562 
THE EQUIPMENT OE FIELD ARTILLERY. 
See Note C. 
Explosive 
shells. 
Incendiary 
shells. 
See pi. IV. 
and have their practical results in the proportions carried of the 
different kinds of shell. Thus, with the Austrian horse artillery gun, 
there are 102 annular segment (percussion) shells and 36 shrapnel 
(time). With the German horse artillery gun there are 104 of the 
former and 44 of the latter; with the Russian gun there is an equal 
quantity of both; if these countries, however, based their equipment 
on the results of the practice ground a different proportion would have 
been adopted. It may be observed that in the war of 1877-78, the 
Russian artillery fired very nearly three percussion shells for every 
single shrapnel.* 
36. We now come to the consideration of the second class of per¬ 
cussion shells, viz., the explosive and the incendiary shell. The 
presence of extensive and strong field-works will always necessitate 
the use of a common shell, properly so called, but, as before stated, we 
will avoid this term, and for want of a better we will speak of a shell, 
the main effect of which is due to its bursting charge, and not to the 
number of dangerous splinters it gives, as an explosive shell. Now, we 
are told that the bursting charge of the 13-pr. common shell, though 
comparatively large (10 oz.), gives little or no useful result.t Recent 
experiments seem to show that there may be a possibility of firing a 
shell full of guncotton or some other kindred explosive with safety, 
and this, no doubt, will be a solution of the question when it is 
definitely proved that full service charges can be employed. The 
body should be made of steel, strengthened with longitudinal ribs, 
and thus increased capacity would be obtained which, in addition to the 
more powerful nature of the burster, would tend to produce a really 
effective projectile. The head should be pointed, and the fuze should 
be carried in the base. This shell would be used against strong earth¬ 
works and blinded cover, and would probably be suitable for the 
preliminary stages of the attach , and for shelling villages, abattis, obstacles, 
&c., at all times. * 
37. Occasions might arise where an incendiary shell would be a 
very desirable projectile : it would, however, be inexpedient to further 
increase the different kinds of projectile composing the ammunition 
equipment; it would therefore be well if the explosive shell could be 
used for this purpose by altering the bursting charge, and experi¬ 
ments in this direction, resulting in the star shell, have been 
successfully carried out. It is a question, however, if this projectile is as 
efficient as the Austrian carcass, but by its use the inconvenience of 
a different form of shell is avoided, and the empty envelopes of the 
explosive shell could be filled, at the base or other important ammuni¬ 
tion station, with guncotton pulp or combustible stars as occasion 
demanded. Incendiary shells would be chiefly used against buildings 
or any inflammable cover, natural or artificial, woods, and abattis. 
38. Our case shot is, doubtless, capable of great improvement. 
* Vide E. A. I. Papers, Vol. XI., No. 6,p. 372. 
f Vide Major Nicholson, E.H.A. “ Short Notes on 13-pr * 
Case shot. 
