SHRAPNEL MADE BY AMERICAN PROJECTILE CO.
Fig. 45.
The entire case is of wrought steel electrically welded together so as to form a complete hardened wrought-steel case without joint. The powder-chamber is formed in the base by a hard wrought-steel diaphragm (d) supported by a cast-iron spider, and connected through the centre of the shell (axially) to the fuze-opening by a cast-iron tube. It is smooth-finished, and either tinned or lacquered. The shell contains 170 bullets (34 to the pound) packed in circular layers, and they are held firmly in position by a resin matrix. The bullets are introduced through a hole at c.
The exterior is painted as follows: body from the band forward, to include three fifths of head, black; remaining part of head, and part of body in rear of band, vermilion. The band is of copper.
| Total weight of projectile complete | 13½ pounds |
| Total number of balls and individual pieces | 228 |
| Weight of bursting-charge | 3 ounces |
The Frankford Arsenal combination fuze is used. This fuze weighs 17½ ounces; but if made of aluminum it will weigh only 7¾ oz. For field-artillery guns it is graduated from 1 to 15 seconds, the graduations being based upon the time of burning in flight. Each entire second is marked by a through-hole in the cone-cover, and each of these spaces is sub-divided into six equal spaces by holes nearly through the cover, which for the 3.2-inch gun will correspond to the following distances, viz.: 70 yards at 1000 yards range; 55 yards at 2000 yards range; 48 yards at 3000 yards range; 42 yards at 4000 yards range.
The following table gives the mean of five shots in each group: