THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION - . 
175 
These fuzes are used with Armstrong’s 7-in. common and segment shells; 
a brass adapter (Pig. 4) being employed to fit the shell for their reception. 
The preparation of this and the common fuze is the same 8 with the exception 
that this one does not require to be uncapped; and they are available for the 
same times of flight, viz. up to 10 seconds. 
The action is as follows: the wire by which the detonating hammer is 
supported is broken by the shock of the discharge, and the detonating 
composition exploded by the hammer falling into it. The flash passes 
(through the small hole in the bottom of the detonator) to the match and 
composition, which become ignited, the action thenceforward continuing as 
in the common fuze. 
This fuze is available as a percussion fuze when firing against earthworks 
or ships, without any preparation, it having been found in such cases that 
the fuze is driven into the shell on impact, and the shell exploded. 9 
Adapter for Boxer's 2-inch Time Fuze for Rifled Ordnance . 
The larger natures of Armstrong shells are bushed to receive the pillar 
fuze, but Boxer’s time fuze being of wood requires a conical fuze-hole, and 
accordingly a gun-metal 10 adapter, or supplementary bush (Fig. 3), is provided 
for use with these fuzes. * 11 
The lower part of this adapter is screwed externally to fit the bush, the 
interior is conical for the reception of the wooden time fuze, and slightly 
roughed or tapped to give the fuze a better hold. Into the bottom of the 
adapter is driven tightly a papier-mache wad (Figs. 4 and 5) to protect the 
bursting charge in the shell (before the fuze is placed in) from accidental 
explosion. 
The wad is driven into the shell by the end of the fuze when the latter is 
fixed. 
Fig. 3. Fig, 4. 
iniiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiimw 
Adapter. 
8 So far the same that it consists in both cases in boring through the required side hole into the 
composition; hut the preparation of the fuze for rifled ordnance is, as has been explained, 
simpler and more expeditious than that of the common fuze, owing to the reduced thickness of 
wood to be bored through, and to the fact that a brad-awl (fig. 2) is used instead of the hook borer. 
9 Experiments were made by the O. S. Committee, at Shoeburyness, on the 17th March, 1864, 
with a view to establish this point. The fuzes were fired from a 40-pr. Armstrong gun at an 
earthwork at 1022 yds. range, and from a 7 in. (110-pr.) Armstrong gun at an oak butt at 800 yds. 
and 1600 yds. range. The result places it beyond doubt that the fuze may be generally depended 
on to act as an efficient percussion fuze. 
10 The alloy used is—Copper 30lbs., Tin lib. 4oz., Zinc 2lbs. Lead lib. 4oz. 
11 The adapter used with the Armstrong brass (E pattern) time fuzes will not take these fuzes, 
“ having two projections which prevent their passing through.” (Extracts from Reports of O. S. C. 
Vol. I. p. 462); and being, moreover, cylindrical internally, instead of conical. 
[VOL. IV.] 
Fig. 5. 
23 
