Treatise on Ammunition, 1902

656 Pages·2016·35.29 MB·English

G+.Zri+. V/or Office
. \_All rights r,served.]
TREATISE
ON
AMMUNITION.
WAR OPFICE-1902.
-.v.-.^

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY HABBISOK AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANK,
PRINTERS IN ORDINAKY TO 1118 MAJKSTY.
Andtobepurchased,eitherdirectly orthrough any Bookseller, from
JiYUK & SPOTTISVVOODK, East Harding Strbkt, Flkkt Stiirit, K.C.i
or OLIVER & BOVI) Edinbcroii;
or E. POXSONBY, 116 Ohafton Sturet Drnu.v
1902.
Price Six Shillings,
UF
TOO
(Wt. #10 »000 6 | 0»-H*8 5681) ^
■
PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION.
This edition has been prepared by the Instructional Staff
(Ammunition Branch) ofthe Ordnance College.
Obdnancb Collioi,
Woolwich,
\8thApril, 1902.
CONTENTS.
PAOK
Prefacetothe Seventh Edition iii
Listof Abbreviations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Tiii
Chapter I.—Gttnpowdeb.—Composition of gunpowder.—Various
descriptionsof gunpowder, and their uses.—Effect of
percussionor friction.—Classification.—Packing .. 1-9
Chapter II.—Gun-cotton.—Manufacture and properties.—Issue.—
Packing and transport of wet and dry gun-cotton.—
Apparatus forcuttinggun-cotton.—Drying .. .. 10-19
Chapter III.—Cobditb.—Manufacture.—Properties.—Storage.—Use.. 20-25
Chapter IV.—Combustible Compounds used in Laboratory Com
positions,andMiscellaneousExplosites.—Various
explosives.—Ingredients used in laboratory composi
tions.—Methodofmixing.. .. .. .. 26-33
Chapter X.—Cartridges,—General Remarks.—Materials used.—
Gravimetricdensityandairspace.—Positionof rent.—
Classification ofcharges .. .. .. .. .. 34-39
Section I.—Pondercartridge;.—Materials.—General descriptionof
prismatic cartridges.—R.B.L. stores.—Blank.—
Makingupand filling.—Marking.—Stations.. .. 39-58
Section II.—Cordite cartridges.—Materials.—General description.
—Making upand filling.—Marking .. .. ■. 53-60
Section III.—Ganges.—Covers, cartridge.—Drill cartridges.. .. 60-65
Chapter VI.—Powder Barrels—Hints on coopering.—Metal-lined
and othercases.—Zinc cylinders.—Oartridgccases .. 66-94
Chapter VII.--Eleotric Detonators and Ftzes.—Definitions.—
Description of the service detona'orsandelectricfuzes.
—Generalnotes .. .. .. .. .. .. 95-109
Chapter VIII.—Tubes and Stores connected with them.—Use of
tubes.—Friction tubes, copper and quill.—Electric
tubes.—Miscellaneous tubes.—Vent sealing tubes.—
1'riunrs, vent, cordite.—Drill tuber.—Stores used with
vents alir.gtubes—Lanyards.—Ventservers, &c. .. 110 141
Cha/er IX.—General Remark* on Fuzes.—Uses nnd c'a«se4 of
fuze-'.—Eii'C boh' gauges.—Gene al remarks on wood
ti no fuzes.—Go. e.al remarkson inetul hue*.—General
remark-*on percussion fuze*.—Blinds.—Prcinitures .. 112-153
Ch.iptor X.- PERCUSSION Fuzes—Direct action.—D.A. delay.—D.A.
impact.—Pettmm's U.S —Small.—R.L.—B.fj. plain.—
Base fuzes 154-168
CIa>*cr XT.—Tike and Combined Fuzes — 13 sconds woid time
fuzes. —Time and percussion fuzes No. 56, Mark IV,
57, 60, and 01.—'lime and percussion fuzes, middle
and short.—.Middle sensitive time fuze—E timo fuze 169-181
CONTKNTN,
nam
Chapter XII.—General Remarks on Projbctilks for Rifled
Obdxance.—Systems of Hiding. — Windage. —
Clearance.—Lengthandweightofprojectiles.—General
remarks.—Armour-piercingprojectiles.—Commonshell.
