106 mm M581 APERS-T cartridge (United States), Tank and anti-tank guns

Development
The Anti-Personnel Tracer (APERS-T) M581 106 mm (the actual calibre is 105 mm) ReCoilLess (RCL) rifle round was developed as one of a group of similar rounds to provide M40 RCL rifle crews, including the crews of M50 Ontos tank destroyers which mounted no fewer than six M40 barrels, with a close-range anti-personnel capability during the Vietnam War (1957-75). It was type-classified in 1971. The payload of the 106 mm APERS-T M581 is approximately 9,500 small flechettes. There is no record that any armed forces other than the US Army have received these rounds.This round is no longer in the US inventory and any depot stocks are likely to have reached shelf-life expiry.

Description
The 106 mm APERS-T M581 is a fixed round, with the projectile rigidly secured to the perforated steel cartridge case by a crimping groove. The projectile has two indexing buttons 180º apart on the forward bourrelet, and a pre-engraved gilding-metal drive band encircles the projectile just forward of the base.The M581 projectile body is aluminium with a steel base. The base of the nose-mounted fuze adaptor is provided with four radially spaced M86 detonators which are used to split open the nose of the projectile. A fifth XM87 detonator with an M7 relay charge is installed through the centre of the projectile and is connected to an expelling charge using 35 g of M9 flake propellant. The main payload consists of approximately 9,500 small flechettes, each weighing approximately 0.5 g (8.0 grain), packed into separate bays. The projectile also carries 11 g of yellow-dye marker in the two rear bays for spotting purposes.After firing, the nose-mounted M592 Mechanical-Time (MT) fuze functions either on muzzle action (3 m) or at a range standoff of approximately 137 m, according to the selected setting. When the fuze functions, the four M86 radial detonators in the fuze adapter rupture the forward portion of the shell casing. At the same time, the XM87 axial detonator explodes activating the relay charge which ignites the 35 g expulsion charge of M9 flake propellant in the base. The combination of the forward force from the propellant charge and rotational forces due to the projectile spin disperses the

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title	Jane's Ammunition Handbook
Publication date	Mar 10, 2011
Section	Tank and anti-tank guns
Publication synopsis	Jane's Ammunition Handbook is the authoritative reference guide for ammunition in service, in stock and under development. This comprehensive resource provides informed analysis of product developments and commercial history, as well as technical descriptions, specifications and illustrations for ease of recognition. With Jane's Ammunition Handbook, your procurement and research needs are also supported through the original manufacturers' details and expert reference tables to confidently confirm small arms identification.
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