EFFECT OF SHELL ON MUD WALLS. 
625 
metal plug. I am unable to affirm this order, it can only be proved by 
careful practice and well planned arrangements, the necessary means 
for which are not available in this country. 
From the above it also appeared to me that the explosion of plugged 
shell was due to the act of breaking up when the base portion (in 
which is stored all the driving force) ground upon the head and broken 
sides firing the bursting charge by friction, which latter had probably 
become more sensitive by heat generated by the sheiks passage through 
the air, and by the act of striking and penetrating the wall. 
Each of the three batteries report that portions of loaded shell, 
fuzed and not fuzed, were blown out of the work burning as if loaded 
with fuze composition. No doubt this arose from the shell powder 
having become mealed and compressed. In proof of this I picked up 
a portion of a shell (base part) with the bursting charge in that state, 
and in which was embedded a portion of the wood of the time fuze 
with powder in the powder channel and a portion of the fuze composi¬ 
tion, showing that the shell had broken on penetration, but no 
explosion had occurred owing to the damaged nature of the bursting 
charge. After keeping this for two or three days I fired portions, 
scraped out, with a lighted stick. 
I have the honor to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedt. humble servt., 
WM. CAREY, Lt.-Col. E.A., 
Comdg. R.A., Kandahar. 
B. 
Tdbl% giving the Results of Breaching Practice carried out by the Royal Artillery 
against the Walls of Old Kandahar , in April , 1881. 
Dimensions of breach. 
Ti 
0) 
Commanding Officer. 
•4-3 
s 
tS 
C+H 
o 
O 
Fh 
bD 
As measured 
by battery. 
Earth 
As measured by 
Lt.-Col. Carey. 
Earth 
g § 
oM 
2 d 
§ 
3 
rd 
5 
K4 * 
cut 
4 
-ij 
rd 
A ^ . 
r? O ^ 
cut 
o 
pq 
cS 
'S 
i£ 
"5 
M 
o in 
g g 
Eh h 
away. 
% 
t &p 
'<B 
Pi 
O L-H 
•3 go cs 
L| 0) ^ 
H d 
away. 
EH 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
c. ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
c. ft. 
Major Crosthwaite ... 
H/l 
9pr.EML 
15* 
10 
1023| 
12 
6 
11 
792 
Capt. W. 0. Smith... 
F/2 
9pr.EML 
14 
5 
11 
770 
14 
6 
11 
770 
4 
Major G. A. Crawford 
14/9 
40prEBL 
16 
7 
10 
1120 
14 
8 
10 
1120 
n 
Weight. 
CD 
T3 
_ 2 
03 «d 
Bursting 
charges. 
Velocity. 
Energy in ft. tons. 
Proj. 
Chg. 
o w 
u 
o 
=* .2° 
"<3 
is 
per 
shell. 
Total. 
Muz¬ 
zle. 
400 
yds. 
Muz¬ 
zle. 
400 yds. 
from 
gun. 
Total 
striking 
Major Crosthwaite ... 
H/l 
lb. 
9 
lb. 
If 
136 
1224 
oz. 
lb. 
63f 
f.s. 
1380 
f.s. 
1145 
118 
81-82 
11127| 
Capt. W. 0. Smith... 
F/2 
9 
If 
129 
1161 
7i oz. 
60 
138p 
1145 
118 
81-82 
10554f 
Major G. A. Crawford 
i 
14/9 
40 
6 
84 
3360 
2\ lbs. 
189 
_ 1 
1180 
1087 
386 
327-73 
27529i 
