WW1 SHRAPNEL 13 POUNDER INSIDE EXPOSED

Shrapnel shell with timed fuze unmarked. Designed to explode in the air above the infantry, the charge inside (after the fuze timed out), was detonated at the base of the projectile, pushing the contents (Iron Balls) out at a high velocity and blowing off the fuze, as the projectile is now upside down (falling from the sky) these are projected toward the enemy. Fired from a 9cwt artillery Gun.

Your comments:

• That type of shrapnel shell was not useful for very long ranges. You see, the gyroscopic stabilization means that the shell will continue pointing in the direction it was fired in. Just because it's dropping down, doesn't mean it's pointing down. Shells fall down sideways.
  This was a development from the canister shot, but it was only useful for short or medium range since it needed to be pointed at the target when the burst charge pushed the shots out of the metal body. At greater distances the shell would have shot the metal shot sideways.
  Also to consider is that the small powder charge only had a small amount of energy. It relied mainly on carrying kinetic energy from being fired. At long ranges, the shell had lost most of its kinetic energy to air resistance, so you needed an ordinary explosive shell which relied on gunpowder to give the shrapnel energy.
  .......... Anders Bjork, Umea, Sweden, 11th of April 2015
  
  

A0470