone;
• B. a mounting means for holding at least one of said rocket apparatus therein to facilitate impacting thereof by a projectile, said mounting means adapted to maintain said rocket apparatus oriented with said target zone along the lowermost area thereof to facilitate launch of said rocket apparatus upwardly responsive to a gunnery projectile penetrating said target zone, said mounting means defining a mounting hole means therein adapted to receive said cap means extending therewithin with said body means extending upwardly therefrom to facilitate launching of said rocket apparatus responsive to striking of said target zone by a gunnery projectile;
• C. a descent control device detachably secured with respect to said body means of said rocket apparatus for controlling descent thereof after launching upwardly responsive to striking of said target zone by a gunnery projectile, said descent control device including an air deflection means extendable outwardly from said body means to control descent of said rocket apparatus after explosive launching thereof, said air deflection means being movable responsive to upward movement of said rocket apparatus to extend generally parallel to said body means to minimize air resistance thereof, said air deflection means being movable responsive to downward movement of said rocket apparatus to extend generally perpendicularly outwardly from said body means to maximize air resistance thereof;
• and
• D. a deflector guide means positioned adjacent said target zone for facilitating striking thereof by a gunnery projectile, said deflector guide means defining an outlet aperture means adjacent said target zone and wherein said deflector guide means includes at least one deflector plate means being arcuate to guide a gunnery projectile through said outlet aperture after contacting thereof to facilitate striking of said target zone positioned thereadjacent.