Self-contained round having ring airfoil projectile and launcher therefor

Self-contained cartridge/launcher for ring airfoil projectile comprising;

• a tubular casing having a cylindrical rifled bore including a muzzle end and a breech end, said casing having a radially inwardly directed integral lip at said muzzle end defining a coaxial circular opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said rifled bore and defining a coaxial annular abutment surface within said bore and facing in an axial direction toward said breech end,
• a cartridge base connected to said casing at said breech end and forming a closure for said breech end having a coaxial central portion extending coaxially into said rifled bore and defining a coaxial charge bore having at least one opening at an inner end portion thereof,
• a propellant charge contained within said charge bore,
• a primer coaxially mounted on said cartridge base and within said bore,
• a sabot disposed in a loaded position within said rifled bore and having a trailing end portion engaging said cartridge base and including lands and grooves complementing an associated portion of said rifled bore, said sabot having an inner surface defining a substantially coaxially symmetrical recess opening toward said cartridge base, said inner surface cooperating with said cartridge base in said loaded position to define a pressure chamber, said sabot having a coaxial annular carrying recess opening in the direction of said muzzle end and a coaxial annular abutment surface disposed radially outward of said carrying recess and in opposing axially spaced relation to said annular arresting surface for engaging said arresting surface to retain said sabot within said casing when the cartridge is fired, and
• a ring airfoil projectile having an annular trailing portion disposed within and generally complementing said carrying recess, said ring airfoil projectile having a major diameter smaller than the diameter of said circular opening.

A self-contained round of ammunition comprising:

• a cartridge casing having a tubular body including an axially elongated generally cylindrical rifled bore having a breech end and a muzzle end, said cartridge casing having a base forming a closure for said bore at said breech end defining a charge bore,
• a projectile assembly disposed within said rifled bore at said breech end and defining a bore engaging surface complementing an associated portion of said rifled bore, said projectile assembly including a sabot cooperating with said base to define a pressure chamber for communication with said charge bore and a ring-airfoil projectile carried by said sabot a propellant charge contained within said charge bore,
• a primer carried by said cartridge casing for igniting said propellant charge, and
• an integral radially inwardly directed annular arresting lip on said tubular body at said muzzle end of said rifled bore defining a radially disposed annular arresting surface facing in the direction of said breech end for arresting said sabot and retaining it generally within said cartridge casing when said round is fired.