1. What projectiles are made use of in the service?
Solid shot; shells; spherical case, or shrapnel; canister; grape; grenades; stones; carcasses; light and fire balls.
2. What is a solid shot?
A solid sphere of cast-iron, almost exclusively appropriated to guns. The gun derives it denomination from the weight of the shot, as 6-pr., 12-pr., &c.
3. What is a shell, and its use?
A hollow sphere of cast-iron, containing powder, which is ignited by means of a fuze; when fired at troops, it should be prepared to burst over their heads, or, if the ground be favorable, to ricochet a little in front, and plunge into the column. When fired at works or buildings, it should explode after penetration.
4. What is spherical case, and what advantages does it possess?
It is a shell much thinner than the ordinary shell, and filled with leaden bullets and a charge of powder sufficient to burst it, which is done by means of a fuze as with a common shell at any required distance. It is thus calculated to extend all the advantages of canister shot, to distances far beyond the reach of that projectile. It is fired both from guns and howitzers.
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5. What are canister shot?