Doc2 Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 On another post, a member posted an extract of a newspaper article which referenced "one of the artillery shells the Germans used to fire messages between battlefields.'' Never heard about these before-- what were they, and how were they used? I can't imagine they would be of very much use on a battlefield. Thanks. Doc2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 Proparganda shells were used in the Second World War, I can find nothing about their use in the Great War. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Poilu Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 I have no knowledge of artillery message shells. Regarding grenades, if of interest I can find no reference to use of a British message grenade in 14-18. However, the French did use a variant of the VB (Viven Bessiere) rifle grenade to convey messages. Range was 350 metres with a smoke discharge of 40 seconds for location purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 Max I have dug up out of one of my publication that there was a Rocket Message Carrying MK1 maximum range 1,600 yards see attached. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hederer Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 I just saw a cut-away illustration of a Nachrichtengeschoss a few days ago. I'll be dam#$ed if I can remember where it was though...let me poke around my books. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 There was a thread on British message rockets a few months back. See below http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...&hl=rockets cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid_Ian Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 The introduction of the message shell was due to the hope that it would still be possible to send a message in a light Minenwerfer shell, when all other means of communication had broken down. Designation.—Light Minenwerfer message shell = leichte Nachrichten-Mine (I.N.M.). ' . Maximum range.—1,422 yards. This shell is fired from the (7.6 cm.) new light Minenwerfer (1916 pattern). Distinctive! marking.—The letters l.N.M. and 3 black rings round the cylindrical portion. Description.—The message shell consists of the following parts: A light Minenwerfer shell case, a flare in which there is a compartment to take a message, a burster and a time fuse. Action.—As the shell bursts open in the air, the flare is lighted and so heralds the approach of the message shell. The flare continues to burn for several seconds after the shell has struck the ground. The shell apparently becomes so hot that a pair of pincers is supplied for extracting the flare. The cover of the message compartment has then to be unscrewed with a special key. Employment.—The message shell provides a means of communication between battalion, headquarters and regimental H. Q.'s and from these to the artillery, the brigade or to a report center. For forwarding reports to the division, etc., this system is linked tip with the. telephone and wireless stations behind the front. At receiving stations, the observer should be posted in a dug-out, with a loop-hole giving on to a well-defined target. This target will have been previously registered. It must be concealed from the enemy, otherwise the receipt of the projectile will be observed and will draw hostile fire. Reports forwarded by this means should always be sent in duplicate by two successive rounds. Edited to add from Field Artillery notes 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Poilu Posted 12 October , 2007 Share Posted 12 October , 2007 Ahhhh, rockets John - guess that is between our interests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc2 Posted 15 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 15 October , 2007 Thanks, Ian. F\ascinating! I can't imagine they'd be very much use. Doc2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 15 October , 2007 Share Posted 15 October , 2007 I have been reading several German accounts recently, at the same time. I did see a mention of a message shell. I can't find it now. I think it may have been Sulzbach, With the German Guns. Almost definitely a German reference anyway. Sorry to be so wooly. A bad habit of mine to read various accounts concurrently to try to get a feeling for what was going on generally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hederer Posted 15 October , 2007 Share Posted 15 October , 2007 I have been reading several German accounts recently, at the same time. I did see a mention of a message shell. I can't find it now. I think it may have been Sulzbach, With the German Guns. Almost definitely a German reference anyway. Sorry to be so wooly. A bad habit of mine to read various accounts concurrently to try to get a feeling for what was going on generally. Tom, I'm in the same boat. I saw a drawing of a Nachrichtengeschoss (vs Nachrichtenmine) within the past two weeks, but I have no idea where...ah well, so the memory goes with age! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 15 October , 2007 Share Posted 15 October , 2007 Auld age disnae come itsel' The time to worry is when you catch yourself wandering around with a book in hand looking to see where you left it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arie Posted 16 October , 2007 Share Posted 16 October , 2007 One can see a leichte Nachrichten-Mine in the museum in Albert - Somme - France in one of the show-cases in the basement. regards Arie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 October , 2007 Share Posted 16 October , 2007 The German 7.6 CM Trench mortar fired the following types of round "HE, gas, and a special message shell designed to burst in the air over the addressee's position when all other means of delivering it had failed or for delivering propaganda." I've seen some references to messages regarding local temporary truces and the like being delivered to British lines by this method. Apparently the Hotchkis 37mm Pom Pom also had a message shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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