From the 105 mm ceremonial artillery shells used in Cambodia for the funeral of the former King, the Z113 Factory has improved them to produce artillery shells for the National Day celebrations that are safer, produce less smoke, are easier to handle, and have a crisp, clear explosion.

For many years, in addition to its defense and economic production tasks, the Z113 Factory (General Department of Defense Industry) has been assigned by the Ministry of Defense the task of researching and manufacturing ceremonial artillery shells to serve major national holidays such as: National Day in 2005, and the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi in 2010.

Colonel Ho Xuan Minh, Deputy Director in charge of technical affairs at Factory Z113, recalled that in 2012, the Ministry of National Defense instructed the factory to produce 105 mm ceremonial artillery shells for Cambodia to use in the funeral of former King Norodom Sihanouk. This was the first time the factory had produced this caliber of artillery shell.

Time constraints and strict regulations aimed at ensuring maximum efficiency and safety forced the unit to urgently research and test to find the optimal production method. Ultimately, the problem was solved. This success not only ensured the standing of the Vietnam People's Army before the Cambodian people but also enabled the factory and the Weapons Institute to research and transform the design, overcoming the shortcomings of previous ceremonial artillery shells.

The loading of 105 mm ceremonial artillery shells for our neighbor Cambodia is being carried out under the inspection and supervision of a high-ranking leadership delegation. Photo: People's Army.

Sharing about the production of artillery shells for the 70th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd, Colonel Ho Xuan Minh said that the requirements this time included improving the shell casing; the ignition charge assembly had to be changed from a smooth mounting mode to a threaded mounting mode and use a brass casing. Based on the 105 mm ceremonial artillery shells already produced, the factory's staff and workers had to urgently manufacture additional equipment and tools, develop design documents for new details, and proactively analyze and find the most optimal production method.

Despite facing numerous difficulties due to additions and changes in the production plan, tight deadlines, and the need to purchase some semi-finished materials from the outside market and transport them hundreds of kilometers away from the unit, the Z113 soldiers and technicians successfully completed their assigned tasks.

The 105 mm ceremonial artillery shell produced by Factory Z113 this time features a brass propellant casing and, for the first time, utilizes threading technology, demonstrating outstanding advantages such as: the ability to replace the primer assembly and reuse the casing multiple times, maximizing cost savings during training.

In addition, the projectile stoppers are made of cardboard (replacing the wooden stoppers), increasing safety during firing. The original propellant is replaced with a spherical propellant, which burns quickly and cleanly under low pressure. When ceremonial fireworks are fired, there is only a small amount of white smoke, not black smoke...

If the research process demanded creativity, meticulousness, and a high sense of responsibility, the assembly process was equally demanding. The 35 technical staff and workers involved in the assembly were all highly skilled. The assembly process was rigorous, requiring absolute precision and safety. Security was also heightened to the highest level, with many production areas placed under strict lockdown and constantly monitored by a supervisory board. After 12 days, the assembly process was completed (3 days ahead of schedule).

After more than two months, the production process was completed, ensuring timeliness, quality, and safety. All products were successfully test-fired and accepted. "Previously, the ceremonial artillery shells were the 122-M30 type, with a long safety radius (over 50 m), producing a lot of smoke, and the propellant did not burn completely, making cleanup after firing very difficult. The ceremonial artillery shells for the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd this year have many improvements, high safety, reduced smoke, easier operation, and a crisp, clear explosion," Colonel Ho Xuan Minh said.

To date, the entire shipment has been delivered to the firing unit - Tat Thang Artillery Brigade (Artillery Corps).

According to VnExpress