—Shrapnelshell.—Caseshotandstarshell 182-194
ChapterXIII.—ProjectilesfobB.L., Q.F., on Q.F.C. Guns.—Driving
bands.—Augmentingstrips.—Commonshell.—Shrapnel
shell.—Star shell.—Lyddite shell.—Armour-piercing
and Palliser projectiles.—Cane shot.—Drill shell.—
Papershot 195-230
Chapter XIV.—Gas-chbces.—Why introduced for R.M.L. guns.—
Material.—Attachedgas-checks.—Automaticgas-checks.
—Special gas-checks 231-240
Chapter XV.—Projectilesfor R.M.L. Guns (7-inchandupwards).
—Common shell.—Double shell.—Shrapnel shell.—
Palliser projectiles.—Caseshot.—Papershot .. .. 241-256
Chapter XVI.—Projectilb3forMediumand SieobR.M.L.Guns and
Howitzers.—Common shell.—Incendiary shell.—
Shrapnelshell, starshell.—Pallisershotand case shot.
-Papershot 257-267
XVII.—Projectiles forR.M.L. FieldandMountainGuns.
—Studded shep.—Studlesa shell.—Star shell.—Case
shot 268-280
ChapterXVIII.—Projectiles fob R.B.L. Gunb on theLead-coated
Stbtem.—Shortnotesonprojectilesforrifledguns.—
Distinguishingmarksforprojectiles,R.B.L. introduc
tion.—Segment, common, shrapnel shell. —Case
shot.—Solid shot.—Summary of rifled projectiles.—
Distinguishingmarks .. .. .. .. 281-298
Chapter XIX.—Ammunitionfob Quick-Firino Gunb.—Service.—
Practice.—Drill and saluting cartridges.—Boxes.—
Cases. — Examination. — Rectifying. — Filling.—
Packing 299-338
Chapter XX.—Filling Shell.—Implements, fuze, shell, and
cartridge.—Theirdescription and use.—Sundry stores
connected with projectiles.—Examination of empty
shells.—Paintingempty and filled shell.—Instructions
forfillingshells.—Storage, packing, and transport of
filled shells.—Emptying shells.—Preparingand fixing
fuzes 339-383
Chapter XXI.—xVimino Rifle, Machine Gun and Small Arm
Ammunition.—Serviceand blank cartridges.—Boxes.
Distnguiihingmarks .. .. .. .. .. 334—413
Chapter XXII.-^Rockets and Lights.—War rockets.—Cause of
motion.—Variouspatterns.—Use.—Ageand examina
tion.—Range.—Machines.—Life-saving and buoyant
rockets and machines.—Signalrockets and machine.—
Portfires. — Lights. — Quick and slow match.—
Instantaneous and safety fuze.—Signal, fog, rocket
sound.—Trinity House mid detonator.. .. .. 414-43fi
I'hipirr .Will.—Append X.—Xomenclature of Magazines and Stores.
— Loculity aud construction of magazine*. —
Classification of explosives.—General regulations for
wagnines and ammunition stores.—Magazine con-
dition*.—Precautions against fire.—Ventilation.—
Lighting.—Laboratory operation*.—Watting gun-
I'owdei .. .. 437-459
Tables 460-558
vi CONTENTS.
LIST OF PLATES.
TO VACB PASS
Plate I.—Apparatusformixingfulminatecomposition forpercussion
caps 82
„ - II.—Cartridge, B.L., 12-inch,87 lb. Cordite, Sizes 50and 3f,
MarkI|N| 68
„ III.—Cartridge, B.L., 6-inch, 80 cwt. Howitzer, 1 lb. 12 OS.
