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Navy/Army Team delivers Ship Force Protection

NAVSEA News Wire

Release Date: 4/16/2004

By Craig Herndon and Henry Wong, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division

Crane, Ind. - In response to Admiral Ulrich's (OPNAV N76) "Task Force Hip Pocket Initiative" to provide U.S. Navy Force Protection systems, the Navy/Army Team is delivering two 5-inch Force Protection projectiles for use within the current "layered-defense" approach. The High Explosive - Electronic Time (HE-ET, MK 179) and Kinetic Energy - Electronic Time (KE-ET, MK 182) 5-inch rounds are being pursued as Product Improvement Programs (PIP). The Navy turned to the Naval Surface Warfare Centers, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) and Dahlgren Division (NSWC Dahlgren) for the know-how, technology, and teaming experience to accomplish the task. The objective was to quickly qualify and deliver 5-inch projectiles that demonstrated improved effectiveness over current 5-inch projectiles against a high speed maneuverable surface target threat. The Navy believed it was realistic to field the capability within two years from program inception.

The 5-inch Projectile Task Force consists of members from both Crane and Dahlgren and the Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA). The idea originated at Dahlgren, as Design Agent for Navy 5-inch projectiles. Each round utilizes existing technology and is further designed to enhance the capability of the warfighter to defend against small boat threats, such as those favored by terrorists during naval operations in unfriendly waters.

The HE-ET round is the result of the conversion of an existing round. The HE-ET configuration utilizes the currently fielded MK 82 5-inch high fragmenting round, but enhances its reliability and performance via usage of the MK 432 Electronic Time Fuze.

The KE-ET round is based on the EX-172 cargo HE-ICM Round. The KE-ET projectile is assembled from a 5-inch Cargo projectile body that features a high-fragmenting low-drag external profile with a cylindrical interior cavity that carries a payload of off-the-shelf tungsten-alloy pellets. The pellet load is expelled from the projectile aft end by a WC-294 Ball Powder propellant expelling charge, which is initiated by the electronic time fuze. Effectiveness modeling and testing has shown that the KE-ET round, because of its dispense pattern, provides a significant increase in lethal area at close-in ranges beyond that of the HE-ET and current HE-CVT rounds.

Initial shipboard and live fire tests were conducted aboard the USS Lake Champlain, USS Ross, and USS Vella Gulf. The tests demonstrated that these new 5-inch Force Protection rounds met or exceeded all design requirements to protect surface ships within their intended deployment range.

With assistance from CAAA, the 5-inch Projectile Task Force provided technical direction to contractors who manufactured the cargo projectile bodies and the electronic time fuzes. These items are provided as components to CAAA for the loading, assembling and packing of the All-Up-Rounds. Great care was taken during manufacturing, testing, and final production, and the team effectively employed a critical balance between quality and speed of delivery, as the program proceeded under the watchful eye of CNO. These commands have successfully teamed together to: provide technical direction and assistance to enhance existing weapon system capabilities ; streamline test and evaluation processes; and procure and field the new projectiles.

In September 2003, with proven performance of the projectiles, OPNAV N76 gave the Crane/Dahlgren team a monumental task. The assignment was to deliver the 144 MK 179 and 144 MK 182 projectiles by late October 2003 for use during a Fleet Force Protection exercise. Within three weeks, working around the clock, the Crane/Dahlgren Team along with the CAAA Production Team, fabricated and delivered the necessary rounds to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for shipboard trials by 1 October 2003.

The 5-inch Projectile Task Force team was able to go from concept to testing to hardware delivery in an unprecedented period of 18 months. As of March 2004, NSWC Crane, collaborating with CAAA, has completed and delivered the new HE-ET and KE-ET Force Protection rounds to the Navy.

The Fleet has recognized the hard work, dedication, and record-breaking work of the 5-inch Projectile Task Force Hip Pocket Team. The 5-inch Projectile Team was nominated for an Integrated Warfare Systems Excellence Award, and the winner will soon be announced.