Original Item. Only One Available. The 10 pound Flechette: WDU (4A/A) was used primarily for antipersonnel operations. Contained approximately 2,200 twenty grain flechettes. The flechettes are released by a base-mounted, fuze-ignited (integral fuze) expulsion charge at rocket motor burnout. The fuzed weight of the flechette is 9.3 pounds. Like all deactivated ordnance, this round is Not Available for Export.

This is a great example of the American 70mm (2.75") WDU-4, an Anti-Personnel (AP), flechette loaded, aircraft-fired, nose-ejecting, fin-stabilised, rocket warhead, also designated the Mk 149 and the WDU-13 with a setback-armed and diminishing-setback-fired, Base-Detonating (BD) fuze. This rocket is an Air-to-Ground-Rocket (AGR) primarily deployed from rotary-wing and other low-speed aircraft.

When it comes to designing a training program for military personnel, instructors are faced with several challenges. First, unlike athletes there is no off-season, most units are either preparing for deployment, deployed, or refitting from deployment. Secondly, training facilities vary from location to location and often focus on a single task. These tasks may include muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, field craft or marksmanship. Each of the above contribute to the success of an operation, however there is one area of training that is deficient. This deficiency is visual training; visual ability plays a larger role in achieving optimum performance than most military personnel realize. The goal of integrating visual training into an already packed curriculum is not to dilute it but to improve tactical performance.

To help users better understand the equipment they are using, examples like this cutaway were made. These were intended to give the users a look at the internal structure of the explosives, showing the different layers as well as where they connect or thread into each other.

This example was made into a cutaway, with a large “window” showing the flechette payload, as well as the internal structure of the bottom of the round. The back of the round is marked:

FLECHETTE WARHEAD WDU-4A/A
FOR 2.75 FFAR SYSTEM
DEVELOPED & PRODUCED BY
NORTHROP CORP. 

The round measures roughly 18” long and is seated on a great wooden display mount, with a plaque reading:

2.75” F.F.A.R.
FLECHETTE
VIETNAM ERA

The entire set together measures 5½ x 8 x 18”.

A fantastic display piece, one of the most scarce variations of the F.F.A.R. warhead. Comes ready for further research and display.