Military

M1029 40-Millimeter Crowd Dispersal Round (Area)

The M1029 Crowd Dispersal Cartridge is a direct fire, low-hazard, non shrapnel producing projectile 40 mm non-lethal cartridge effective for crowd dispersions or routing of individuals in a crowd control or civil disturbance situations and against subjects who offer violent resistance. The M1029 round is extremely effective against individuals in a violent mindset or armed with impact or edged weapons. It is also effective against rioters and in rescue or street clearing operations.

The 40-millimeter crowd dispersal round delivers a strong, stunning blow to a threat's body without penetrating it. This round has a wide range of capabilities for tactical, law enforcement, I/R, and US military detention operations. In crowd control, it provides a nonlethal capability that can be used to break contact and enforce a buffer zone (standoff distance) with a violent crowd.

Although non-lethal ammunition is designed to help control a hostile individual or crowd without serious injury or death to targeted individuals, such instances may still occur even when non-lethal munitions are properly employed. Engaging targets at less than 10 meters greatly increase the potential lethality of this munition. Ten meters is approximately the length of two HMMWVs.

The non-lethal 40mm cartridge provides friendly forces with the capability to stop, confuse, disorient, or momentarily deter a potential threat without using deadly force. Military forces use this non-lethal cartridge to apply the minimum force necessary while performing missions of crowd control and site and area security of key facilities throughout the world. The non-lethal 40mm cartridge is intended to be a direct fire, low hazard, non-shrapnel-producing device which will produce less than lethal trauma upon impact. The 40mm cartridge gives field commanders and soldiers an effective, less-than-lethal capability which will increase their flexibility in the application of force and will increase their effectiveness during military operations in war, Support Operations, and Stability Operations. This relates to all DOD components and may have applicability to United States Coast Guard and other Federal Government and local law enforcement agencies. The congressionally-mandated Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP), whose purpose is to enhance survivability items used by the U.S. Army soldier, is the initiative to provide this capability.

The M1029 consists of an aluminum housing, 40 mm in diameter, 4.8 inches long, that contains a non-lethal payload of 48 each, .48 caliber rubber balls. The payload is projected to the target by the gas-generated from a primer located in the base of the cartridge. The M1029 is loaded into the M203 grenade launcher, mounted on either the M4 carbine or M16 series rifle and is fired like any other 40 mm ammunition item. The M1029 cannot be fired out of the MK19 series machine gun. When this round is fired from the M203 it acts much like a large shotgun shell. The payload spreads out from the barrel to cover an area equal to five standard E-type silhouettes standing side by side at a range of 30 meters. Be aware of possible bounce-back if fired at a wall or hard object within 20 meters of the user.

The FY01 production contract for 50,000 rounds was awarded 22 May 2001. During the Insensitive Munitions Burn Test, a problem with the .38 caliber casing, recommended solutions include a case crimp or annular grooves to retain the casting. Upon resolved solution the First Article Testing (FAT) will proceed. During CY01, the 40mm NLCDC program obtained its Federal Hazard Classification (FHC), Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) supportability statement, created and staffed the Milestone III documentation and verification on the program's Technical Manuals.