Cordite,Size 6, Mark II | L | 69
„ LIV.—Case, Powder,cylindrical, B, large, Mark II | N | .. 81
' V.— „ „ „ S.Mark III |N| .. .. 82
„ " VI.—Tubes,Ventsealing, percussion, MarksIVandVI .. 119
„ ^ VII.—Tube,Ventsealing,electric, P, Mark VII 121
„ VIII.— „ „ „ electric, wireless, P, MarkII .. 122
IX.— „ Friotion,T, Mark IV | L | 127
„ X.—Fuze, Percussion, direct action, with plug, No. 3,
MarkIII 164
„ - XI.—Fuse, Percussion, small,No.8,Mark IV | L | .. .. 160
„ XII.— „ „ Base,large, No. 11, Mark II .. .. 166
„ XIII.— „ Time and Percussion, No. 56, Mark IV .. .. 172
XIIIa.- „ , 60, „ I .. .. 176
XIV.— „ „ „ middle,No. 64,MarkIII .. 176
XV.— „ „ „ short,No. 65, Mark III .. 177
„ • XVI.— „ „ sensitive,middle, No. 24, Mark I .. .. 178
„ XVII.—Shell,B.L.,Common, Pointed, 92-inch, C.S.,Mark IV .. 206
„ " XVIII.— „ „ Lyddite, Common,5-inchHowitzer, Mark III
| L | 208
„ ^ XIX.—Shell, Q.F., Armour-piercing, 47-inch, F.S., Mark V .. 211
„ ~~ XX.— „ B.L., Shrapnel,92-inch, CastSteel, MarkVI | N | 214
„ ^- XXI.— „ „ or Q.F. Shrapnel, 12-pr., 12, 8, or 6 cwt.,
Mark V 216
„ XXII—Shell, B.L., Star,5-inch Howitzer, Mark II | L | .. 218
„~~ XXIII.—Shell,B.M.L.,common,studless, 10-inch, MarkI ,. 286
„ XXIV.— „ „ Shrapnel, 25-inch, Mark IV |L| ..278
XXV.— „ „ Star,25-ineh, Mark IV |L| .. ..276
„ XXVI— 7-pr., Mark VI | L | 276
XXVII.—Distinguishing MarksforProjectiles.. .. .. .. 296
„ XXVIII.—Cartridge, Q.F. 6-pr., Cordite, Steel Shell,MarkVII .. 299
„" XXIX.—Fuse, Percussion, Base, Hotchkiss,Mark IV .. .. 800
„ XXX.—Cartridge, Q.F. 4-7-inch, 6-lb. 7-oz. Cordite, Size 20,
Mark V 310
„ XXXI.—Cartridge,Q.F. orQ.F.O., Primer, Electric, Large,MarkV 818
„ XXXII.—Distinguishingmarksfor8.A. Ammunition Boxes .. .. 411
LIST OF TABLES.
FAGS
1. Dryguncotton, chargesandprimers .. .. .. •• 46u,461
1a. Wetguncotton,torpedo charges 462
1b. „ „ slabs *63
2. Cordite,varioussizesused 464.466
ZA. „ packing 468
CONTENTS. vii
PAGE
3. Powder cartridges, B.L. guns, service .. ,. .. .. .. 467
4. „ „ B.M.L. guns, 1-inchand up.. .. .. .. 468
5. „ ,, „ mediumandlightgunaandhowitzers .. 469
6. Cordite „ B.L. andB.M.L. 470-474
7. Powder „ „ „ for use ingunneryships, &c. .. 475
8. „ „ Serviceand salutingB.B.L. guns .. .. .. 476
9. „ „ B.L.,saluting 477
10. „ „ B.M.L.,blankorsaluting .. 478
11. Cylinders,zinc, forcartridges 479-483
llA. „ „ internal dimensionsof .. .. .. .. .. 484
12. Cases,cartridge .. .. 485
13. Detonators, electrictubes, fuzesand primers .. .. .. 486-488
14. Tubes,rent, sealing 489,490
16 drill 491
16. Fuzes, LandService, use of .. 492-495
17. „ Naval Service,useof 496,497
18. Projectiles, takinggascheoks .. .. .. .. 498,499
19. Burstingchargesof common, double,armour-piercing,andringshell 500-502
SO. Shot, B.L., PalUser 503
21. Shell, B.L., Q.F.or Q.F.C., commonand commonpointed .. 604-509
32. „ „ „ „ „ pointedpractice .. .. .. 510
23. „ „ „ „ andB.M.L. lyddite, common .. 511,512
24. „ „ „ „ armour-piercing .. .. .. .. 513
26. „ „ „ „ shrapnel 514-517
26. Shot,B.L., case 518
27. Shell, B.M.L., commonand double,studded (heavy) .. .. 620,521
28. „ „ shrapnel, studded (heavy).. .. .. .. .. 622
29. Shot, „ Palliser (formerlyshell), studded (heavy) .. 523-525
30. Shell, „ „ studlesB 626
31. Shot, „ „ „ 527,528
