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Remembered Today:

What are these sausages ? Extra charges or so ?


Aurel Sercu

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These little "sausages" have been here for almost 15 years. Found near Ypres (not Boezinge). An area where Brtitish troops were. 

I don't think these "things" should be here any longer. (Though wrapped 'safely')'

For the substance in it looks suspicious.

We called them "Frankfurter sausages". About 9 - 10 cm (almost 4 inches) long. One end looking like a ... Frankfurter sausage.

Contents powder. On one I can read LOT 965..

Are these extra charges ? For what ?

 

Aurel

Frankfurters.JPG

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They are trotyl (TNT) exploders - booster charges - for High Explosive shell. The relevant authority (police or EOD) should be informed so that proper disposal can take place.

 

 

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Thanks, 14276265. And what needs to be done, will be done.

 

Just this : it was the off shape that made me wonder. (Does it fit in a case like, say of an 18 pdr. ?)

What is the difference with this (empty), approx 12 cm diameter. When not empty it looked flat.

 

Aurel

Booster charge.JPG

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TNT (Trinitrotoluene) is valued partly because of its insensitivity to shock and friction, with reduced risk of accidental detonation compared to more sensitive explosives such as nitroglycerin, however you should still hand these over to the appropriate authorities for safe disposal.

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Bagged charges such as these are normally used in howitzers, so that the charge used can be varied according to the ballistic results (chiefly range) required. The example illustrated in post 3 is clearly for the 4.5-inch field howitzer.

 

18-pounder shells normally come as a single unit - charge and projectile - so bagged charges would not be used.

 

Ron

Edited by Ron Clifton
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I'm intrigued by your post (as always Aurel).

When you say " These little "sausages" have been here for almost 15 years. ", where exactly do you mean by 'here'?

At home?

 

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15 hours ago, 14276265 said:

They are trotyl (TNT) exploders - booster charges - for High Explosive shell. The relevant authority (police or EOD) should be informed so that proper disposal can take place.

 

 

Does that mean boosters for propellant or bursting charge? TNT would seem grossly unsuitable for propellant.

 

If for bursters, at what stage would they have been inserted to the shell? Presumably at fuzing/setting?

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3 hours ago, MikB said:

Does that mean boosters for propellant or bursting charge? TNT would seem grossly unsuitable for propellant.

 

If for bursters, at what stage would they have been inserted to the shell? Presumably at fuzing/setting?

 

The booster is for the HE shell. The increment charge shown in post #3 is for the propellant and is placed in the very short cartridge case of the 4.5" Howitzer.

 

The main charge used in most British HE Land Service shells from late 1915 was Amatol, which is exceedingly insensitive and needs a massive kick to set it off.  A TNT booster was placed in a cavity in the main charge to do just this, although TNT is also very insensitive. On top of this was usually a gaine which contained a fairly sensitive explosive (often Tetryl) which was used to set off the TNT. At the nose of the shell was the brass (or iron or aluminium) fuze which contained the very sensitive impact or graze detonator, which fired the Tetryl gaine.

 

Depending on the nature of the shell, booster charges could be Filling Factory fitted or field fitted.

 

Post edited to show a typical arrangement, in this case a 6" HE shell. Here there is no gaine, but the No.106 fuze contains a Tetryl magazine at its base which sets of the exploder.

 

And further drawing added to show two other projectiles, one using No.101 fuze with a gaine, and one with the No.106 fuze and no gaine.

 

 

 

265

Section of 6-in HE.jpg

3.7-in to 9.2-in MoF.jpg

Edited by 14276265
Drawing added
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1 hour ago, 14276265 said:

 

The booster is for the HE shell. The increment charge shown in post #3 is for the propellant and is placed in the very short cartridge case of the 4.5" Howitzer.

 

 

Thanks, that clarifies what they're for. I'm a little surprised that these were clearly fitted in the field - that suggests either a storage issue or a decision that had to made at time of use, and needs an extra skill in artillery personnel.

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16 minutes ago, MikB said:

 

I'm a little surprised that these were clearly fitted in the field - that suggests either a storage issue or a decision that had to made at time of use, and needs an extra skill in artillery personnel.

 

For example, referring to last posted drawing showing two exploders, and Textbook of Ammunition 1926: "All bottom exploders are placed in the shell in the filling factory, where they are suitably compressed... The top exploder, if any, depends on the nature of the fuze to be used and is issued with the fuze; it is compressed by screwing in the fuze."

 

Many natures of shell fitted with single exploders only were so fitted at the filling factory.

 

 

265

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2 hours ago, 14276265 said:

...

The top exploder, if any, depends on the nature of the fuze to be used and is issued with the fuze; it is compressed by screwing in the fuze."

...

 

265

Thanks, fine.

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