All natures of Fuzes, when driven with the above composition, burn one inch in five seconds; but when driven with mealed powder, they burn two inches in the same time.
BOXER’S FUZE.
The composition bore is made excentric with regard to the exterior, and two powder channels are bored upon that side in which there is the greatest thickness of wood. A hole is bored through the mealed powder at the top, and into the fuze composition, to insure the ignition of the fuze composition from the priming. Two rows of holes, two inches apart, are made into the powder channels, and the bottom hole in each row is continued to the axis of the composition bore. The small side holes, with the exception of the bottom ones, are filled with pressed powder, and a small portion of clay. The powder channels contain rifle powder, and the bottom side holes have a piece of quick match placed in them. Beyond this quick match, the powder channels in the fuze for common shells are filled with putty; but in the Shrapnell fuze the corresponding portion contains quick match, which is continued from one channel to the other through a groove made in the bottom. A piece of quick match is tied into the cup, and it is recommended that this quick match is laid over the side before the shell is set home. The bursting powder is contained in a tin cylinder,[10] and is admitted through a hole at the bottom of the socket. There is a small hole in the side of the shell, through which the balls, and composition, which is run between them, are admitted. It is recommended that the bursting powder be placed in the tin cylinder before going into action, and the plug covered with serge, inserted in the fuze hole. The bursting powder can be speedily removed from the shell, if necessary; and, from its being separated from the balls, it will not be liable to injury, even when subjected to the action of travelling.
A simple boring-bit is supplied to each gun, in case the borer, specially made for the fuze, is lost, or damaged.
Captain Boxer’s 5½ inch fuzes are to be adopted for all natures of guns and howitzers, one inch in length for Shrapnell shells, and two inches in length for common shells.
FUZES, METAL.
Fuzes, for the Naval service specially, are formed of gun metal, and are screwed into a gun metal bouched screw hole in the shell.
Metal fuzes are of three natures, viz., 3-inch, 4-inch, and short-range Fuzes. The first is driven with mealed powder, and will burn seven seconds; the second is driven with fuze composition, and will burn twenty seconds; and the short-range fuze is also driven with the composition, and will burn two seconds. These fuzes are driven and primed precisely the same as wooden fuzes; but instead of being capped with canvas, have a screw metal cap.
The fuzes are screwed into the shells, the holes of which are bouched with metal to receive them; they are screwed into the left hand, so that unscrewing the cap in the same direction prevents the possibility of the fuze being loosened by that operation.
The diameter of the fuze holes for all natures of shells, fitted to receive metal fuzes, is exactly the same.