Chapter XIII: Specifications for American Shrapnel Shells

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The American shrapnel shells comprise the following parts: forged shell body, copper driving band, head, washer, tubes, bullets, matrix, head filler, diaphragm, base charge, and fuse. In some cases a Semple tracer is used, and, when this is the case, the base of the shrapnel must be machined to accommodate it.

=Shell.=--The shell is to be made of forged alloy steel or bar stock having the properties outlined in Table I. The forgings must be annealed so that they can be machined with reasonable ease. The maximum elastic limit for the 2.95-inch and 3-inch shell forgings must not exceed 115,000 pounds per square inch, and in case of the 3.8-inch, 4.7-inch, and 6-inch must not exceed 110,000 pounds per square inch. All shrapnel shells must be subjected to an exterior hydraulic pressure of 20,000 pounds per square inch up to the rotating band, and to an interior hydraulic pressure of 1000 pounds per square inch. A certain number from each 1000 shells are also subjected to a ballistic test by firing completed shrapnels from a gun with a maximum pressure of 37,000 pounds, except for the 6-inch, which will be fired under a pressure of 22,500 pounds per square inch.

The shell is to be finished outside and inside except at points otherwise indicated, where it is to be left in the rough-forged state. The inside of the shell is to be coated with non-acid paint, except where machined, and the powder chamber is to be given a heavy coat. Great care should be taken to remove all burrs, scale, and sharp corners. The outline of the shell after the first operation, when made from bar stock, is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The base of the shell is to be machined as illustrated to the right at _A_ in Fig. 1, when a Semple tracer is used.

=Copper Driving Band.=--The copper driving band is to be cut from tubing of pure electrolytic copper, and machined to the dimensions shown. It is to be heated and expanded to 2.985 inch inside diameter--for the 3-inch shell--and is to be shrunk into the seat, then forced into the scores by passing through a die and afterwards turned to size.

=Washer and Head.=--The washer--for the 3-inch shell--is to be made from steel 0.031 inch thick and formed to shape by punching. The head is to be made from cold-drawn steel, finished all over, and coated inside with a non-acid paint. The crimping wall is to be turned down over the washer after machining, and a hole drilled after the head is assembled to the shell. Five notches equally spaced are to be cut around the head, and a crimping groove cut for putting on the fuse protecting cap.

=Tube.=--The tube is to be made from seamless drawn brass tubing, and is to be coated inside with shellac. An additional short tube is to be inserted at the nose or mouth of this tube, next to the fuse; this latter is to be made from seamless drawn copper, and is to be forced into the tube under pressure and crimped over.

=Bullets.=--The bullets used in the shrapnel are to be made from 12.5 per cent antimony to 87.5 per cent lead, and are to be flattened with six faces as shown in the illustration; 252 bullets are used in the 3-inch shrapnel.

=Matrix and Head Filler.=--The matrix is to consist of resin and mono-nitronaphthalene, poured into the shell, as will be described in connection with loading. The head is to be filled with melted resin, poured in.

=Diaphragm.=--The diaphragm is to be made of forged steel to the dimension shown. It is to be drilled and counterbored, and great care should be taken to remove all burrs, sharp corners, and scale. The bottom of the diaphragm is also to be given a heavy coat of non-acid paint.

TABLE I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF STEEL FOR VARIOUS SIZES OF SHRAPNEL SHELLS

+--------+-----------------+---------------+------------+------------+
|Caliber,|Tensile Strength,|Elastic Limit, |Elongation |Contraction,|
|Inches |Pounds |Pounds |in 2 inches,|Per Cent |
| |Per Square Inch |Per Square Inch|Per Cent | |
+--------+-----------------+---------------+------------+------------+
| 2.95 | 120,000 | 90,000 | 16 | 45 |
| 3.0 | 120,000 | 90,000 | 16 | 45 |
| 3.8 | 110,000 | 80,000 | 15 | 40 |
| 4.7 | 110,000 | 80,000 | 15 | 40 |
| 6.0 | 110,000 | 80,000 | 15 | 40 |
+--------+-----------------+---------------+------------+------------+

=Fuse-hole Plug.=--There are two types of fuse-hole plugs; one is to be made from die-cast white metal, of non-corrosive properties, and machined to dimensions given in drawing, and the other of wrought iron or bronze. The weight of the wrought-iron plug--for the 3-inch shell--is to be 0.97 pound, and the weight of the bronze plug, 1.03 pound. Either type of fuse-hole plug may be used.

=Locking-Pin.=--Two steel locking-pins are required which must be finished to limits of ± 0.005 inch, driven in and peened over after the head is assembled in the shell.

