Randy Chandler
Military personnel refer to the nitroglycerin and beeswax propellant charges used in mortar fire as cheese charges because they are about the size and color of a slice of cheese. The number of charges on a mortar round affects how high and far the round travels.
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What You'll Learn
- 'Cheese charges' are made of nitroglycerin and beeswax
- They are called 'cheese charges' because they are the size and colour of a slice of cheese
- The number of charges on a mortar round affects how high/far the round travels
- The charges are ignited by a firing pin at the bottom of the tube
- The charges are burnt off before moving, as they are left over from cutting the propellant to the required size
'Cheese charges' are made of nitroglycerin and beeswax
Cheese charges are used in mortars to provide extra propellant. They are called cheese charges because they are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese. They are made of nitroglycerin and beeswax.
Cheese charges are placed on the shaft of the mortar round. The number of cheese charges used determines how high or far the round travels. The rounds come with enough charges to propel them to their maximum range, so the charges are cut to the required number. The charges are wrapped around the tail of the main charge, with a hole in the middle to secure them.
The cheese charges are ignited by the main charge when it strikes the firing pin at the bottom of the tube. The energy is then trapped by an O-ring, which propels the round according to the number of charges left on it. The remaining cheese charges are burned in a pile at a safe distance.
The name 'cheese charge' is also said to come from the fact that they are highly delicious, especially with some McIlhenney's Tabasco.
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They are called 'cheese charges' because they are the size and colour of a slice of cheese
"Cheese charges" are extra propellants used in mortar fire. They are called "cheese charges" because they are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese. These charges are made of nitroglycerine and beeswax and have a hole in the middle to wrap around the tail of the charge. The number of cheese charges on the shaft of a mortar round determines how high or far the round travels.
Mortar rounds come with the maximum number of cheese charges, and the gunner pulls off the number of charges that are not needed. The remaining charges are then ignited by the main charge as it strikes the firing pin at the bottom of the tube. The more charges that are left on the round, the further it will travel. If you need the round to drop close, you can fire the mortar on charge 0 with no propelling charges.
The cheese charges that are pulled off are usually burned in a pile at a safe distance. Burning the excess charges is standard operating procedure for artillery and mortar crews. However, if the charges are stacked too deep, they can cross from burning to exploding. Burning cheese charges can create a mini fire tornado.
The name "cheese charge" may also be derived from the delicious taste of the charges.
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The number of charges on a mortar round affects how high/far the round travels
"Cheese charges" are extra propellant charges used in mortar fire. They are called "cheese charges" because they are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese. They are made of nitroglycerine and beeswax and have a hole in the middle to wrap around the tail of the charge. The number of charges on a mortar round affects how high and far the round travels. The more charges, the higher and further the round will go.
Mortar rounds come with the maximum number of cheese charges, and it is up to the gunner to remove the appropriate number of charges depending on the desired range and elevation of the target. The remaining charges are then ignited by a firing pin at the bottom of the tube, and the energy is trapped by an O-ring, propelling the round forward.
The number of charges on a mortar round can also affect the stability of the round in flight. If too many charges are used, the round may become unstable and veer off course. It is important to use the correct number of charges for the specific round and weapon system being used.
In addition, the number of charges can affect the residue left behind after firing. Excess residue can build up and affect the performance of the weapon over time. It is important to use propellants that minimize residue, such as Ball Powder® Propellants, which are designed to meet the specific ballistic requirements of different mortar systems.
Finally, the number of charges on a mortar round can also affect the cost of the round. More charges mean more propellant, which can increase the cost of the round. It is important to balance the number of charges with the desired range and accuracy to minimize costs.
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The charges are ignited by a firing pin at the bottom of the tube
The "cheese charges" in a mortar shell refer to the extra propellant wafers that are included with each mortar round. These wafers are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese, and they are made of nitroglycerin and beeswax. They have a hole in the middle to wrap around the tail of the charge. The number of charges on the round determines how high or far the round travels.
When a mortar round is dropped into the tube, there is a firing pin at the bottom that ignites the charges. This is known as the "cork-like effecting O-Ring", and it traps the energy to propel the round according to the amount of charge left on the round. The charges are ignited by a firing pin at the bottom of the tube, and this is a crucial step in the firing process. The firing pin sets off all the charges, and the resulting energy is contained and directed upwards by the O-Ring, propelling the mortar round upwards and outwards.
The number of charges on the mortar round can be adjusted depending on the desired distance and elevation of the target. If there are too many charges, some can be removed and burnt separately. This is an important safety precaution, as stacking excess charges too deeply can cause them to explode instead of simply burning. The burning of excess charges produces smoke, which can contain neurotoxins, so it is often done at night to avoid detection.
The 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortar systems used by the US military employ Ball Powder® Propellants, which are flash-suppressed and clean-burning. These propellants leave minimal residue and produce reduced blast overpressure, making them a cost-effective and high-performance choice. The specific propellant used in the 120mm mortar system is called WC 863 (Military Designation-M47), and it has been designed to significantly reduce residue compared to alternative propellants.
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The charges are burnt off before moving, as they are left over from cutting the propellant to the required size
"Cheese charges" are extra propellants used in mortar fire. They are called "cheese charges" because they are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese. They are made of nitroglycerine and beeswax and have a hole in the middle to wrap around the tail of the charge. The number of cheese charges on a mortar round determines how high or far the round travels.
Mortar rounds come with the maximum number of cheese charges, and the required number is used depending on the distance and elevation of the target. The remaining charges are left over and are burnt off before moving. This is because the cheese charges are highly flammable and can be a safety hazard if not disposed of properly. As they are made of nitroglycerine, they burn quickly and can create a mini fire tornado if a large number are burned at once.
The process of removing the excess cheese charges is called "cutting charges". A good charge cutter will be 2-3 rounds ahead of the round being fired. The removed charges are then placed in a safely distanced burn pile.
The burning of the cheese charges is a standard operating procedure for artillery and mortar crews. It is important to note that one of the compounds in the cheese charges releases a neurotoxin into the smoke when burned, so it is advisable to burn them at night to avoid detection.
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Frequently asked questions
Mortar cheese charges are made of nitroglycerin and beeswax.
They are about the size and colour of a slice of cheese you might put on your bread. They have a hole in the middle to wrap around the tail of the charge.
Cheese charges are extra propellant in mortar fire. The number of charges on the round affects how high or far the round travels.
Each round comes with the maximum number of charges. Based on the distance and elevation of the target, you pull off the number of charges that you need and put them in a safely distanced burn pile.
