W ar Office Code RESTRICTED N o. 11257 The information given in this document is not to be communicated, either dir­ ectly or indirectly, to the Press or to any 26 person not authorized to receive it. Manuals 3835 Ibio-bb- ort-YliJ User Handbook t for FIELD BRANCH ARTILLERY AMMUNITION Land Service 1958 i THE WAR OFFICE R.A. 1. January, 1958. ffTO ? e ^ c r v ( W ar Office Code RESTRICTED N o. 11257 The information given in this document is not to be communicated, either dir­ ectly or indirectly, to the Press or to any 26 person not authorized to receive it. Manuals 3835 User Handbook for FIELD BRANCH ARTILLERY AMMUNITION Land Service 1958 THE WAR OFFICE R.A. 1. January, 1958. - i i - Record of Amendments Amendment By whom Date of Date A.C.I. Serial No. amended Insertion i.. CONTENTS Page L is t o f illu s tra tio n s .......................................................................................................................... x i i Chapter i Introduction Section i. General Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Objects 1 Arrangements 1 Section 2. Definitions associated with Equipments Guns, howitzers and mortars ........... *. ............. ................................................................... 1 C la ssifica tio n ................................................................................................................................... 2 Means o f fir in g ................................................................................................................................... 2 Means o f in it ia t io n .......................................................................................................................... 3 S afely devices ................................................. 3 Section 3. Field Branch Artillery Equipments Loading ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Section 4. The Round of Ammunition Future designation and marking .......................................................................................................... 3 Components ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Cartridge ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Section 5. Categories of Ammunition General ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Explosives Section 1. Introduction C la ssifica tio n o f explosives ........................................................................................................ 7 D efin ition s ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Uses ................................................................................................................ 10 —iv — Section 2. Propellants Page G en era l........... .................................................................... .................... ................................ 10 H istorica l ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Burning o f a propellant ...................................................................................................................... 10 Properties o f the id ea l propellant ......................................................................................./ • • • 11 Composition ................................................................................................................................... • • • 12 C haracteristics ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Plash and Smoke ...................................................................................................................... ••• 14 Properties o f the commoner propellants ........................................................................................... 15 Nomenclature ........................................................................................................................................ 15 M u ltip licity o f propellant ...................................................................................................................... 18 Section 3. High Explosives D efin ition ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Compositions ................................................................................................................................... 20 Categories ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Bursting charges - i. e . sh ell f i llin g s ...................................................................................... 21 Constituents ................................................................................................................................... 21 Code fo r H.E. f i l l i n g s 21 In itia to r s (d is ru p tiv e ) ................................................................................................................. 21 Constituents ................................................................................................................................... 22 Intermediates ................................................................................................................................... 22 T.N.T. ............. * ......................................................................................................................... 23 C on stitu en ts........................................................................................................ 23 Section 4. Miscellaneous Compositions G en era l...................................................................................................................................................... 23 In itia tin g agents (ig n ifero u s) ........................................................................................................ 24 Smoke producing substances ................................................................................................................. 21+ F lare producing substances .................................................................................................................. 26 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 3 Cartridges Section 1. Introduction C la s sific a tio n and comparison ........................................................................................................ 27 Comparison o f Q.F. (separate loading) and B.L. cartridge systems ........................................ 27 Cartridge case ................................................................................................................................... 27 Cartridge bag ................................................................................................................................... 28 Propellant c h a r g e ................................................................................................................................... 28 Charge - types ................................................................................................................................... 30 Propellant proof and charge adjustment ......................................... 30 Section 2. Q.F. Cartridges G en era l...................................................................................................................................................... 31 Sub-division o f cartrid ges ........................................................... 31 Design o f cartridges .......................................................................................................................... 31 — V Page Section 3. Types of Q.F. (Separate loading) Cartridges used in Field Branch Artillery Equipments Q.F. 25 p r. g u n ................................................................................................................................... 32 Normal charges .......................................................................................................................... 32 Super charges ................................................................................................................................... 32 Increment charges .......................................................................................................................... 34 Issue and preparation ................................................................................................................. 34 Section 4. B.L. Cartridges General ............................................................................................................................................ 33 Sub-division o f cartridges ......................................................................................................