TABLE II. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS OF AMERICAN SHRAPNEL SHELLS, HEADS AND DIAPHRAGMS

+--------+----------+--------------------------+-------------+---------+
| | Shrapnel | Shrapnel Shell |Shrapnel Head|Diaphragm|
| | Forging | | | |
|Caliber,+-----+----+-----+---+-----+----+-----+----+---+----+----+----+
|Inches | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L |
+--------+-----+----+-----+---+-----+----+-----+----+---+----+----+----+
|2.95 | 7.25|3.0 |0.30 |2.2|2.5 |2.95| 7.2 |2.85|1.7|1.05|2.5 |0.45|
|3.0 | 8.66|3.05|0.375|2.1|2.375|3.0 | 8.5 |2.73|1.7|0.87|2.36|0.45|
|3.8 |10.3 |3.85|0.50 |2.5|2.9 |3.8 |10.12|3.51|1.7|1.4 |2.89|0.55|
|4.7 |13.2 |4.75|0.60 |3.0|3.5 |4.7 |13.00|4.25|1.7|2.3 |3.52|0.70|
|6.0 |16.6 |6.05|0.80 |3.9|4.6 |6.0 |16.45|5.33|1.7|3.35|4.6 |0.80|
+--------+-----+----+-----+---+-----+----+-----+----+---+----+----+----+

=Directions for Loading American 3-inch Shrapnel Shell.=--In loading, make sure that the diaphragm seats firmly on the shoulder in the shell, then pour in 0.25 ounce of powdered resin to seal the joints, and shake down well to fill all cracks. The powdered resin becomes plastic when the melted resin is poured in. Next put in one layer of bullets (18) and pour in 0.4 ounce of melted resin; then put in 108 bullets and pack by a pressure of six tons. Then pour in 3.75 ounces of melted mono-nitronaphthalene; put in 126 bullets; drive down with mallet below end of tube; and pour in 4 ounces of melted resin. After the mass has thoroughly cooled, face off matrix so that the depth from the end of the shell shall be 0.27 inch to allow for screwing in head, which should bear down hard on matrix. Next place washer in head and secure it by turning down crimping wall. Then fill annular space in lower face of head with melted resin, and after this is thoroughly cooled, face off flush with lower end of head. Screw head in place and secure with pins; then insert inner tube, pour in the base charge through the tube, and insert stopper. After the shell has been loaded, the shell and head should be painted from the rotating bands to the rear edge of the groove. For waterproofing, coat with a pure raw linseed oil black paint. Coat the remainder of the head with bitumastic solution, and crimp the waterproof cover in place while the solution is plastic. In the lower end of the inner tube should be placed a stopper of dry fibrous gun cotton rolled tightly into a cylinder and pressed down until it rests on the shoulder of the diaphragm and is about one inch long.

TABLE III. WEIGHTS AND MATERIALS USED IN AMERICAN 3-INCH SHRAPNEL SHELLS

The case is to be stamped as follows with letters ¹⁄₁₆ inch high: Lot number of shrapnel shell, purchase order, date of issue of purchase order, fiscal year, and initials of manufacturer.

TABLE IV. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS OF VARIOUS SIZES OF CARTRIDGE CASES USED ON AMERICAN SHRAPNEL SHELLS

+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| | Dimensions in Inches |
| Caliber +------+------+------+------+------+------+
|in Inches | A | B | C | D | E | F |
+----------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 3.05 | 10.8 |
| 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.05 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 3.75 | 14.4 |
| 4.7 | 5.25 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.05 | 4.75 | 16.8 |
| 6.0 | 6.75 | 6.50 | 0.08 | 0.04 | 6.25 | 10.0 |
+----------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

=Cartridge Case.=--The various sizes of American cartridge cases for shrapnel shells are drawn from a blank of brass, known as “cartridge brass.” The principal dimensions of the various sizes of cases are given in Table IV.

The specifications covering the time and percussion fuse used in American shrapnel shells are the same as for the British “No. 85,” given in Chapter XI, with the one exception that the base of the fuse body is shaped to suit the American shell, and the thread is the U. S. standard, instead of Whitworth standard.

INDEX

American shrapnel shell, section of, 3
specifications, 286

American type of fuse, 8

Annealing and washing cartridge cases, 178

Automatic Machine Co.’s threading lathe used for threading shells, 129

Band, machining rifling, 68
pressing on rifling, 66

Besly grinder equipped for grinding shrapnel, 137

Brass for cartridge cases, 235

Brass plugs for fuse, forging, 145

Brass socket, machining, 146

British cartridge cases, specifications, 276

British fuses, specifications, 260

British primers, specifications, 279

British shrapnel shell, section of, 3
specifications, 251

Brown & Sharpe machines used for making fuse parts, 164

Bullets, shrapnel, 140

Caley method of making shrapnel forgings, 20

Cartridge cases, annealing and washing, 178
cupping, 176
drawing, 172
list of operations, 190
machining, 180
specifications for British, 276
specifications for Russian, 231
summary of operations, 192
testing hardness of, 179