32. „ „ „ studded (heavy) .. 530,531
33. „ case, 7-inch,and upwards.. .. .. .. 632-634
34. Shell, „ common, studless (heavy);.. .. .. .. 535,636
85. „ „ shrapnel, studless (heavy) .. .. .. .. 537
36. „ „ common,mediumand siege gunsand howitzers 538,539
37. „ „ shrapnel, medium andsiege guns, andhowitzers .. 640
38. Shot, „ case, medium and siegeguns andhowitzers .. .. 541
39. Shell, „ common, double,andring, fieldandmountainguns .. 542
40. „ „ shrapnel,fieldandmountainguns .. .. 643,544
41. Shot, „ case, fieldandmountain guns .. .. .. .. 545
42. Shell, B.B.L.,common 546
43. „ „ segment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 647
44. „ „ shrapnel .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 648
46. Shot, B.B.L., case 649
46. Packagesofcartridges, aimingrifle, S.A. and M.Q-. (ball) .. .. 550
47. Packagesofcartridges, S.A. andM.G-. (blank) .. .. .. .. 551
48. Combustiblecompositions forlaboratorystores .. .. .. 552-554
49. Paints andothernon-combustiblecompositionsfor laboratory stores 555-557
50. Analysisofmetals .. .. .. .. .• .. .. .• 65?
viii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
A.C. Army Circular.
A.O. Army Order.
A.O.S. Army Ordnance Regulations.
A.P. Armour Piercing.
B.L. Breeeli Londing.
C. Common, to both Land and Naval Service.
C.S. Cast Steel.
C.I. Cast Iron.
B.O.C. Elswick Ordnance Company.
F.S. Forged Steel or Field Service.
F.G. Fine Grain.
G.G. Gardner-Gatling.
G.S. General Service.
L.S. or L. Land Service.
L.G. Large Grain.
M.G. Machine Gun.
M.H. Martini-Henry.
M.L. Muzzle Loading.
N.S. or N. Naval Service.
P. Pebble.
Q.F. Quick Firing.
Q.F.C. Quick Firing Converted.
R.B.L. Rifled Breech Loading (Armstrong).
R.F.G. Rifled Fine Grain.
R.L. Royal Laboratory.
R.M.L. Rifled Muzzle Loading.
S.B. Smooth Bore.
S.A. Small Arm.
V.S. Vent Sealing.
§ Paragraph List of Changes.
[N.B.—Tliis edition is ccrrected up to 1st April 1902. As seme ti/)o-
graphicnl errors may hare occurred in publication, it is requested
that, should any be discovered, they may be at once pointed out, in
tc iti-ig, tu Ihe Under Secretary of Sta'efor War.]
TREATISE ON AMMUNITION.
CHAPTER I.—GUNPOWDER.
COMPOSITION.—PROPERTIES.—CLASSIFICATION.—VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF
GUNPOWDER AND THEIR USES.
Explosives are mainly usnd for the propulsion of projectiles, or as
disruptive agents. The explosives commonly met with in the
service are (i) gunpowder, which is used both as a propellantand for
disruptive purposes ; (ii) cordite, which at present is only used as a
propellant; and (iii) gun-cotton, which is used as a disruptive agent.
Explosives which may be-met with in the Service arc given in Misoel-
Chapter IV. laneou*.
Explosives used for the propulsion of projectiles are sometimes
termed " propulsives" or "propellants," and those for disruptive
purposes "dismptives."
Gunpowderfor many centuries was the only explosive in general
use, but in recent times many other explosives have been invented.
An account of the manufacture, and actionwhen fired of gunpowder,
can be found in other works.*
Gunpowder is an intimate mechanical mixture of saltpetre,
sulphur, and charcoal. A short account of the properties of these
ingredients will be found at p. 29.
