Military

M913 ESIP Projectile, 105MM, HERA

The 105MM, High Explosive Rocket Assisted (HERA) projectile was developed to provide increased range and lethality for the M119 howitzer fielded with the light divisions. The projectile consists of TNT loaded, high fragmentation steel warhead. A rocket motor initiated by a pyrotechnic delay assembly at approximately 15 seconds in flight provides the maximum range of 19.5 km. In the rocket off mode, 14.5 km is obtained. The M913 HERA was Type Classified Standard in November 1990.

Designed for use in the M119A1 Lightweight Howitzer and other upgraded guns, the 105mm M913 HERA Cartridge provides improved lethality at extended range. The M913 delivers more than a 70% increase in range and a significant increase in lethality over the standard M1 HE Projectile.

The M913 is the U.S. Army's most modern and longest range 105mm High Explosive Projectile. The M913 is a semi-fixed cartridge and uses the U.S. M229 (Charge 8) maximum propelling charge. This enhanced charge limits this projectile to modern upgraded 105mm howitzers, such as the M119A1 Lightweight Howitzer, LG1 Mk II Light Gun, RDM M101/33, and others.

The M913 105-mm rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) increases range by 40 percent and lethality significantly over the standard M1 projectile. In contrast to the older M548 105-mm RAP, which uses the low-end M176 propellant, the M913 uses the M229 maximum propelling charge (Charge 8, high end). The increased range is obtained by using the M229 propellant coupled with a modern rocket motor designed to survive a high-"G" and high-spin environment.

Increased range is accomplished through the use of Talley's modern, composite HTPB propellant rocket motor, which is designed to survive the high "g" and high spin environment. In addition to the rocket motor Propellant Grain, Talley provides a high reliability Pyrotechnic Delay Assembly, allowing the projectile to be fired rocket-on or rocket-off.

The rocket motor functions approximately 15.4 seconds after leaving the gun tube, maximizing range extension. With rocket-on, the M913 provides a maximum range of 20 km. (When the M119 fires the M913 with Charge 8, the howitzer's quadrant elevation, or QE, is limited to 800 mils, producing a maximum range of 19.5 kilometers.)

Using a high fragmentation HF-1 steel body, the M913 provides up to an 80% increase in lethality over the old M1 HE Cartridge. The M913 warhead contains 2.63 kg of TNT explosive fill.

The M913 provides dramatic increases in range, area coverage, and lethality without requiring gun modification, and is a long range replacement for the older M1 HE ammunition in inventories today. The M913 is Type Classified-Standard by the U.S. Army and is currently in the Army inventory.

A direct variant of the M913, designated the M927, is also available. The M927 uses a reduced propelling charge (M67 Charge 7), and is compatible with all U.S. howitzers, including the M101A1, M102, as well as the M119A1. The M927 provides extended range (16.7 km) and improved lethality to the M102 howitzers used by the Army National Guard.