Cartridge clip, British, 284

Cleveland “Automatic” used for making shrapnel shells, 85

Clip, British cartridge, 284

Closing cap, machining, 162

Closing screw, machining, 162

Copper rifling band, machining, 68
pressing on, 66

Cupping cartridge cases, 176

Detonators, 15
specifications for Russian, 245

Diaphragm forging, 39

Drawing operations on cartridge cases, 172
table of operations, 190

Drilling percussion primers, 167

Drilling timing fuse plugs, 170

Explosives, classification of, 14
in shrapnel shells, 4
manufacture of high, 18

Forging brass plugs for fuse, 145

Forging diaphragms, 39

Forging fuse sockets, 143

Forging shrapnel heads, 38

Forging shrapnel shells, 20

French shrapnel shell, section of, 3

French type of fuse, 11

Fulminates, 15

Fuse, American type, 8
French type, 11
Russian type, 9
specifications for British, 260
specifications for Russian, 213
time and percussion, 6
Vickers’ type, 228

Fuse bodies, machining, 150

Fuse hammers, making, 165

Fuse nose, machining, 156

Fuse nut, making, 166

Fuse parts, making, 143

Fuse plugs, drilling, 170

Fuse sockets, forging, 143

Fuse timing ring, graduating, 171

Gages for shrapnel parts, 72, 73

Gaging shrapnel shells, 71

German shrapnel shell, section of, 3

Graduating fuse timing ring, 171

Gridley “Automatics,” used for making fuse parts, 156
used for making shrapnel shells, 103

Grinding shrapnel shells, 64, 132

Hardness testing, of cartridge cases, 179
of shrapnel shells, 48

Head, machining shrapnel, 152

Heading operations on cartridge cases, table, 190

Heat-treating department, lay-out of, 58, 59

Heat-treatment of shrapnel shells, 47

Holinger method of making shrapnel forgings, 25

Hydraulic press method of forging shrapnel, 29

Libby turret lathe used for machining shrapnel shells, 122

Lo-swing lathe used for machining shells, 114

Machines for shrapnel manufacture, 75

Machining shrapnel shells, 40

Marking shrapnel shells, 74

New Britain “Automatics” used for making fuse parts, 146

Norton method of grinding shrapnel shells, 133

Percussion primers, drilling, 167

Potter & Johnston “Automatics” used for machining forged shells, 90

Powder, black, 15
smokeless, 16

Powder cups, press tools for, 139

Press tools for powder cup, 139

Primers, charging, 246
for fuses, drilling, 167
specifications for British, 279

Reed-Prentice equipment for machining shrapnel shells, 75

Rifling band, machining, 68
pressing on, 66

Rough-turning operations on shrapnel forgings, 43

Russian cartridge cases, specifications for, 231

Russian combination fuse, Vickers’ type, 228

Russian shrapnel shell fuses, specifications, 213

Russian shrapnel shell, section of, 3
specifications, 194

Russian type of fuse, 9

Shrapnel bullets, 140

Shrapnel cartridge cases, 172

Shrapnel head, forging, 38
machining, 152

Shrapnel shells, forging, 20
grinding, 64, 132
heat-treatment, 47
history, 1
machines and tools for manufacture, 75
machining, 40
present design, 2
specifications for American, 286
specifications for British, 251
specifications for Russian, 194
steel for, 51
types, 3

Smokeless powder, 16

Socket, machining, 146, 150

Specifications, for American shrapnel shells, 286
for British cartridge cases, 276
for British fuses, 260
for British primers, 279
for British shrapnel shells, 251
for Russian cartridge cases, 231
for Russian shrapnel shells, 194
for Russian shrapnel shell fuses, 213

Steel for shrapnel, 51

Tensile strength, testing, 48

Testing hardness of cartridge cases, 179

Testing shell body for hardness and tensile strength, 48

Threading shells, 129

Timing fuse plugs, drilling, 170

Timing ring, graduating, 171
machining, 162

Tools for shrapnel manufacture, 75

Varnish for cartridge cases, 242

Vickers’ type of fuse, 228

Warner & Swasey turret lathe, used for machining bar-stock shells, 112
used for machining forged shells, 109

Transcriber’s Notes.

Italic text is indicated with _underscores_, bold text with =equals=. Small/mixed capitals have been replaced with ALL CAPITALS.

Evident typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected silently. Inconsistent spelling/hyphenation has been normalised.

The word ‘gaged’ has been inserted at page 239; “3. All outside dimensions of the bottom of the case are gaged as follows:”

A half-title page has been discarded.

Some illustrations and tables have been relocated to improve text flow.

New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

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