In England, black powder is, and for a long time has been, made
of the ingredients mentioned above in the following proportions :
saltpetre 75 parts, charcoal 15 parts, sulphur 10 parts.
The proportions of Prism1 brown and S.B.C. powders are—
saltpetre 79 parts, charcoal 18 parts, sulphur 3 parts ; and of E.X.E.
powder,saltpetre 77,", parts, charcoal 17|§parts,and sulphur 5 parts.
In addition from 1*5 to 2-2 per cent, of water is a recognised
ingredient in brown powders.
The charcoals for these powders are composed of sp?cial material
and the preparation of them isconfidential.
• "Treatise on Service Explosives, 1900"j "Researches oi Explosives, by
Captain Sir Andrew Noble, K.C.B. (late R.A.), F.K.S., Ac, unci Sir Frederick
Abel, Bart., F.RS., Ac; "Notes on Explosives," by Dr. W. R. Uodgkinson,
F R.S.E., Ac.; Professor Bloxnm's "Chemistry"; Professor Vivian Lewes'a
"8erviceChemistry," ani"The ManufactureofExplosives," bv 0*ca- G.ittuiann,
' c.M.I.C.E., Ac.
(5581) b
2
The explosiveness of powder of a given composition can be
modified by varying the charcoal, the amount of moisture, and its
physical condition. The effect of the above variations on fired
powder is discussed in "Treatise on Service Explosives."
Speaking generally, a large grained powder, highly glazed, made
from highly-burnt charcoal, and of high density, other things being
equal, will burn slower and so have less explosiveness than a powder
of opposite characteristics. If, however, the grain be very small as
in mealed powder, the interstices between the grains are not
sufficiently large to allowa free passage of flame, and so a charge of
mealed powder would ignite in one place only and would burn
comparatively slowly.
On the introduction of rifled ordnance, it was found advisable to
use a slower burning powder than that used with S.B. guns. More
work is thrown on a rifled gun than on a S.B. gun of the same
calibre.
A charge of slow-bnrning powder given rise to a lower maximum
pressure than a charge of quick-burning powder, and the pressure is
better sustained throughout the bore, and so for equal velocities with
a projectile of a given weight the slow-burning powder strains the
gun less.
To obtain a slow-burning powder, the density and size of grain
were increased on the introduction of rifled guns, and "K.L.G."
density 17, size ^-inch to ^-incb, superseded " L.G.," size TL-inch to
^-inch. Again, when K.M.L. guns of 7-inch calibre and upwards
weremade, " P.,"a powderof higherdensityandlargergrain(density
l-75, size $-inch), which burns more slowly and strains the gun less
than " li.L.G.," was adopted.
Then " P.'J," a powder of larger size (about 1'5-inch cubes) was
manufactured for the heavier R.M.L. guns.
, To ensure regularity of burning, moulded or prism powders
were next introduced. These powders are moulded into regular
hexagonalprisms, having a hole running through the centre of each.
Thus not only is.the powder of uniform size, but the pressure of the
gas is better sustained, since as each prism barns, the decrease in
surface- on the outside is to some extent counterbalanced by the
increase of the inside surface of the perforation. It is also probable
that after a certaintime the prism breaks up, thusformingadditional
surfaces for combustion, nnd consequently for the evolution of
gas- ,
Moulded black powders were first introduced, to be shortly
afterwards superseded by moulded brown powders.
The brown powders have been very satisfactory in that the
pressures they give are moderate, while the velocities arc high, but
they are far from being smokeless. They are more difficult to ignite,
and require a primer of a few prisms of black powder.
For the short bore of the 7-pr., for smallarms and machine guns,
and forshrapnelshellwithburstingcharges inthebase,quick-burning
powders are required. Such powders have small grain.
Advantage?. The advantages of gunpowder are :—■
(a) Its rate of combustion is gradual comparedwith thatof many
other explosives; by altering the proportions of the in
gredients and varying the mechanical processes of manu
facture, its explosiveness can bo modified so as to suit every
description ofweapon.
(&) The ingredients are easily produced,
(c) They are comparatively cheap.